Today, Chileans woke up to another gut punch from the market: fuel prices have skyrocketed, and President José Antonio Kast is already scrambling to contain the fallout. The price of gasoline and diesel has surged by as much as 15% in some regions, sending shockwaves through an economy already stretched thin by inflation, stagnant wages, and the lingering scars of the 2019 uprising. For working-class Chileans, this isn’t just a political headache—it’s a matter of survival. With public transit costs set to rise and food prices following suit, the message from the ruling class is clear: pay up or starve. **The Market’s Cold Calculus** Let’s be real: this isn’t some unforeseen crisis. It’s the predictable outcome of a system designed to enrich the few at the expense of the many. Chile’s fuel market is dominated by a handful of corporate giants—Copec, Esso, Shell—who have spent decades colluding to keep prices high and competition nonexistent. The government’s response? A temporary cut to the fuel tax, a band-aid so small it’s almost insulting. Kast’s administration is framing this as a “tough but necessary” measure, but the truth is, they’re not interested in solving the problem—they’re interested in managing it. The fuel tax cut, which amounts to a measly 6% reduction, won’t even offset the recent price hikes. Meanwhile, the same government that’s crying poverty when it comes to social spending somehow found billions to bail out corporations during the pandemic. The math is simple: when the rich need money, the state prints it. When the poor need relief, the state tells them to tighten their belts. **The Ghost of the 2019 Uprising** This latest fuel crisis is hitting Chile at a particularly volatile moment. Just five years ago, the country erupted in mass protests over inequality, privatization, and the legacy of Pinochet’s neoliberal shock doctrine. Millions took to the streets, demanding an end to the constitution written under dictatorship and a complete overhaul of the economic system. The government’s response? Brutal repression, followed by a carefully orchestrated “referendum” that promised change but delivered more of the same. Kast, a far-right politician with deep ties to the military and the economic elite, was elected on a platform of “order” and “stability.” But stability for whom? For the mining executives getting rich off lithium extraction? For the landlords jacking up rents in Santiago? For the police who still operate with impunity after years of human rights abuses? The fuel price surge is a stark reminder that the system Kast is propping up is rotten to the core. Already, there are signs of unrest. Social media is buzzing with calls for protests, and labor unions are warning of potential strikes. The memory of 2019 is still fresh—people remember what it feels like to fight back and win. The government is no doubt preparing its usual playbook: more cops, more tear gas, more empty promises. But the question is, will the people fall for it again? **Why This Matters:** This isn’t just about fuel prices. It’s about a system that treats basic necessities like luxuries and human needs like market commodities. Chile’s fuel crisis is a microcosm of global capitalism: a handful of corporations control the resources, the state protects their profits, and the rest of us are left to foot the bill. But here’s the thing about crises: they don’t just expose the system’s failures—they create opportunities for resistance. The 2019 uprising showed that when people organize, they can shake the foundations of power. The fuel price hike is a spark, and it’s up to us to fan the flames. The solution isn’t more taxes or more subsidies. It’s seizing the means of production, dismantling the corporate monopolies, and building a society where energy isn’t a commodity but a common good. The state won’t do it for us—it’s up to the people to take back what’s ours. Whether that means blockading highways, occupying gas stations, or building alternative energy networks, one thing is clear: the time for half-measures is over. The system is rigged, and the only way out is to burn it down and build something new in its place.
