Alvaro Vargas Llosa has a brilliant – and I mean a most brilliant – essay, both in original thought and in exquisite writing – on Bolivia and the dangerous role of Evo Morales. He points out that Morales’ problem is not globalization, as Morales so drearily claims, but something most people don’t realize: U.S. subsidies and dictator-coddling, something that propped up Bolivian tinpots for years and encouraged them to nationalize their countries instead of listen to reason, pay their way, and engage markets. These sad layers of U.S. policy have ended all possibility of economic growth.

He’s right.

It beautifully complements the original and eloquent thinking of Carlo Alberto Montaner, in his essay on Bolivia below. It makes you wonder if the two essays arose out of a conversation between them, given that they are co-authors of an important book now out in paperback on Latin America.

Vargas Llosa’s essay on Tech Central Station is an absolute must-read here.

UPDATE: Alvicho has a thoughtful analysis of the two pieces here.