Mexican people fight the cartels; government fights the people

Other discussions not related to the Permanent Portfolio

Moderator: Global Moderator

Post Reply
User avatar
Pointedstick
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 8885
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:21 pm
Contact:

Mexican people fight the cartels; government fights the people

Post by Pointedstick »

It seems that the Mexican people are starting to get fed up with their government's incompetence in the face of the drug cartels and are taking up arms to defend their homes. Their government is reacting in an altogether predictable way: by going after them instead of the cartels.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/17/world/ame ... ?hpt=hp_c2
"We want them to go rescue the towns where the people are still being massacred by organized crime," said Estanislao Beltran, a spokesman for the self-defense groups. "When there is peace and security in our state, we will give up our weapons."

Residents, meanwhile, told CNNMexico they're caught in the middle of spiraling violence that shows no sign of slowing. And some observers say it's not clear the government crackdown is working.

"Federal authorities, instead of imposing order, instead of rescuing the cities, they are more like referees," Jose Antonio Ortega, president of the Citizens Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice, told CNNMexico this week. "They are watching the civil war in Michoacan."
Human behavior is economic behavior. The particulars may vary, but competition for limited resources remains a constant.
- CEO Nwabudike Morgan
RuralEngineer
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 686
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:26 pm

Re: Mexican people fight the cartels; government fights the people

Post by RuralEngineer »

When there is that level of violence and savagery there can be no bystanders. The only solution is for every citizen to take up arms and purge the cartels. If the government tries to stop them, purge them too.
Libertarian666
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 5994
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 1969 6:00 pm

Re: Mexican people fight the cartels; government fights the people

Post by Libertarian666 »

No, the only solution is for the government to legalize drugs. Then the cartels will be put out of business by competition from honest businessmen.

Prohibition doesn't work.
Kshartle
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 3559
Joined: Thu Sep 22, 2011 4:38 pm

Re: Mexican people fight the cartels; government fights the people

Post by Kshartle »

Libertarian666 wrote: No, the only solution is for the government to legalize drugs. Then the cartels will be put out of business by competition from honest businessmen.

Prohibition doesn't work.
Do I even need to +1 this?

How can this even be debated anymore?
User avatar
Tortoise
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 2752
Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2010 2:35 am

Re: Mexican people fight the cartels; government fights the people

Post by Tortoise »

Kshartle wrote:
Libertarian666 wrote: No, the only solution is for the government to legalize drugs. Then the cartels will be put out of business by competition from honest businessmen.

Prohibition doesn't work.
Do I even need to +1 this?

How can this even be debated anymore?
+1000

This is a direct result of the U.S. and Mexican governments' failed prohibition policy.
RuralEngineer
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 686
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:26 pm

Re: Mexican people fight the cartels; government fights the people

Post by RuralEngineer »

Libertarian666 wrote: No, the only solution is for the government to legalize drugs. Then the cartels will be put out of business by competition from honest businessmen.

Prohibition doesn't work.
That will help in the long term, but the cartels will just diversify their criminal activity. Legalization will not wipe out the cartels or bring an end to the violence by itself.
User avatar
dualstow
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 15581
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:18 am
Location: searching for the lost Xanadu
Contact:

Re: Mexican people fight the cartels; government fights the people

Post by dualstow »

To some degree the cartels have infiltrated the government, haven't they? That must be the biggest obstacle.

Legalization of drugs must be the only exit. I'm sure the cartels would not give up without a (literal) fight, but I would think the legalization of drugs would ruin them financially. What business would they migrate to? More kidnappings? Not enough to sustain their business (and no demand from the outside world ;-)) Arms? Human trafficking? I think they'd have to take what money they have and form legiitimate businesses, after which the violence will end.
No money in our jackets and our jeans are torn/
your hands are cold but your lips are warm
_ . /
clacy
Executive Member
Executive Member
Posts: 1128
Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2011 8:16 pm

Re: Mexican people fight the cartels; government fights the people

Post by clacy »

Agreed about prohibition.  It's never worked in the past.  It never will work in the future.  But human emotion typically takes over and thinks that the government can is the answer to big challenges. 
Post Reply