Nonsense. If it weren't for U.S. influence, assistance and aid to South and Central America countries, over the decades, those countries would've been a lot worse today. God bless the U.S.!
The real reason why the Latin American countries are in the basket case conditions that they are in is NOT due to US aid, lack of the same, or evil influence by dear Uncle Sam.
The real reason is the failure by their own leaders to truly lead under policies that would benefit the people of the respective countries. Historically, they have been as corrupted, nepotist and inefficient as can be.
The US policies and influence, overall has been one under which the main beneficiary by design, would be the US.
This, sets the stage to understand that on the other side of the negotiating table, (in terms of negotiating agreements, aids etc.) , you have had a collections of leaders that were negotiating for the most part, for their own personal benefit, (and those of their respective cronies).
Now...
The US in their "wisdom" failed to understand who they were negotiating with. Because, although their "short term" benefit was assured, now that we live in a much smaller and more connected world, the US will pay the price of policies that were very much "short sighted".
I will again cite the example of Mexico, (because of the common border mainly). Today, it is in the best interest of the US that Mexico is run by a "clean" and true democracy. Otherwise, whatever ill effect and failures of the Mexican leaders will impact directly the US.
So it is no longer a matter of "I win, you lose" attitude.
Unless it is a win-win, it becomes we all lose. Not an easy task. But having the attitude that....
"If it is not because the good ole USA, the world is not safe" etc. etc. will not help. Unless the standard of living of the neighboring countries is brought up to "par", the US will have to become an "island". Sooner or later this island will be over-run.
If you can, (and you have any interest in understanding this), learn some Spanish, and take a trip to a Latin American country --away from the 4 Seasons camps *g* and try to interact with the natives.
DO NOT attempt to show them "the American way", if so, you will learn nothing. Try to see that there are "other ways", you do not have to accept them, simply try to understand them.
Only then will you understand than in many instances, there are entire nations that simply view things under a different light. A light that allows to say that the "American way" is not necessarily the only way.
The above, is a suggestion. Not dogma.
and now... I must go. |
