For all of their sanctimonious ranting about democracy, some Americans sure are bitter when the democratic process doesn’t work to their advantage. Last week’s International Symposium ‘The State of Democracy In Latin America: Continuity ‘amp; Change after a Year of Elections’ turned out to be a discussion about Venezuela’s evil President Hugo Chavez and the purported tragedy of his leadership, which is a threat to the United States and its interests.’
The distinguished guests were invited to address the state of democracy in Latin America after a year of significant elections which have demonstrated that the region is leaning towards a more leftist approach to democracy.’ Mr. Everett Ellis Briggs, former ambassador to Honduras, Panama, and Portugal, and Lino Gutierrez, former ambassador to Argentina and Nicaragua, have impressive credentials and vast experience in the United States’ Foreign Service.’ According to Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Briggs and his father hold a record: between the two of them they have served as ambassadors to eleven different embassies.
Although the Symposium was not necessarily supposed to address environmental or trade issues, I thought Mr. Briggs had a great suggestion of eliminating tariffs on Brazilian ethanol along with subsidies to American ethanol producers.’ Brazil produces sugar ethanol, which produces less green house gases and is much more efficient compared to corn ethanol.’ The 54 cent per gallon tariff imposed by the United States on Brazilian sugar ethanol makes it hard for Brazil to compete with the US corn ethanol market.
But as I mentioned earlier, the symposium was supposed to discuss the nine elections that took place in Latin America last year, not how to benefit from Brazil’s ethanol production.’ The main focus of the symposium turned out to be Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, who according to the guest speakers is a danger to Latin America and of course, a menace to the United States.’ Both Mr. Briggs and Mr. Gutierrez made it seem as if democracy in Latin America is being challenged by President Chavez, while from my perspective the recent elections actually suggest that democracy is indeed working in this region.’ Before I continue, let me remind readers that Venezuela’s President has been democratically elected and enjoys over 50% of the popular support, not bad compared to our own President’s approval rating of 33.6%, according to an average of thirteen different polls posted on pollingreport.com from last month.
Although criticized by Mr. Briggs and Mr. Gutierrez, President Chavez of Venezuela and Bolivia’s President Evo Morales have both been democratically elected by their citizens, and while the United States government might not support them or their governing strategies, last time I checked sovereign nations had the right to rule their own countries.’ Just because Latin American countries elect leftist leaders does not mean that democracy is not working there.’ On the contrary, leaders such as President Chavez of Venezuela, President Morales of Bolivia, and President Correas of Ecuador are not only backed by popular support in their countries but are greatly respected across Latin America.
Former ambassadors Mr. Gutierrez and Mr. Briggs miserably failed to address what has caused these dramatic changes in the region.’ Unsuccessful IMF policies imposed on these countries by the Washington Consensus along with the increasing gap between the rich and the poor and a growing awareness that free trade does not equate to fair trade have mobilized Latin American people to vote for change and for leaders who will look not after their own bank account, but after their country’s best interest, rather than Washington’s.
Finally, I appreciate the visit of Mr. Gutierrez and Mr. Briggs to the University of Tampa but would like to request for future symposiums that the opposing side of the issue at hand be presented and discussed.’ I would recommend for the mediator to be a scholar, preferably one that specializes in the matter.’ I also suggest that next time students are invited to participate in a symposium that their questions and comments be addressed and not undermined.’ One speaker’s response to a comment made by a UT international student from Ecuador, David Pazmino, was not only unsatisfactory and biased but even slightly disrespectful.
It is about time countries in Latin America start electing their own leaders and doing what is in their best interest, not ours.