What, if anything, can the US do to ‘fix’ Mexico? Daily, the news cycle reminds us of the Northern migration of folks from Latin, Central, and South America, to the US. For some of those regions, it is quite understandable–many are areas of deep-set poverty or even civil war. But Mexico is an entirely different story. Let’s summarize:
1. Mexico contains massive natural resources, including oil and rare minerals
2. Mexico has thousands of miles of desirable beaches and the tourist trade to go with them
3. Mexico has incredible weather and soil for nearly year-long growing seasons
4. Mexico has a tiny Southern border, and a non-hostile country on its Norther border
5. Mexico has a hard-working population base
6. Mexico has a nearly homogeneous population, which limits culture strife
7. Mexico has port cities on both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans (via Gulf of Mexico), inviting shipping and trade from the entire globe.
Yet Mexico is a Third World Country. Why? What should the US do to ‘free’ Mexico, creating an economic environment that would keep its poor there, to prosper and achieve the life they now feel is only available via border-crossing? That is assuming a huge ‘if’–that Mexico even wants help from its Northern neighbor at all.
I am decidedly uninformed about Mexican history, other than the snippets received in high school, a million years ago. The Olmecs, Mayans, and Aztecs were early civilizations, the latter conquered by Spanish Conquistadors between 1500 and 1600. There is a large gap, then my recollection returns with the Texas-Mexico War (‘Remember the Alamo’) and later, the Mexican-American War. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 marks the last official conflict between the US and Mexico, establishing the existing Southern border of the US. When you discuss with La Raza (‘The Race’), and their claims that much of Southwest United States, including California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas, was ‘stolen’ from the rightful owners (them, of course), you may refer to this treaty. The US gave all Mexicans the option of staying in their respective locations, and becoming US citizens, or departing for points South to retain Mexican citizenship. As with all conquests, the winner gets to set the parameters of ending the conflict. If Mexico truly believes the La Raza claims, one country must re-declare war on another to resolve such claims. As of this date, that foolishness has not occurred. Instead, Mexico exports many of its less-desirable populations, either economically or criminally, Northward. Unfortunately for citizens of the US, there are perceived advantages from both major US political parties, which allows this to continue. One side sees a perpetual near-slave-labor pool, the other a new voting bloc. If the political will existed, this ‘problem’ could be solved nearly instantly.
But the questions remain: why, with all of the natural and inherent advantages listed above, isn’t Mexico a thriving, first-world country? This is the clearest example of political failure, geopolitically, over the last few centuries. In order for Mexico to achieve, it must correct its political and drug cartel problems, which are intermixed. The cartels are effectively stronger than the actual government, so corruption is hand-in-hand with elections and other government services. One supposes that controlling or eliminating the cartels would be a necessary first step. All other steps, such as establishing an inclusive, working economy and education system, one that lures people TO Mexico, rather than FROM (to the US), would be secondary. Maybe then a rule-of-law system can replace the ‘graft at every level’ system in place now? One can dream. Until then, Mexico will squander its resources, looking like Venezuela North. Shame.
The late, great Jerry Pournelle said ‘Freedom + Cheap energy = Wealth’. Mexico has cheap energy. It must lack freedom.
By ‘freedom’, Jerry meant both political and economic freedom. My experiences of Mexico do not persuade me that modern Mexico lacks political freedom, so the lack must be economic freedom. What I saw persuaded me that Mexico is driven by crony capitalism. The system has ossified to continue to benefit the wealthy. The only way up is through the drug cartels.
I do not understand Mexican economics and social systems well enough to propose a solution. Nor is it my business to propose a solution. Nor yours. If Mexico desires change, then Mexicans must find a solution. I do not foresee that happening in my lifetime.