Over the course of 2003, InfoAmericas will publish thoughts and insights concerning the FTAA and the changing political opinion in the region regarding free trade. Two years ago, our Tendencias articles correctly predicted a political backlash against many of the neo-liberal policies instituted across the region in the 1990s. In the region's now-vociferous democracies, the political elite is quickly learning to heed public opinion or face extermination at the polls. Lula, Chavez, Lagos, Toledo, and Fox were all elected to move their countries towards the center and/or run cleaner governments.