America's new circus diplomacy and Latin America by Ben Tanosborn

As we go further south, the foreign policy woes loom even larger. For over a century the US has advocated democracy for Latin America . . . while sub rosa helping install and/or maintain dictatorships in power. Now that democracy is beginning to take hold, Washington powers are in dismay at the outcome. Lula in Brazil, Kirchner in Argentina, Chavez in Venezuela, Vasquez in Uruguay, Lagos in Chile, Gutierrez in Ecuador—all represent an unwavering trend in South American politics clearly pointing center-left. Free market economies, yes; but with very profound political populism determined to improve the lot of the many, instead of the proverbial ruling few.