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Looking in from the outside, the fiery criticism by Venezuela's president, Hugo Chavez can seem like the venom of a madman. Taken from inside Latin America, it is the expression of decades of frustration. For the last two years I have been an expatriate US citizen living in Latin America. I can attest that the message of Chavez deeply touches the hearts and minds of millions.

Latin American countries have long been a second cousin to the USA behemoth. American and European companies swarm across the continent to produce petroleum, bananas, flowers and hundreds of other products to export north. Yet, while billions in wealth flows, very little finds its way to the pocket of the typical worker in Latin America. Millions live in poverty vast populations living in the meanest conditions that would appall Americans - while families of the fabulously wealthy live in ostensive luxury. Most Latin Americans see America as supporting the rich, thus having a hand in their own poverty.

Meanwhile the change in the US Administration from Bill Clinton to George W. Bush has severely soured what good will there was. President Clinton was well liked in Latin America, making the region a priority in his foreign affairs policies. President Bush's attention was quickly diverted to the Middle East, and his Latin American foreign policy became little more than strong-arm diplomacy to support the war on the Colombian cocaine cartels. To many, President Bush has become a caricature of the arrogant American.

So, President Chavez's cutting criticisms strike a responsive audience in Latin America. His message has been warmly embraced by millions in his own Venezuela, but also people in other Latin American countries have followed his diatribes with glee. It is no coincidence that like-minded leaders like Evo Morales (Bolivia) and Rafael Correa (Ecuador) have followed the Chavez version of aggressive socialism to leadership in their own countries.

Here is one final point to those who consider Chavez a lunatic to consider. Latin American politics are much different than what you find in a US election. In "The States" a hint of an insult against a political opponent is considered bad manners at best, politically suicidal mistake at most. Not so in Latin America. Politicians in Latin America routinely and imaginatively insult their opponents as a matter of course. Even heads of state aren't above what we would consider horribly rude comments. A perfect example was during a recent press conference among several Latin American leaders at the end of a summit, when the King of Spain brusquely yelled at Ecuador's Correa to "Shut up!" when the king felt Correa was talking too much. Many of Chavez's most cutting and personal comments are considered much less inflammatory in Latin America than they are in North America.

Yet, in all, Chavez does give voice to millions of Latin Americans who feel frustrations with US policies. It is unwise to dismiss his criticisms as the ranting of a madman. For those who really want to find solutions to the political problems in Latin America, we would be wise to listen.

Learn more about this author, Richard Lloyd Evans.
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