Guess who I'm voting for: a change in the White House will make a big difference for ordinary Latin Americans

Latin Trade, Oct, 2004 by Jack Epstein

It may not be apparent yet to most U.S. voters, but U.S. presidential candidate John Kerry is sending Latin Americans the message that he will fight for their interests.

In a speech devoted to Latin American policy in June, Kerry vowed to become "a president of the United States who knows where Latin America is" a reference to the region's low priority since George W. Bush became president four years ago.

Let's face it: U.S. relations with the region have seriously deteriorated under Bush. A recent Zogby International poll found that, 87% of Latin American opinion-makers disapproved of his policy in the region. A Latino-barometro poll found that, nearly a third of Latin Americans had a negative image of the United States--twice as many as four years ago.

To be sure, Latin America is not an immediate priority in the post-Sept. 11 era. And the administration has paid attention in one crucial area, free trade. It has brokered packs with Chile, Central America and is on the verge of hammering out another with the Andean nations. But the president doesn't seem to understand that a democracy that benefits a rich minority, which is what free trade has largely done so far, is a formula for turmoil.

When open markets and lax regulations led to Argentina's collapse, Bush practically turned his back. And Argentina was once a regional powerhouse, in theory important to the United States. Never mind the administration's handling of Cuba and Venezuela, which has ranged from saddening to comical.

A three-year study by the United Nations released this year showed that 55% of Latin Americans would support an authoritarian ruler if doing so would improve their lives. At a time when most Latin Americans are questioning democracy for its lack of economic benefits, what does Bush do? He decided to spend almost as much on military-police aid in the region as on economic development--US$874 million, just $72 million less than on helping the region turn its economies around.

"The balance in aid is now shockingly equal," Joy Olson, executive director of the Washington Office on Latin America, a nongovernmental think tank, told me. "There would be greater emphasis on economic-social issues with a Kerry administration."

Kerry seems to understand that the failure to confront increasing poverty--43% of Latin America's estimated 500 million inhabitants are poor--will erode democracy in the region. He supports a five year, $2.5 billion Social Investment and Development Fund of the Americas, sponsored by the U.S. Congress, which would invest in education, health and financing startup companies. "We need to lift up living standards and working conditions for all working men and women in the U.S. and around the world" Kerry said in his Latin America speech.

And, unlike Bush, who seems to worry only about strengthening democracy in the Middle East, Kerry vows to foster democratic institutions in Latin America by tripling to $60 million the United States' contribution to the National Endowment for Democracy, an organization created to strengthen democracy globally.

Kerry's campaign has published other strong positions on the region. It would, for example, stay neutral on presidential elections rather than publicly posture against leftist candidates. Kerry would end new, hard-line restrictions on travel and gifts to Cuba, which have hurt Cuban migrants who are unable to visit and help their relatives financially. He would embrace multilateralism through the Organization of American States and push for the creation of a "Council for Democracy" of international leaders who will work to stave off conflicts before they happen.

He is for stronger environmental protections in all trade pacts. Kerry backs immigration reform that would give U.S. citizenship to illegal immigrants after five years of residence. He would also establish a guest worker program for temporary workers.

Yes, politicians make campaign promises they don't keep once in office. And, yes, Kerry is pandering to U.S. Hispanic voters. But Kerry's Senate record shows that he is genuinely concerned for the working class.

Bush has set the bar pretty low, despite promising his administration would look south first. I believe that the United States will become a better neighbor with John Kerry in the White House.

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