Yes, it's kind of like that. We're all (and I include myself here) jealous of Brazil., but still really all stuck in the same mud with our political and economic issues.

There are some cultural and linguistic differences, of course. I think Brazil was able to avoid much of the chaos of the early 1900s and the post-independence battles the Spanish colonies went through because it was still controlled by the Portuguese monarchyn in exile. But later, the forces of global capitalism have leveled things a bit, and now they're seeing many of the same battles as we are.

If Lula wins the Presidency again, it'll be interesting to see what happens! Mostly because it's not likely Argentina's Peronists, his close allly, will get a second term.

Never a dull moment here :D