When the state controls bread, it controls consciousness

"Without economic freedom, there is no political freedom." This phrase belongs to Milton Friedman and, although it was articulated as an economic reflection, it contains a profound political truth: a citizen who relies entirely on the state for survival can hardly exercise full freedom in the face of power.

Economic freedom does not only mean having money or doing business. It means that a person can work, create, produce, undertake, and reap the rewards of their efforts without a political authority determining how far they can go. This economic independence fosters stronger citizens, capable of expressing their opinions, defending their rights, and participating in public life without fear of losing their livelihood.

On the contrary, when the state concentrates control over the economy, it ultimately extends that power over society. Those who decide where people work, what is produced, what is sold, what is imported, and who can thrive also possess a tool to influence the behavior of citizens.

The history of Cuba over more than six decades provides a clear example of the relationship between economy and politics. The model established after 1959 turned the state into the main employer, owner, and regulator of almost all economic spaces. Private enterprise was minimized for decades, and millions of Cubans became tied to a system where access to work, income, and opportunities depended on decisions made by those in political power.

In those circumstances, economic dependency ceased to be merely a material issue and transformed into a mechanism of social control. A citizen who fears losing their job, shutting down their business, or being excluded from certain opportunities may feel constrained in expressing their criticisms or demanding changes.

It is not a coincidence that societies with greater economic freedom also tend to develop more independent institutions, increased protection of private property, and broader spaces for civic participation. Economic autonomy empowers the individual; dependence empowers the authority that manages the resources.

The Cuban case demonstrates a reality that is hard to ignore: when the state controls the economy, it also gains enormous power to influence the political life of the nation. Scarcity, bureaucracy, and dependency are not merely economic consequences; they can become tools that diminish the citizen's ability to act with true autonomy.

Democracy does not begin solely when a person casts a vote in a ballot box. It starts much earlier: when one can work freely, create a life project, defend their ideas, and support their family without asking permission from those in power.

Political freedom requires independent citizens. And citizen independence begins with a basic condition: that each person can live from the fruits of their own labor.

Cuba reaffirms once again Milton Friedman's warning: without economic freedom, political freedom remains incomplete.