BajaNomad

Very interesting article on Mexico

bajajudy - 3-24-2009 at 07:11 AM

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/opinion/24krauze.html?th=&...

capn.sharky - 3-24-2009 at 08:02 AM

Good points in this article, Judy. But, Mexico waited too long to fight the cartels. By waiting, they are now out gunned and many officials are on the drug guys payroll (do you want gold or lead?). The same thing happened in Columbia. Mexico will eventually win this war against the drug lords---but it will take time. Also, I think our government needs to get more involved in stopping the drug trafficing in Mexico---just as we did in Columbia. When we cut off the drug routes in the Atlantic, the cartels had to move their products to the west coast. Still, there are many places in Mexico that are safe to visit. Usually, they are in smaller towns. As the two or three factions fight each other for control of the drug trade, there will be killings. We have a vested interest in helping Mexico with this problem as it is spilling over the border onto our side. We also need to figure out how to take the profit out of drugs here in the U.S. I thing legalizing marijuna and selling it in gov't stores for less that street costs could be an answer. However, beyond that, for instance coke or speed, causes some concern to me.

Osprey - 3-24-2009 at 08:11 AM

Thanks Judy. Great article. And thanks Sharky for your take on things. The translator, Hank Heifetz must be joined at the hip with the author. He's the guy who translated Krauze's Spanish into flawless English in the best history book ever written about Mexico -- it should be a must for students of Mexico and the U.S.
My fear about the drugs now is "Chucky" (pronounced Choocky) -- as in "Bride of Chucky", the movie. It has taken over as drug of choice of the common worker here -- it's a bad batch of crack and it will kill you if you stay with it.

burnrope - 3-24-2009 at 08:16 AM

It's not an article, it's an opinion piece. It reads to me like more myopic whinning. Let's blame the US for our problems.

redmesa - 3-24-2009 at 08:50 AM

A good superficial defense of Mexico...but as with all nations the histories, systems, and troubles are complex.
I believe, as many do, that Mexico needs to pay and train the police and the military much better. When facing a life or death situation, a person needs a strong motivation to act...and low pay and poor training just won't cut it.

makana.gabriel - 3-24-2009 at 09:42 AM

I thought that was a great article Judy and right on the mark. Let's get this to Anderson Cooper whose nightly diatribes on CNN are bordering irresponsible!

Bajahowodd - 3-24-2009 at 09:57 AM

When the "failed state" allegations were first made, I actually listed a number of reasons why that label did not apply, on another thread here. I wonder if Krauze monitors the board.

There are some basic realities. Yes. The United States is the largest consumer of illicit drugs in the world. And there is actually no close second. Yes. Our own government acknowledges that at least 90% of the weapons used by the cartels come from the United States.

With that in mind, how can we expect Mexico's young democracy to quickly eradicate the cartels on their own? It will take time and outside help. We could go a long way by legalizing some of the soft drugs, controling distribution, and taxing it. That would take a big gust of wind out of the cartel's sails.

Woooosh - 3-24-2009 at 10:02 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by burnrope
It's not an article, it's an opinion piece. It reads to me like more myopic whinning. Let's blame the US for our problems.


Blaming the USA is the only approach they are good at. It is also the tool they use to extort money from the US gov't to fight their fight. When the USA needed only some verbal support from Mexico over the Iraq war- Mexico took the opportunity to vocally not support us. I think Mexico needs to come up with better ideas- like stopping the drugs from entering and transiting through Mexico on their south border inte first place.

[Edited on 3-24-2009 by Woooosh]

schwlind - 3-24-2009 at 10:09 AM

Please excuse me for asking this silly question, but who will be taxed for "legalized" drugs... the seller?... the purchaser?...

And if the steep taxes currently in effect (or planned) for the other "sin-type" consumables... (alcohol... cigarettes) would be also applied to drugs ... would not the legalization of "some" drugs only create a "black market" to avoid the taxation?

Just wonderin...
Linda

BajaDave - 3-24-2009 at 10:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by schwlind
Please excuse me for asking this silly question, but who will be taxed for "legalized" drugs... the seller?... the purchaser?...

And if the steep taxes currently in effect (or planned) for the other "sin-type" consumables... (alcohol... cigarettes) would be also applied to drugs ... would not the legalization of "some" drugs only create a "black market" to avoid the taxation?

Just wonderin...
Linda


Have you heard about much crime lately that was caused by the "black market" of "steeply taxed" booze or cigarettes?

Oh, I'm sure there is some... don't get me wrong. But it's all about scale. It's been said a hundred times already, but remember Prohibition's example.

Let's consider moving on to "harm reduction" measures.

BajaGringo - 3-24-2009 at 10:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
When the USA needed only some verbal support from Mexico over the Iraq war- Mexico took the opportunity to vocally not support us.


Are you saying that Mexico should have supported the US in the Iraq war??? I was actually quite pleased to see that they had the cajones not to...

Sharksbaja - 3-24-2009 at 12:10 PM

To the chagrin of the failed U.S. drug poilcy makers things won't change fast along the drug front. Legalization, while a serious alternative and solution to the average citizen, it is not something under consideration by the Feds.

State laws on the other hand may be voted in by the people and could even decriminalize(it was done befote) and/or legalize some drugs. Because Federal law trumps state law I don't see that occuring any time soon tho. Hasn't that always been the conundrum?

Hope is that this administration will end the govts' illegal involvement in international trafficking and let states do what the people want, and that means less crappy pot coming over the border and endangering consumers.

I much rather see consumers using "quality" drugs and not some stuff sprayed with chemicals or made in a bathtub.

Woooosh - 3-24-2009 at 12:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
When the USA needed only some verbal support from Mexico over the Iraq war- Mexico took the opportunity to vocally not support us.


Are you saying that Mexico should have supported the US in the Iraq war??? I was actually quite pleased to see that they had the cajones not to...


I'm not saying they weren't right (we all know now they were). What I'm saying is there is a politcal price paid when countries don't fall in line and blindly support the USA- especially when they are our neighbors and are hoping for amnesty for their people. I might have just stayed silent if I were Mexico instead of being vocally negative.

redmesa - 3-24-2009 at 01:29 PM

But Mexico was right about the Iraq invasion!! The U.S. had it all wrong...yet again!

nancyinpdx - 3-24-2009 at 03:01 PM

I, too, admire Mexico for having the guts to voice their opposition to the war.

Bajahowodd - 3-24-2009 at 04:53 PM

Wooosh- Political price may be right. While I disagreed with GWBush on so many issues, he has been a long time friend of Mexico. The price paid may just have been that no constructive effort on the immigration issue was achieved during his administration.

Woooosh - 3-24-2009 at 07:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Wooosh- Political price may be right. While I disagreed with GWBush on so many issues, he has been a long time friend of Mexico. The price paid may just have been that no constructive effort on the immigration issue was achieved during his administration.

I think that's exactly right. It cost them 8 years and now the economy won't permit for an amnesty.

Bajahowodd - 3-24-2009 at 11:45 PM

Good point. Illegals are returning to Mexico in droves because of the lack of jobs here. So, it looks like we'll have a deja vu moment in a few years when crops need to be plowed under for lack of enough labor to pick stuff.

BajaGringo - 3-25-2009 at 01:11 AM

That's impossible...

I keep hearing over and over the minutemen crowd insist that all those unemployed gringos north of the border are falling all over themselves trying to line up and take those jobs.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

LOSARIPES - 3-25-2009 at 04:51 AM

IMHO... Mexico will never stop drug traffic as long as there is a market in the USA and the USA knows that quite well. Mexico might be able to curtail its flow and that's what they are trying to do.

If the USA doesn't fight consumption and keeps demanding drugs, Mexico, which happens to be its neighbor will continue to be the entry door.

The weapon's flow to Mexico from the USA is and has been a problem long time neglected by both countries and now that the battle is in the 3rd round, Mexico cries for help. The USA keeps saying "no comprende'....
As for the jobs in the USA, it will take a miracle before we see blond heads on the fields picking lettuce and tomatoes.

Pescador - 3-25-2009 at 11:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by LOSARIPES
As for the jobs in the USA, it will take a miracle before we see blond heads on the fields picking lettuce and tomatoes.


I am not sure that is a very accurate statement. I went to school (admittedly, a few years ago) in an area that is famous for its lettuce production, and college students loved to do that job because it paid well and conincided with our summers out of school. The same exact thing happened in the hayfields of Northern Colorado where we loved to get on a hay crew where we were outdoors, doing heavy work and making good seasonal money.
Sadly, what changed that was when the migrant workers started increasing and it was no longer safe for the blond haired, blue eyed guys to be in the field at the same time. During the transition, some of us who spoke the language and knew lot of the workers well were accepted, but our careers were cut short and we were led to understand that this was no longer our domain.
So, I suspect that the verbage about the crops rotting in the ground is strictly verbage and I suspect in this down economy that there might be a lot of willing workers. Why just yesterday I had someone doing the drywall on my garage that actually spoke english :tumble:

LOSARIPES - 3-26-2009 at 05:06 AM

Pescador
OK. You may be right. I sure hope so. If the Americans took those jobs, illegal influx would recede. However, along with American workers on the field, we would also have to expect some changes: Improved working conditions; Union rules; Workmen compensations; Unemployment payment; Medical insurance; OSHA regulations (both fed and state); etc.... all of that would burden the cost of the average salad plate at table in the US.
It would simply be better -cheaper- to import from Mexico, where those "displaced" Mexican workers would be farming.
But this may be too much speculation on my part. Who knows?