Jason Miyares, 48th Attorney General of Virginia, challenged high school students to appreciate the opportunities afforded by the United States and to denounce socialism and embrace free market capitalism at Young America’s Foundation Reagan Ranch High School Student Conference.
Miyares argued that people around the world risk everything for the chance to become Americans, contrasting that reality with what he described as growing disdain for the country among many young people.
“There are people who would hang off the side of airplanes for the opportunity to become Americans,” Miyares said, referencing the desperate scenes of individuals attempting to flee Afghanistan in 2021. He urged students to think about that and understand how truly special it is to be an American.
Miyares said one of his greatest concerns is that many young Americans fail to appreciate the freedoms they have inherited.
“What would keep me up at night is that so many young people have disdain for what America is,”
Miyares emphasized that preserving liberty requires sacrifice and perseverance, reminding students that “nothing worth having is easy.”
Reflecting on his family growing up in Cuba, Miyares shared how his family’s experience shaped his views on freedom and government.
He warned that socialism has historically devastated societies, and said younger generations often support the ideology without understanding its consequences.
Instead, Miyares argued that free market capitalism has lifted billions of people out of poverty worldwide, calling it one of history’s greatest drivers of prosperity. He explained that many young Americans are unaware of that progress and encouraged students to become informed advocates for economic freedom.
Miyares challenged students to become champions for liberty, urging them to embrace freedom and confidently defend the principles that have made the United States a beacon of hope for people around the world
Following his speech, he fielded questions from students on the dangers of socialism, big tech, immigration, antisemitism, and many other topics.
