Well, it was neither a joke, nor an argument, that's why. It was a proposition/value judgement expressed in jest.

But if you want more details, it's based on the belief that the idea being that "laissez-faire" was not a good concept to begin with.

And despite being invented in France back in the day, was never really popular in France or Europe in general (Austrian economists excepted), where the "government is the enemy" idea didn't really took hold in the populace either.

We like our social democracy and government regulating some things, thank you very much.

So, unless you chance on the statistically atypical (aside from echo bubbly HN/VC style circles) european who hates "government" not for/when doing bad shit, but for being government, and wants no restrictions imposed on corporations, it is more thought of as something neoliberal / Thacherite / Ayn-Rand-loving types would have as their motto - and unironically have their militarry enforce to countries who didn't like it.