A serious inquiry into the history of the various countries south of the border will very clearly show gross meddling in their internal politics by the US over a period of over 150 years. For very selfish reasons.
Which leaders have the US imposed on those nations? There is a very long laundry list, covering both socialist and "democratic" leaders alike. We play both sides of the fence - and have for a long time. Its called the politics of destabilization. It is very painfully obvious, and cen be readily concluded from am objective reading of history - without prejudice or jingoism.
But I will drop one very not too subtle hint. Ever hear of Haiti? Oh.....of course, we have always operated in the best interest of the Haitian peoples..........with absolutely no concern for the sugar monopolies, and other agricultural, chemical, and other multinational mega-corporations. No.....not one bit(sarcasm intentional).
Or.....ummmm.....that little place called Mexico? Oh no - we never messed with their politics, or did anything at all to precipitate numerous revolutions and counter revolutions. Naturally it makes perfect sense that with their vast reserves of coal, oil, natural gas, uranium,gold, copper, silver, bauxite, tin, that they should be a dirt poor nation for generation after generation. We could not possibly have any hand in this.
Of course we must erase from our memories and books the fact that Mexico had a civilization, and level of lifestyle and wealth prior to 1845 that was becoming on par with European nations.That Mexico had great Cathedrals, libraries, universities, water/sewar works......while the US by contrast at that point was a third rate nation with nothing to compare with Mexico.
That history of interference did not generally lead to democracy (although to the extent the US aided in Bolivarian revolutions, it encouraged at least the forms of democracy, if not the substance), so it is irrelevant to the discussion. The issue is that the South American nations have in the last 30 years basically left military dictatorships behind and adopted democratic constitutional forms of government. That has to be better for the people and the nations concerned, as well as for human rights. Certainly Mexico is better off now with a better functioning democracy than it was in the past. The position of the Church is also better than under the PRI. Haiti may now have a chance with Aristide gone, but it is a very tough case, one of the hardest.