# What the fuck is wrong with Mexico? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 18, 2010, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615 "2010-12-18T08:49:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/21 "2010-12-18T18:27:51Z")
“Pity poor Mexico. So far from God, so close to the USA.” - Porfirio Diaz ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/22 "2010-12-18T18:29:27Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > The silence, and the complacency, of the Mexican citizenry is deafening. > > . The silence and/or complacency derives from two main sources: one, don’t give a shit, or two, don’t want to die. ---
**Author:** ![Keith\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@Keith\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith_Berry)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/23 "2010-12-18T18:29:34Z")
I visited Mexico as a drug tourist back in 2004…all the open drug markets (especially in Cancun) were protected/regulated by uniform policemen, and the dealers were fearless and quite vocal in their approaches to the passerby. Never saw anything like it in my life, and probably won’t ever see an equivelent. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/24 "2010-12-18T18:33:18Z")
“If you’re looking to get silly, you best go back to from where you came 'Cause the cops don’t need you and, man, they expect the same…” _Just Like Tom Thumb Blues_ St. Robert of Hibbing ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/25 "2010-12-18T18:42:55Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Perhaps CIA targeted assassinations of drug lords, spraying Agent Orange on drug fields, and so on might be a good idea … Those are good ideas!!.. so is the idea of raising a large civilian ex-military volunteer militia and sending them down there to clean them out. In the meantime, my idea, is to build a long secure wall along the entire Mexican border, and have our US Army patrol it, enforce it, to at least “contain” these crimes and these criminals to Mexico and keep them and their crimes out of the USA. If we “wall them out” then maybe some Mexican citizens might be forced to deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![Keith\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@Keith\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith_Berry)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/26 "2010-12-18T18:47:23Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > Those are good ideas!!.. so is the idea of raising a large civilian ex-military volunteer militia and sending them down there to clean them out. > > In the meantime, my idea, is to build a long secure wall along the entire Mexican border, and have our US Army patrol it, enforce it, to at least “contain” these crimes and these criminals to Mexico and keep them and their crimes out of the USA. > > If we “wall them out” then maybe some Mexican citizens might be forced to deal with it. I’m fairly sure that the cartels would just find another way to get drugs into the US…we are talking about billions of dollars here. Stamp out American demand for drugs (though I admit, I have no idea how to do that) and it’ll stop coming. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/27 "2010-12-18T18:51:09Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > So you don’t support marijuana legalization? I didn’t notice where you had called for the legalization of marijuana in that post. Perhaps you could point it out? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/28 "2010-12-18T18:53:53Z")
A wall? Thousand miles long, twenty feet high, thick enough so they can’t punch through. Right through the middle of the Godforsaken Desert. Right. Sure. You bet. “You just keep thinking, Butch, that’s what you’re good at!” - The Sundance Kid ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/29 "2010-12-18T18:54:55Z")
> [@Keith\_Berry](#): > > I’m fairly sure that the cartels would just find another way to get drugs into the US…we are talking about billions of dollars here. Stamp out American demand for drugs (though I admit, I have no idea how to do that) and it’ll stop coming. You will never ever do that. Ever. It cannot be done while we are still _Homo sapiens sapiens_. People like to get high. Always have, always will. Hell, it’s so ingrained in our DNA that you can see it even in children: ever watched a kid twirl around, get dizzy and fall down laughing? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/30 "2010-12-18T19:04:51Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > “Pity poor Mexico. So far from God, so close to the USA.” > > - Porfirio Diaz Diaz was a man after **Qin Shi Huangdi** ’s heart, but really there’s no way we (meaning the US) can presume to have “answers” (whether they be Abe Lincoln or drug legalization) for a country that we try so hard to ignore, and almost deliberately misunderstand. A country that is right next to us, no less. Could you pass me a Corona? ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/31 "2010-12-18T19:12:18Z")
The US prohibition of some drugs does provide a market. I am, in fact, in favor of eliminating most drug laws. Even so, the existence of the black market does not oblige anybody to become a criminal and attempt to exploit it. Look at it this way: we also prohibit kiddie porn and the sexual exploitation of children here. Shall we blame the US and its laws for the actions of pornographers and pimps? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/32 "2010-12-18T19:15:04Z")
> [@Susanann](#): > > In the meantime, my idea, is to build a long secure wall along the entire Mexican border… In fact, one wall [isn’t enough](http://www.theonion.com/video/mexico-builds-border-wall-to-keep-out-us-assholes,14349/). ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/33 "2010-12-18T19:22:58Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > First, I was the “other poster” who mentioned alcohol prohibition, in the OP. Second, where do you get the impression that I (or anyone else who has posted in this thread) think there’s a “simple solution” for correcting the lawlessness and violence in Mexico? This topic comes up from time to time on this board and many times there are posters that come up with a ridiculously simple solution. Look at some of the posts in this thread that followed mine. > [@](#): > > Surely the regular commission of murders and atrocities must be provoking more of an outcry than a 1 woman vigil? Of course it is. Again you base your question on what seems to be a very limited coverage from your sources. The great majority of the people here are afraid, disgusted and share a feeling of hopelessness. Most wish we could go back to 2006 before Calderón started his incredibly stupid attack on the cartels. Then there was nowhere near the violence you see today. Law enforcement will never eliminate the problem and wasting lives and resources fighting an un-winnable war is extremely foolish. Let me ask you a question. If this problem is to be dealt with through law enforcement, why can’t your government stop the drugs from entering your country? You have what seems unlimited resources at your service and well paid law officers immune to bribery. Why do drugs continue to enter in enormous quantities? If what we need is an iron willed leader as has been suggested in this thread to stamp out the corruption and violenece, what grand plan do you need? ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/34 "2010-12-18T19:54:31Z")
> [@guizot](#): > > In fact, one wall [isn’t enough](http://www.theonion.com/video/mexico-builds-border-wall-to-keep-out-us-assholes,14349/). Ha ha ha! “Abercrombie wearing assholes.” ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/35 "2010-12-18T20:17:45Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > Let me ask you a question. If this problem is to be dealt with through law enforcement, why can’t your government stop the drugs from entering your country? You have what seems unlimited resources at your service and well paid law officers immune to bribery. Why do drugs continue to enter in enormous quantities? If what we need is an iron willed leader as has been suggested in this thread to stamp out the corruption and violenece, what grand plan do you need? We seem to be winning the drug war on this side of the border. At least according to our own definition of winning. What Mexico cannot afford if for the USA to have really effective border security. It would reduce the value of the drug trade, but would also reduce the opportunities for illegal immigration, and it seems like illegal immigration is part of Mexico’s economic plan. You could say we have an arrangement where we are really bad at immigration enforcement and Mexico is really bad at drug enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/36 "2010-12-18T20:34:27Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > Law enforcement will never eliminate the problem and wasting lives and resources fighting an un-winnable war is extremely foolish. Yet this kind of barbarism is rare in the US, people get dead, but it takes another layer of evil to dismember corpses and use their heads as warnings to others. If this kind of violence broke out in a US state you would see massive federal level intervention, national guard, martial law, basically lay seige to the problem till they are rooted out or the population stops harboring those who are part of the problem. > [@](#): > > Let me ask you a question. If this problem is to be dealt with through law enforcement, why can’t your government stop the drugs from entering your country? Because attempts to ramp up border law enforcement are often met with cries of racism. NatGeo channel runs a series called “Border Wars” the creativity and hard work used to conceal drugs in vehicles is amazing. They sometimes have to completely tear a car apart and find hundreds of pounds of drugs tucked in areas that a cursory search of the passenger compartment and trunk would never turn up. The scale of searches needed would bring cross border commerce to a screeching halt. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/37 "2010-12-18T20:55:16Z")
> [@CBEscapee](#): > > Let me ask you a question. If this problem is to be dealt with through law enforcement, why can’t your government stop the drugs from entering your country? Because a shipment of drugs is smaller and harder to find than the process used to create that shipment. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/38 "2010-12-18T21:09:16Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > The irony. The willful ignorance is more apt. Most/many/a majority of the guns used by the cartels originate in the USA. And I am a proponent of guns for everyone. I still believe that an armed society is a polite society. Or maybe Mexico needs to employ American mercenaries like the USA did in Iraq? Where the hell are _The Magnificent Seven_ when we need them? Bring our troops home from Afghanistan and Iraq, put them on the border with a simple mandate: keep everyone out. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/39 "2010-12-18T21:09:55Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Because a shipment of drugs is smaller and harder to find than the process used to create that shipment. …and I’m sure we can be quite effective in making those operations go away. Unfortunately the Mexican government would probably resist the volume of smart munitions landing on Mexican soil. The problem isn’t just US demand, its the idea that its “worth” trying to fill it. If I tried to set up a drug production network here in the US I would most likely end up in prison in very short order, thus, not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615/40 "2010-12-18T21:11:54Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Because a shipment of drugs is smaller and harder to find than the process used to create that shipment. If you can make excuses for your country, why shouldn’t we have the same luxury? You have all types of high tech detection systems and access to unlimited funds. Let me ask you this. Why should we be concerned about illegal drugs entering your country? Another solution might be for our country just to look the other way. Interdiction on your soil is your problem. That basically is what the US does when it comes to guns coming from the US into our country. But because they are legal in your country, little is done to stop them from coming south. Maybe we should unilaterally legalize drugs and leave it completely up to you to keep them from crossing into your country. That would save us a lot of grief. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-mexico/564615.md?page=3)