Latin America is part of the Americas. Let’s begin by acknowledging that. Unfortunately, it has often been treated as the forgotten backyard of the United States. The history of this region, marked by U.S. intervention and exploitation, is extensive.

Many interventions have focused on extracting resources, benefiting foreign interests while offering little to local governments—except payments to heads of state and their cronies. This isn’t solely the fault of the U.S.; Latin American countries share responsibility. But nothing in life comes without consequences.

These past actions have fostered power vacuums and cycles of poverty and corruption. It doesn’t matter whether a government leans left or right. For many Latin Americans, leftist governments often mean corruption that enriches the few in power while spreading misery among the rest. Right-wing governments also face corruption issues, but they tend to leave limited opportunities for others to thrive.

Hugo Chávez of Venezuela attempted a bold move: to unite Latin America under a leftist ideology. The result was widespread poverty. While he succeeded in his political vision, the cost was a massive human exodus—one of the largest in modern history—toward the United States.

Democrats tolerated this situation partly because radical leftist movements, regardless of the country, often aim for the same goal: consolidating power by impoverishing the masses. One of the quickest ways to strain an economy as large as the U.S. is through unchecked population growth, which increases economic pressures. Eventually, those in power can manipulate this strain to secure electoral victories, promising “dignified poverty” through extensive taxation—an unsustainable cycle that breeds more hardship.

While capitalism may seem unfair at times, it remains the most equitable system. Alternative models often limit freedoms. Efforts to equalize populations frequently lead to government overreach, granting more control and resources to those in power. These resources are often acquired through what some view as an institutionalized form of theft: taxation. A 100% tax rate equates to slavery—there’s no way around that math or its implications.

Yet, with good intentions, societies willingly allocate resources for public expenditures that promote prosperity and economic growth. This “shared wealth” can, paradoxically, contribute to a cycle of prosperity.

The potential restoration of democracy in Venezuela could disrupt efforts to undermine the United States—plans allegedly supported by China and Russia in an ongoing economic rivalry.

Hopefully, this time, a bad dictator won’t be succeeded by an even worse one. Let’s hope President Trump honors his promises. If he does, he could become a hero to many in Latin America—a true libertarian and beacon of hope for prosperity.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the United States will come to realize that a strong Latin America means a stronger United States.