What Latin America Can Teach Us About Political Promise
by Jean Gamarra, Carter County Brigade Captain in Oklahoma
On a recent visit to Colombia and my native Peru, I was reminded how easily societies can fall for political promises that sound compassionate but ultimately deliver misery. In both countries, I saw tactics that mirror what’s beginning to emerge in some U.S. local elections: populist rhetoric offering “free” programs, greater government control, and ideological promises disconnected from economic reality.
In Colombia, Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla and the nation’s first leftist president, rose to power in 2022 on a campaign of populism. His coalition promised free healthcare, education, and wealth redistribution, and cuts to oil exploration. It appealed to voters frustrated with inequality, a strategy long used in Latin American politics. By the 2023 local elections, Petro’s popularity plummeted and his party was routed in key cities. His divisive policies and unsustainable plans left voters disillusioned when they realized those promises came with steep costs to society, and few results.
Peru’s experience echoed Colombia’s. In 2021, Pedro Castillo, a Marxist schoolteacher, won the presidency by courting rural voters with pledges of land redistribution and state-run reforms. Agrarian reform was already tried in 1969 and failed. An educator like Castillo should have already known this but he ignored history and his presidency quickly spiraled. Corruption scandals and a failed coup attempt by Castillo in 2022 against the opposition controlled Congress ultimately ended his time in office, leaving Peru even more divided. Time and again, socialist policies in Latin America collapse under the weight of unrealistic expectations and weakened institutions.
Unfortunately, similar themes are now appearing in America—particularly in left-leaning city councils and local races. Progressive candidates often promote policies like defunding the police, rent and food control, or universal basic income. These ideas are framed as solutions to inequality but frequently ignore the practical challenges facing cities: rising crime, vagrancy, and failing infrastructure.
I became a U.S. citizen because I believe in the American system of limited government, personal liberty, and a free-market economy. These values have lifted millions out of poverty, including immigrants like me but when Americans succumb to emotional appeals that prioritize ideology over practicality, the risk grows that we’ll repeat the mistakes of Latin America.
The U.S. does have stronger institutions, but trust in those institutions can erode quickly when government overreaches or fails to deliver. In Colombia, Petro’s agenda alienated moderates. In Peru, Castillo’s populism brought destructive, nationwide protests. These are warnings for American communities considering similar progressive experiments at the local level.
The lesson is clear: catchy, progressive slogans can win elections, but they never solve problems—in fact, they exacerbate them. If we want our cities and counties to thrive, we must elect leaders who are grounded in common sense reality and pragmatic solutions rather than the fanciful theories of democratic socialists.
Local engagement is our strongest defense. As someone who has seen socialism fail firsthand, I urge Americans to stay vigilant. We are not Latin America but if we’re not careful, we could follow its path.