Let's be clear about this: the corrupt businessmen are one and the same as the previous corrupt politician administrators, only now the ownership is in their family name.
As for the cry for marxism, they will have gone full circle. Change of ownership name only.
Most latin American countries gained independence before the U.S. did, and many have as many or more natural resources, proportionally.
What is their problem? Might it be the culturally bulletproof combination of corruption and lethargy?
It is very sad. I have been going to Mexico since 1994 and I believe Mexico will turn this way in the next election.
Patently not true. Most of Latin America (both Central and South America), gained their independence in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, which ended in 1815. The reason this occurred is simple. In 1805 Napoleon invaded Spain itself, and it took the combined efforts of both Spain *and* Britain to oust them, which did not occur until years later. While Napoleon never invaded Spain's colonies on the American supercontinent, or elsewhere, the residents of these colonies, both colonials and indigenes, weren't stupid.
They realized, "If Spain cannot even protect itself, how can they protect us?" This was the impetus for revolutions across Latin America, some of which were initially successful, and others which were not, but by the 1830's Spain's farflung empire had dwindled down to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines (which they continued to hold until 1898).
Now, as to the entrenched corruption which was part of both Spain itself, and its colonies, you *do* have a valid point. However, along with the corruption came a large degree of inefficiency, and it is the combination of the two, never fully addressed until this day, which has hamstrung the Hispanic American world...
the infowarrior