Comments on: Mexico: Countering Drug Violence http://www.latintelligence.com/2010/03/16/mexico-countering-drug-violence/ by Shannon K. O'Neil Sat, 28 Jan 2012 03:41:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Bruce http://www.latintelligence.com/2010/03/16/mexico-countering-drug-violence/comment-page-1/#comment-16220 Bruce Wed, 19 May 2010 17:04:17 +0000 http://www.latintelligence.com/?p=673#comment-16220 I think that the discussion about immigration largely misses the point; the US and Mexico have a largely symbiotic relationship that won't change. Restricting immigration won't change that. Simplistically, people will go where the jobs are and US businesses will continue to insist on low wage workers. Where I do take some issue is that your post seems to require that Mexico make the necessary reforms: remove corruption from the courts and police, institute education reforms, etc. I agree that all of those goals are desirable; my reservation lies solely in whether they are possible in light of US drug demand. Isn't it our responsiblity to try to reduce that demand and remove from the Mexican economy as much drug profit as possible? Conversly, is it even possible for any government to undertake these reforms when their country is awash in so much illegal monies? I think that the discussion about immigration largely misses the point; the US and Mexico have a largely symbiotic relationship that won’t change. Restricting immigration won’t change that. Simplistically, people will go where the jobs are and US businesses will continue to insist on low wage workers.

Where I do take some issue is that your post seems to require that Mexico make the necessary reforms: remove corruption from the courts and police, institute education reforms, etc. I agree that all of those goals are desirable; my reservation lies solely in whether they are possible in light of US drug demand. Isn’t it our responsiblity to try to reduce that demand and remove from the Mexican economy as much drug profit as possible? Conversly, is it even possible for any government to undertake these reforms when their country is awash in so much illegal monies?

]]> By: Mike Charlton http://www.latintelligence.com/2010/03/16/mexico-countering-drug-violence/comment-page-1/#comment-16059 Mike Charlton Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:50:19 +0000 http://www.latintelligence.com/?p=673#comment-16059 I think that the discussion about immigration largely misses the point; the US and Mexico have a largely symbiotic relationship that won't change. Restricting immigration won't change that. Simplistically, people will go where the jobs are and US businesses will continue to insist on low wage workers. Where I do take some issue is that your post seems to require that Mexico make the necessary reforms: remove corruption from the courts and police, institute education reforms, etc. I agree that all of those goals are desirable; my reservation lies solely in whether they are possible in light of US drug demand. Isn't it our responsiblity to try to reduce that demand and remove from the Mexican economy as much drug profit as possible? Conversly, is it even possible for any government to undertake these reforms when their country is awash in so much illegal monies? I think that the discussion about immigration largely misses the point; the US and Mexico have a largely symbiotic relationship that won’t change. Restricting immigration won’t change that. Simplistically, people will go where the jobs are and US businesses will continue to insist on low wage workers.

Where I do take some issue is that your post seems to require that Mexico make the necessary reforms: remove corruption from the courts and police, institute education reforms, etc. I agree that all of those goals are desirable; my reservation lies solely in whether they are possible in light of US drug demand. Isn’t it our responsiblity to try to reduce that demand and remove from the Mexican economy as much drug profit as possible? Conversly, is it even possible for any government to undertake these reforms when their country is awash in so much illegal monies?

]]> By: Harvey Sapolsky http://www.latintelligence.com/2010/03/16/mexico-countering-drug-violence/comment-page-1/#comment-16055 Harvey Sapolsky Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:55:27 +0000 http://www.latintelligence.com/?p=673#comment-16055 An open border (not quite our current situation but close to it)is bad in at least three ways. 1) Mexico and other Latin American nations use migration North as a political safety valve. If US reduced illegal immigration, ambitious people in these countries would be a strong force for political and economic change. This change is vitally needed if these countries are to become democratic, prosperous societies less burdened by violence and corruption. 2) The earnings of America's poor would increase as the pool of cheap, illegal workers shrinks. It would cost Americans more to have their grass cut or dishes washed, but that would be the price. The benefits would be more of America's poor working to improve their family situations. Truth be told both American political parties have given up on our own poor. Why else would we be importing another poor population? 3) The rising cost of washing dishes or providing fast food service would also encourage technological change as we would work to eliminate the most boring, unpleasant tasks in society. Cheap wages discourages technological change. An open border (not quite our current situation but close to it)is bad in at least three ways.
1) Mexico and other Latin American nations use migration North as a political safety valve. If US reduced illegal immigration, ambitious people in these countries would be a strong force for political and economic change. This change is vitally needed if these countries are to become democratic, prosperous societies less burdened by violence and corruption.
2) The earnings of America’s poor would increase as the pool of cheap, illegal workers shrinks. It would cost Americans more to have their grass cut or dishes washed, but that would be the price. The benefits would be more of America’s poor working to improve their family situations. Truth be told both American political parties have given up on our own poor. Why else would we be importing another poor population?
3) The rising cost of washing dishes or providing fast food service would also encourage technological change as we would work to eliminate the most boring, unpleasant tasks in society. Cheap wages discourages technological change.

]]> By: Shannon http://www.latintelligence.com/2010/03/16/mexico-countering-drug-violence/comment-page-1/#comment-16052 Shannon Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:27:25 +0000 http://www.latintelligence.com/?p=673#comment-16052 There are costs and benefits of migration for Mexico. While migration does draw away many of its most ambitious and entrepreneurial citizens, it also provides much needed resources to Mexican families, and has been one of the factors leading the increase in Mexico's middle class in the last two decades. Circular migration - the flow of migrants for periods of time to the US and then back again to their home country - can bring the added benefit of allowing migrants to develop new skills that then they bring home. One thing the current US system does is discourage this return to Mexico - as it is too costly for migrants to come back. The Mexican government realizes the costs of migration, and hopes, in the long term, to stem these flows. And, if given the possibility to earn a living at home, a good number of migrants would do just that - stay home. But given the economic realities today, stopping Mexican migration today to the United States (whether legal or illegal) would create a large economic burden on the country, and perhaps lead even more workers into illicit parts of the economy, as they searched desperately for any means to make a living. There are costs and benefits of migration for Mexico. While migration does draw away many of its most ambitious and entrepreneurial citizens, it also provides much needed resources to Mexican families, and has been one of the factors leading the increase in Mexico’s middle class in the last two decades. Circular migration – the flow of migrants for periods of time to the US and then back again to their home country – can bring the added benefit of allowing migrants to develop new skills that then they bring home. One thing the current US system does is discourage this return to Mexico – as it is too costly for migrants to come back.

The Mexican government realizes the costs of migration, and hopes, in the long term, to stem these flows. And, if given the possibility to earn a living at home, a good number of migrants would do just that – stay home. But given the economic realities today, stopping Mexican migration today to the United States (whether legal or illegal) would create a large economic burden on the country, and perhaps lead even more workers into illicit parts of the economy, as they searched desperately for any means to make a living.

]]> By: Anon http://www.latintelligence.com/2010/03/16/mexico-countering-drug-violence/comment-page-1/#comment-16045 Anon Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:20:36 +0000 http://www.latintelligence.com/?p=673#comment-16045 Dear Shannon, You will have to forgive me as my field is US national security, not Latin American or Mexican studies, but it seems to me (after reading your latest post) that Mexico is heading for a crash and that we should help soften it. Wouldn't it be better for Mexico if we were not the door out for the most ambitious among Mexico's citizens. If we controlled the influx into the United States, those who want to get ahead would become a force of change within Mexico. Our desire for cheap labor hinders Mexico's needed change. We are the safety valve for the narrow rich elite in that country. This is not good for Mexico nor the United States. Sincerely, H. Dear Shannon,

You will have to forgive me as my field is US national security, not Latin American or Mexican studies, but it seems to me (after reading your latest post) that Mexico is heading for a crash and that we should help soften it. Wouldn’t it be better for Mexico if we were not the door out for the most ambitious among Mexico’s citizens. If we controlled the influx into the United States, those who want to get ahead would become a force of change within Mexico. Our desire for cheap labor hinders Mexico’s needed change. We are the safety valve for the narrow rich elite in that country. This is not good for Mexico nor the United States.

Sincerely,

H.

]]>