The New Independence

Mercosur's moves to accept Venezuela as a member and sign a free-trade deal with Palestine are welcome developments in a continent that has being subordinate to the U.S. for far too long. Welcoming Chávez into the fold of this important economic regional bloc is a way to strengthen it, and, at the same time, send a message to the Americans that Latin America will no longer follow Washington's dictates. The same can be said of the deal with Palestine, which flies in the face of American foreign policy and its Israeli counterpart.

Latin America is big enough and has enough people and resources to go its own way without the U.S.' permission. Acting together, our countries can stand up to American economic imperialism, doing what is in our own best interests, not just to accommodate the U.S. The proof is that, while other economies are floundering, Latin America, as a whole, is doing better than ever.

This is the wave of the future.

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