Have you noticed that Spanish speaking countires are electing leftists?

[burythehatchet]

Lula

Chavez

Zapatera

Any theories?

[catzies]

1. Because leftists

are the only people in their right minds.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. I think Brazil's first language is Portugese? But even so, I know what

you mean.

[HEyHEY]

3. yup they are portugese

[benburch]

4. Liberation Theology!

I believe that this is having a big effect!

[tedzbear]

5. It's a communist plot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where's McCarthy when we need him?

[Kanary]

6. Smart people

The US is going to find itself *Very* alone.

Kanary

[wuushew]

7. Speaking of Lula

did anyone hear about land siezures rates being up since Lula was elected. I heard about it on BBC radio within the last few days and I need more info.


(On Edit) I found the story

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3618297.stm

[burythehatchet]

8. snip from that article...

When the Portuguese first settled here, vast estates were shared out between a small number of aristocrats.
Five-hundred years later, nearly half of all farmland is still owned by just 1% of the population.

[JanMichael]

9. You forgot Lagos in Chile. He was a contemporary of Allende.

And yes I've noticed

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Extreme Poverty, Family ties crossing over social lines and the

Catholic Church has a more pure purpose in "doing the right thing" than in America.

I believe that would be the main factors.

[TreasonousBastard]

11. The pendulum swinging...

from the far right governments that they have traditionally had. Often with the blessing and support of the US.

Many Latin American systems were essentially feudal, with the Spanish and Portuguese leaving large estates running things. After many years of revolutions and US interventions, many of these estates and ruling families were still untouched.

Left to their own devices, the populations in these countries are rebelling once again against these ruling families, but this time through the ballot box.

Spain still remembers Franco, and voting out a rightwing government is quite natural for them. Makes them feel more like other Europeans, too.