VivirLatino

This "news" can only be a surprise to people who have never picked up a history book - a latino one, or paid attention to North Americans when they're asked questions about Latinos and Latin America. It's usually followed by a blank stare, a shrug, or they'll whip out whatever stereotype suits them.
The only time in the 20th century that they kissed our asses was during WWI and prior to WWII, when they were competing with the Germans to see which of the two groups could make the most inroads in the region. Other than then, they've treated us with contempt.
Teddy Roosevelt and the other creeps were our enemies; bent on exploiting us and using their considerable power to keep dictatorships flourishing in the region so that they could pocket the profits.
Now, the world is waking up to the skewed history, and the North Americans are wondering; Why are we so ungrateful? Can't we see that all they want to do is protect us? Yeah, right.

I completely agree with you Ramon. There is a lot A LOT ignorance in the USA (average "gringo") about South America in general. Too bad cause, I think, US and its people understimate the "power and influence" SA has on their country not only workers but also products and nowadays with global warming and environmental issues -mostly green- America del Sur seems vital for future generations. What's more, increasing inestability in the SA region (Venezuela etc) will most likely affect US (already declining) economy and own stability.!

I don't think that "Bolivarian" changes, or revolutions have to be destabilizers. Thinking of it that way is submitting to the Cuco from the north. It works to their political advantage to claim that their way is what's good for the people of all of Latin America. So far, history has proved them wrong. The rogue's gallery of dictators that they've propped up have not been good for us.
Now we're saying, "Take your paternalism and shove it.", and we're the bad guys all over again. The myopic outlook of empires is usually their undoing.

Now, I have to disagree with you. I think revolutions are for the most part pretty destabilizers....at least until the storm calms down....they tend to generate violence, deaths, numerous violations to human rights, negative economic consequences, etc etc usually both parties (or more!!) take advantge of the "situation" to commit all sorts of crimes and injusticies. Take for example Colombia dont you think that their guerrillas have created enough inestability and misery (just for starters!) in that country? Now, Chavez (I pressume) have made positive changes or decisions but I have read and hear from many, many people (incluiding a bunch of venezolanos - most of whom dont live or have anything to do with the "cuco from the North" ..........that just to clarify their and ours perspective on the issue) that he has create more misery and poverty....parts in Venezuela w/ food shortage so they have to go battle long lines, get up at 4 5 in the morning so that they might get a chance to get some food I mean thats just CRAZY (look at the news http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4599260.stm
just an example). In a country that should have an excellent economy and food shoratges shouldnt even cross anyone's mind....now I undestand that Venezuela or any other SA's problems cannot just be blamed on current liders cause unfortunetely there is much pain and shitty history (much of which have been influence by world's "big" countries mainly USA) I dont agree with the so called democracy of USA or their politics on SA for what's worth but THAT doesn mean that I have to blind myself (or even agree) with the shittiness of SA own leaders and "saviors".
"It works to their political advantage to claim that their way is what's good for the people of all of Latin America." that I agree it happens with all politics and religions as well!!!!

I always understood that it was better to build anew, than to repair someone else's work.
Any new system of government in Latin America is going to be faced with repairing the damage of the past 158 years - the time that the EEUU been meddling in our affairs.
Decade after decade, dictatorships and greedy warmongers have bled the people, all for the benefit of the few.
There are revolutions and there are revolutions; an opportunity to build and to learn by other's mistakes. That's usually where the select few, disguised as leaders, drop the ball. I would include Fidel (the worst micro-manager in Latin American history), and now Chávez, for not pausing to examine, and listening to the voices of history, as well as contemporary Latino thinkers. Sure, blustering into revolution is a ticket to failure. Lula's government has low-cost, no middleman, food programs in place, and neither the importers, nor the farmers are feeling left out of the mix. In other words, Chávez can benefit from other's experience. Accessibility to proper nutrition for Brazil's poor is a form of revolution. Brazil is a mostly tropical country, only a little smaller than the continental US, so growing cane for fuel makes sense, it cuts their dependency on petroleum, so it's a revolution.
Paying off a huge foreign debt that was growing by leaps and bounds in Argentina, was a sacrifice, and also a form of revolution to cut the lopsided deals that foreign banks and corporations were making on the backs of Argentines.
So, revolution isn't by definition solely about blood-letting and loss of basic rights.
Still, these kinds of revolutions will only succeed if the people keep close watch on their leaders, keep foreign interests from returning to the old way of doing business, and stop and think whether anti-feminism, racism, sexism, too much influence from the German pope, the growth and divisiveness of cults, and a bunch of other prejudices that keep people down is good for us.
For long before there was a United States of America, Latinos weathered plenty of storms. It's time to pay attention to all of our people and put the gloves down.

this is ridiculous whenever you blame one person for all your problems you have a skewed view of reality. if the us was able to prop up a dictator in south america i'm sure there was plenty of internal help. lots of sa problems don't extend beyond the border of any country. i wonder did the study ask specifically hispanics and see how they answered, probably in the same manner as legal americans.

Thanks Iris; you clearly demonstrated the handicap that many people have when the topic is world history, and specifically the relationship between the US and Latin America from the year that it inked the self-serving document that gave it plenipotentiary power over the parts of the Western Hemisphere that were not controlled by its colonial buddy, England, and to a lesser degree, the French.
Please return when you have some knowledge on the topic.

Oh, and your legal American dart didn't go unnoticed; it's more a watermark of your agenda than a salient addition to the article.

ramon,

you may think you know whatever is it is that keeps sa down. but spain and portugal were the colonialists in that situation for most of the 18th century the us was trying to be born. and remember that mexico has started wars with the us and was about to enter into wwi with the axis powers. so yeah most people would care what happened south of the border. because they believe they brought on themselves. and now mexico has the opportunity to be the richest country in la but corruption and poor leadership do them in. is that america's fault in felipe caulderon spent more time in mexico discussing mexico's problem, maybe they could solve the violence and ride the great economic boom that they are having. but i feel this too will pass and mexico will always reserve the right to blame someone else for their problems like many people on this page. again i say, no one can be at fault for all of your problems at some point you have to look with in. example, illegal immigration cannot all be blamed on mexico, most of it has to go to the us who failed to protect our borders and keep out unwanted elements.

So, Iris; tell me what you know about interactions between Latin America and the US from, oh, let's pick some dates, 1823 to 1998.
Give us some chronological events that affected the relationships of the USA and Latin America, and the fortunes of both Latin Americans and North Americans. For expediency, you can omit European meddling and interventions. Please note the above date; it's no longer the 18th century.

With Latin America its obvious. I lived in Venezuela for two years or dos anos as a boy. If the United States were to send more Gospel Evangelists into Latin America than politicians who don't believe in God, I believe it would stabilize not only the economic problems of Latin America but the political factor as well. Afterall Jesus rules the Earth because it is His reign which makes Him King over presidents and lord over governors. Second if any nation wants to be blessed by God they should support the nation of Israel.