As a Cuban survivor, I know that socialism has no honor. But we all pay the price

Democratic Mayor Zahran Mamdani says socialism means dignity, but a Cuban-born critic of the CEA report warns that DSA policies could cost much, much more.

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Democratic Mayor Zahran Mamdani recently said in an interview: "Socialism, in my opinion, means that you will have everything you need to live a dignified life, and it is the duty of the government to fulfill that." If socialism gives people dignity, Cubans should swim in it.

Instead, they swim in misery, deprivation and human rights violations. I was born in Cuba and lived under socialism for 16 years. I know the difference between a political promise and what happens when the government has more control over people's economic lives.

That's why a new report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) on the cost of America's democratic socialist policies deserves attention.

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The CEA estimates that the seven major DSA proposals will cost more than $49 trillion over the next decade — roughly $355,000 for every American family. Medicare for All includes about $47.4 trillion of this projected financial burden. The proposals also include student debt cancellation and free college, the 32-hour work week, Green New Deal policies, and rent control.

These numbers are huge, but the discussion should not stop at the price tag. Consideration should also be given to how these proposals will be funded, including where the government can get the hundreds of trillions of dollars needed to finance them and how that funding will affect taxpayers and the broader economy.

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These policies raise a larger question about the role of government in the lives of Americans. Who controls access to health care under Medicare for all? Who determines wages and working hours? Who controls housing prices? And what happens when more resources that people depend on become dependent on government decisions?

The DSA movement promotes massive government programs as solutions to real problems: expensive health care, housing costs, and economic insecurity. These problems deserve serious attention. But a policy is not effective simply because it aims to be compassionate.

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The word that is often used to justify these policies is dignity.

But if the government can give you respect, the government can also take it away from you. For example, when it comes to licensing, the harder it is for a person to get a license, the harder it is for their small business to get started.

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Dignity should never be in the hands of the government. This is an individual right. Economic independence—the ability to work, earn, save, build, own, and make decisions for yourself and your family—is an important consideration. Part of that dignity

There are alternatives that address these same problems while leaving more decisions to the individual. This means a smaller and more responsive government. Lower and simpler taxes; Fewer regulations that make it harder to work, build or invest. and a free market where businesses compete and consumers have choices.

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Maintaining a democratic system is also important. Americans should be free to oppose, organize, speak out, vote for, and support a variety of solutions. A free society does not require that everyone achieve the same results. This requires the freedom to make those peaceful decisions. Socialism steals freedom.

America doesn't have to implement a failed system to prove it will fail again. We don't need to gamble away our freedoms to prove we can improve our system.

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The $49 trillion estimate should be more than an argument over a number. It should force Americans to examine whether expanding government control actually gives people more or less control over their lives.

Compassion is important. Affordability is important. Economic opportunity is important.

Because dignity is not something that the government can create.

Yali Nunez is a guest contributor to Independent Women.

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