George W. Bush has announced a program to increase funding and social aid to Latin America, in an effort to help the nearly 1 in 4 people who live in extreme poverty in this area. Money will be put into education, housing, and health care. Bush is about to embark on a trip through Latin America next week, so the announcing of this program is timely. Bush has publicly stated that the technological and social advances made in the areas in recent years have been huge, but the gap between rich and poor is ever advancing. 75 million dollars will be put forward in an initiative to help Latin Americans learn English, 385 million for housing, and additional medical assistance via military teams.
To me, an interesting aspect of this announcement is why Bush would suddenly become so interested in Latin America, and helping these impoverished regions better themselves. Not to say that the Bush administration has completely neglected the region, but in a time in which they are pumping billions of dollars into their military, they suddenly focus on a very Democratic-style move. The program itself and the incentive is exceptional, as helping those in need is something that can never be questioned, but I feel that there is something that lies beneath this move. Since the Bush administration has been under fire from Democrats, for this specific reason (neglecting Latin America) it is curious that they would unveil such a program, and perhaps this speaks to the consideration that the Bush administration has for their opposition. A number of left-wing officials have also been elected in Latin America, and perhaps Bush is trying to appease them through this program As someone who is going to this exact area later this year, I can only appreciate what the program is trying to do from a moral standpoint.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6421701.stm
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