Ever see those shantytowns outside Rio, Sao Paulo and Caracas? America's future......... [/B]
I'm not sure you can say that the favelas will ever be an American item. Favelas are usually the construct of extremely poor people from the countryside moving closer to the city to look for work. I doubt we'll see that....they're half-ass buildings put together and then electricity and water is stolen from other main lines and the people have free everything...even internet and tv. I've seen it.
Mexico City is probably the best example I'd say...I was in Brazil last month in Rio's largest favela...it's a shithole, but people are just people. They're not really maddening drug lands like they're made out to be. Just a bunch of poor people who can't really afford to live where others do.
It's a pretty incredible structure they have and while druglords do control the overall temperament, that actually keeps things peaceful usually because there are strict rules about thievery and stuff.
Won't ever happen here. A lot of those favelas are because of lack of government assistance and lack of government oversight of employment opportunities.