Throughout the 20th century, Latin America’s populist leaders waved Marxist banners, railed against foreign imperialists, and promised to deliver their people from poverty. One after another, their ideologically driven policies proved to be sluggish and shortsighted. Their failures led to a temporary retreat of the strongman. But now, a new generation of self-styled revolutionaries is trying to revive the misguided methods of their predecessors. [...]

Latin American Idiots have traditionally identified themselves with caudillos, those larger-than-life authoritarian figures who have dominated the region’s politics, ranting against foreign influence and republican institutions. Two leaders in particular inspire today’s Idiot: President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and President Evo Morales of Bolivia. Chávez is seen as the perfect successor to Cuba’s Fidel Castro (whom the Idiot also admires)...

Read more in Alvaro Vargas Llosa's article The Return of the Idiot

"Prisstigninger er [...] markedets måde at reagere fremadrettet på. Kun ved at sikre sig en fortjeneste, der gør dem i stand til at forholde sig til en ændret situation, bliver det muligt for energivirksomheder at reagere på de politiske skabte forandringer. Virksomhederne, sender således de politiske skabte omkostninger ved energiproduktion videre til forbrugerne. Sådan overlever de – trods de politisk omskiftelige vinde. At virksomheder kan gøre dette – og at de er i stand til at øge deres indtjening, er samtidig forbrugernes garanti for at disse virksomheder fortsat vil eksistere, også selv om nye barrierer fra naturens side eller fra politisk hold vil gøre sig gældende i fremtiden". Dette kan man læse i dagens energipolitiske kommentar. Her sættes i øvrigt sætter en række lighedstegn mellem Bolivias nationaliseringspolitik, og så EU's energipolitiske centralisering.