Chile's outgoing president says there is nothing to worry about with leftists leaders coming to power in the region. I agree that leftist governments are no reason to worry in isolation. Free elections are free elections. As long as those continue, the voters can change their minds. But whackjobs like Chavez in power, Aristide pining for his half of the island, and Argentina probing the Falklands don't exactly comfort me.
And just in time to reassure me comes my Strategic Studies Institute email update with an op-ed on this very subject:
The effects will differ from country to country. Milder forms of leftist rule, such as those of Lula in Brazil, will be moderately successful. More outrageous forms of populism, such as those of Chavez in Venezuela, eventually will fail, brought low by their own internal contradictions, notably corruption and inefficiency. Those leaders that succeed will be reelected. Those that fail will be voted out, if democracy continues to be their political system.
This is how a democratic system is supposed to work. The people elect representatives. These representatives are then rated by how well they have done. Their future depends on their success. If they fail, they are replaced by someone different who might be able to do the job.
Unfortunately, some populist leaders such as Chavez and others tolerate violence in the streets. This violence is at times orchestrated against their opponents and sometimes tolerated because these leaders are unwilling to defend the rule of law. This lack of respect for opponents and willingness to use violence continue to cause problems, delegitimizing democratic authority and governance.
As long as Latin America remains democratic and some leaders fail to address the underlying causes of underdevelopment, the right and the left will rotate while each country seeks a solution. We should be cautiously optimistic that the Latin Americans are seeking solutions through the ballot box and that the left has returned and is willing to compete responsibly through elections rather than violence.
Focus on keeping the process of elections and rule of law going. Don't worry about particular results as long as the democratic framework is intact. Remember, in the long run it is the fact of democracy and rule of law that benefits us, not the short-term effects of particular candidates or parties winning.
But by all means, keep an eye on Axis of El Vil member Hugo Chavez as he destroys a once viable nation and strives to become an actual threat to us and the region.
