The Mexican drug cartels are as relevent to modern-day Mexico as the Italian Cosa Nostra was relevent to post-war Italy. Organized crime steps in when the state fails to act. In Mexico, these fuckers with guns run amock, bribing government officials and murdering innocent people. Mexico is a fucked up country with extreme poverty. Because the state doesn't provide people with a welfare service; because there is no escape from Mexico's poverty, what options exist for a hungry, poor mexican with nothing to lose? They can either try to sell plaster statues of Bart Simpson to American tourists and make 5 cents per day, or they can turn to the surrogate government --the organized crime--who will give them a "job". You want to eat tonight? Okay then, drive across the border with 50 pounds of shitty mexican schwag and you'll be set my man, we'll make you so rich that your family will never have to worry about housing or food again.
yeah, right.
La Cosa Nostra, wasn't rampant in Italy after World War II, at least not as rampant as people like you would believe. It was also supported by the US Government, because it was pro-capitalist, and pro-individual.
Besides, if you are going to point to Italy as an example, then tell me when the government of Mexico is going to get off its ass and deal with the Drug Cartels in an effective manner, like the Italian Government did.
Though speaking of Driving across the border. I have, I've been to Juarez. Not exactly the best place to live, but better than others. If the Mexicans would get off their ass and either fight for themselves and abolish their current inept government and destroy the drug cartels they would be able to sweep away the problems facing them.
Inept government, and criminals violating their laws. Of course, like I said before, the most effective way for them to handle the criminals is to DECRIMINALIZE the activity that are making those people criminals. In short, legalizing everything.
Once the criminals are no longer being attacked by the state then they have no reason to fight the state, and thus a return to peace is possible. Of course, the government would need to take a harsh stance on any other criminal activity, such as murder, rape and robbery to discourage those behaviors, but once they do that they will halve, maybe even quarter, the difficulties they are facing.
By attacking drugs they are attacking the way of life of those that are part of the drug cartels, and thus those people are cornered and essentially forced to fight. That doesn't mean they will continue to fight if the challenge is removed, and they are no longer cornered.
Though speaking of Mexico. Do you really think that having all these criminals running around is doing anything good for Mexico? When the average person has to worry about getting caught in the crossfire of a running gun battle between criminals and government agents?
No, either the Mexican government needs to take an aggressive stance similar to that taken by the United States in the 20s (Untouchables) and ruthlessly pursue criminals, or it needs to decriminalize activity.
It should stop fighting its battle like we fought the Vietnam War, where politicians were allowed to interfere in the mission, and change its goals, scope, and purpose at whim.
