Mexico Continued So as not to abuse Steve's hospitality twice in one week, I'll post a link to a continuation of STRATFOR's discussion of Mexico, this time by Scott Stewart. The link is Mexico: The Struggle for Balance | STRATFOR The article begins with "This week’s Geopolitical Intelligence Report provided a high-level assessment of the economic forces that affect how the Mexican people and the Mexican government view the flow of narcotics through that country. Certainly at that macro level, there is a lot of money flowing into Mexico and a lot of people, from bankers and businessmen to political parties and politicians, are benefiting from the massive influx of cash. The lure of this lucre shapes how many Mexicans (particularly many of the Mexican elite) view narcotics trafficking. It is, frankly, a good time to be a banker, a real estate developer or a Rolex dealer in Mexico." And, as usual, I have to include This report is republished with permission of STRATFOR
I was just going to post a link to that newer article Mixz1. The new one also discusses how businesses in Mexico are being hurt by both having to pay extortion (protection) money AND by the fact that the violence here hurts tourism. Many business owners are squeezed from both ends.
You mean, like conflict-free diamonds? Hmmm, I'll speak to my niece the marketer, you might have something there. We could add "organic" to the label, maybe sell in Colorado. Try not to generalize about a population of 300million plus. I have eight siblings, all with families, jobs, houses, mortgages, baseball and the beach, and none of them is looking to drugs to find meaning in life. They are far too busy to be bored, have precious few minutes and probably wouldn't use even one of them to feel your insult. I, on the other hand, am retired and have lots of time.
kellygirl - I should have added a disclaimer to my statement making it clear that I WAS KIDDING!!!!! It was a joke! I am a non-drug using, unspolied American. No need to feel insulted by a joke.
Legislation does not good & military might doesn't seem to be doing that much better! I have read all of the postings regarding "Mexico - a failed state!" and it appears that the United States of America may also be placed in that same category, as well...!! Since the 1920's when the FBI was formed to fight organized crime during prohibition (possibly the 1st illegal consumable!), they have been "fighting" Organized Crime in all of it's many shapes and forms for 90 years now...... Is the USA any closer to solving it's crime problems than Mexico is..?? I think that we all know what the answer is. Since the USA now has so many "alphabet agencies" fighting crime in all of it's forms - illegal drugs, illegal firearms, gangs, money laundering schemes, prostitution, counterfieting, child prostitution, illegal immigrants, terrorism (after 9/11) and the list goes on and on - We now have the CIA, FBI, ATF, DEA, ICE & US Coast Guard..and I am sure there are even more, but i think you get the idea! How many "alphabet" agencies does Mexico have? To fight crime...??? Not sure. I don't even know where the answer lies. If the USA legalizes drugs such as MJ, heroin, cocaine, crack and anything else that stupid people want to get into their bodies.....would you want to know that your child's 4th grade teacher came to school high on crack cocaine or had just an hour earlier had just shot up with heroin..?? Or the bus driver, heavy equipment operator, cop, fireman......??????? The United States has spent billions of dollars over the years fighting the easy access to drugs and guns and everything else illegal and we are no further along in these battles than we were over 60 years ago.. And it seems that the most common reason for arrest (when it happens!) is not drugs or guns or human trafficking BUT.... failing to pay Federal Income Tax - evasion of income taxes..!! The most common reason for incarceration. Does anyone know what the most "popular" legal business is for organized crime??? THE WASTE DISPOSAL BUSINESS...with easy access to landfills! What a way to dispose of your enemies...!! The same is true in Mexico and even in the city of Cancun. Politicians are paid off for trash hauling contracts. About 10 years ago, myself and a Mexican friend had an idea for a recycling business, starting in the Hotel Zone and then in the city. I did a lot of online research regarding existing recycling systems in Mexico, as a whole and found that there was only one recycling company on the US/Mexican border....in all of Mexico! I asked my friend to try to find out where the city trash haulers dumped all that was collected.... He followed the trash truck out of the city for about 40 miles to the middle of nowhere....and when the truck turned onto another road - there were 2 man armed with automatic machine guns at this road.!!! Is the trash that Valuable? OR....was it something else that did not want to be seen? At that point...he turned around and that was the end of our recycling scheme in Cancun. Mexico sends it's army troops to the border towns either in an attempt to quell the violence...or...just make a show of doing it. For sure the illegal money flowing into Mexico helps boost a very lagging economy with extensive construction providing needed jobs.. Honestly, I don't think that anyone here has the answers if both the USA and Mexico - DO NOT! Thanks for letting me rant........
I am just going to repost what I just posted on the other thread: An interesting article entitled:"Play catch-up with Mexico Often considered NAFTA's weakest link, the emerging market is coming on strong On Monday, the Mexican Bolsa index, the country's top equity benchmark, hit a new high, only to soar even higher yesterday. The Mexican peso, meanwhile, reached its highest level since early October 2008 yesterday and remains the top-performing currency among emerging markets this year." The whole article here: Play catch-up with Mexico
