the development question is sadly rare in this medium, and the response was underwhelming. the key thing to understand is that the best way for america to help development is not to do more but to do less. a much better president once developed something called the good neighbour policy, which was a non-intervention strategy. it was an excellent, progressive, forward-thinking idea. it didn't take long for the blasted monroe doctrine to reassert itself, with continued disastrous consequences. before we knew it, we were secretly funding contras to suppress the population by carrying out weapon sales to iran.

three major ideas will help reverse the violence:

1) end the drug war. legalize it.
2) stop overthrowing elected governments that are trying to end the violence.
3) put the free trade agreements that they signed at the tip of a gun through a paper shredder.

none of these are in the realm of discourse. and, a neighbour who "resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others" is not looking to be a likely development in the near future.