So, are you a capitalist or a socialist?

It’s a question that gets thrown around in debates with friends, often as a trap. I’m supposed to pick a team. “But are you a capitalist or a socialist?”

This article untangles why I’ve never been able to just pick one, and why in my opinion this is a false choice.

Capitalism is the system that has given humanity the greatest progress it has ever seen. This is backed up by a lot of data. For thousands of years, the human condition for the absolute majority was stagnation. It was poverty, hunger, disease, fear, and an early death. This was the default setting in every corner of the world.

Then, alongside other massive intellectual leaps, the capitalist system and the free market emerged. Despite their several flaws, they triggered enormous progress. The number of people dying in misery has plummeted. Every day, millions escape extreme poverty, and many climb up the social ladder. Our average lifespan keeps going up. If you look back, as researchers like Steven Pinker have documented, the trend is clear.

But that progress isn’t guaranteed, and it’s not evenly shared.

Not everyone succeeds. Not everyone even gets the opportunity to try. There are still many people suffering, even in our own country. The gap between those who have a lot and those who have very little keeps widening. And as we’ve solved, or at least managed, many physical problems, we’ve become more aware of mental health problems, which cause their own profound suffering.

This is where the other side of the coin, socialism, should come in.

I believe we have a duty to help everyone who is in need. I fundamentally believe in hard work, in personal effort, in personal initiative and in building thriving businesses. But I am just as convinced that many people’s life circumstances have simply not allowed them to enjoy this progress in the same way I have.

And this is where the two ideas meet. In my opinion, no single individual needs billions of euros. If a person invested those amounts back into ethical businesses, creating value and jobs, that’s one thing. But if, at the end of the day, someone accumulates billions in personal profit, I don’t think anyone should mind if the state shares a percentage of that excess with those who cannot financially support themselves. They still have millions left to enjoy.

I see no contrast or problem in embracing these two concepts at the same time.

Extremes are always flawed. That’s why I consider myself a centrist.

Personally, like most, I am also striving to accumulate some wealth. My goal in doing so is to be able to invest the majority of it into initiatives that make a direct impact on the lives of people marked by more suffering than mine. Fortunately my life partner has the same opinion.

This philosophy extends to paying my fair share of taxes. I appreciate doing it because the Maltese state has given me a platform to live in peace, to learn, to stay healthy, and to enjoy my life. What makes me more than a little angry is when those taxes are not used to improve the common good, but to line the pockets of dishonest and corrupt people. Abuse is never ok, and this is why transparency is at the core of good governance.

I dream of a legacy that positively helps many people, especially those who aren’t already living comfortably like me. That’s why I’ve dedicated my adult life to building skills and a business. It’s also why I’m working to make a valuable contribution to the local political scene. I believe we can all contribute to further progress, and there are many ways to do it.

And yes, I appreciate there’s a small, selfish element in this. I’m wired to feel fulfilled this way.

So, when asked the question, I answer that I am a capitalist with a social heart. It’s a heart I don’t mind showing, because I believe others might be inspired to do the same. If they embrace similar values, they might share them and, more importantly, act on them.

I believe in economic progress, while also keeping social and environmental progress very high on my agenda. Therefore I have chosen to focus my abilities towards improving conditions for those less fortunate than myself. I plan to do so as long as I have the strength.

This article originally appeared on the TimesOfMalta on the 4th of December, 2025

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