Marshall Plan Throughout World War II, America and other large nations have been giving large amounts of money to help rebuild small countries, and get them on their “feet.” The Marshall Plan today is now focused on building a global economy within many different and under developed countries. However the has been focusing on the Asian countries more so than the ones in their own backward. When I refer to our “backyard” I am speaking of Latin America. They too are an under privileged continent in need of our help. But instead of us helping we just issue these countries dictators, like we have done in Iraq.
“Instead, it has in the past chosen to prop up military dictators who kept the poor in check while giving free rein to U. S. multinational corporations (Reding 1).” In the article by Andrew Reding, he discusses how the Marshall Plan has been very successful in the needs of other countries. Yet, he also points out how the United States is still defiant on assisting Venezuela in their economic and social needs. Why the American government is so against helping Latin America is uncertain? Are they not as important as the European countries? With the questions left for Washington to answer, here are some reforms given to the other helpless nations cited by Reding: minimum wages, public education, medical care, and forms of antitrust legislation.
These are all gained by the United States intervening. And it has obviously given the United States a profit in doing so for other countries, why should the not spread the wealth around? By spreading the “wealth” around, this is encouraging globalization to many parts of the world, which will then increase and benefit the economy. Maybe even help with inflation once many of the Latin countries are stabilized. But another great topic of concern that Reding did inquire about was how the free market is a form of “laissez-faire globalization.” Laissez Faire is when the government is “hands off” or not regulating companies, and they do not interfere with their business. While this is a profitable cause it is not at all beneficial to the labor workers.
In controlling major business it could help to create standards, which will then help developing countries to learn how to legislate their own form of economic system. It is clearly stated that the country of Venezuela does not appreciate the value of a Free Market system, and that is has failed to make them prosper. However it does help the gap between the rich and poor to increase. “Today, it pretends that free markets and free trade are the answer to all of the region’s problems, when it is clear that laissez-faire globalization acts to increase the gap between rich and poor (Reding 1).” In conclusion, a Marshall Plan would be very beneficial to many of the countries in Latin America. Hopefully the United States government will also see how they too can become profitable by just “lending a hand.” Additionally, if it is deemed appropriate for the United States troops to be in Iraq when they are not wanted, shouldn’t it also be appropriate for the U. S.
government to facilitate a country that is asking for it? Work Cited. S. Should Form a Marshall Plan For Latin America. 23 Aug. 2004. 28 Oct.
2004.