Mexico Faces Growing Gap Between Political Class and Calls for Change

[cbayer]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/13/world/in-mexico-a-growing-gap-between-political-class-and-calls-for-change.html?_r=0

By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD
DEC. 12, 2014


El Pericon, Mexico, the hometown of Alexander Mora, 19, the first of 43 students missing since September whose remains have been officially identified. Credit Adriana Zehbrauskas for The New York Times

MEXICO CITY — As the Nobel Peace Prize was being awarded in Oslo this week, a young man dashed on stage, unfurled a Mexican flag streaked with red paint and begged for help for his country because more than 40 college students have been missing for months after clashing with the police.

At the Latin Grammy Awards ceremony in Las Vegas last month, the big winners, Calle 13, shouted solidarity with the victims as they performed. At home, mass marches have regularly filled Mexican streets with angry calls for the government to act against corruption and crime.

But is the country’s political class listening?

In the coming days, Mexico is expected to name a special prosecutor to investigate corruption — a supposed Elliot Ness who would spare no sacred cows and answer the clamor of the public. The prosecutor is supposed to finally root out bribery, favoritism, kickbacks and reveal the kinds of organized crime that prosecutors say were at play in the case of the missing students.

more at link

[Comrade Grumpy]

1. Same old same old for Mexico.

They'll probably bust some people from the last sexenio and claim they've cleaned house.

Happens every few years.

[cbayer]

2. You could be right, but there is a growing tension that may become explosive.

Mexico also has a history of dramatic revolutions, but civil and with outsiders.

There is a sense that things must change at this point.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. Well, I keep thinking things are at the breaking point, but they never actually break.

One thing about the whole Iguala situation is that it illustrates that the problems of corruption, complicity, and impunity seem to infect all the political parties. The mayor and his wife, and the governor, were PRD.

I almost feel bad for Pena Nieto in that regard. Almost.

[cbayer]

4. Strongly agree that the infection at the PRD level is really disturbing,

but that is one of the reasons I think change may come.

I don't feel bad for Pena Nieto at all. He's up to his neck in the corruption.

FWIW, many people in Mexico feel strongly that Obama is a big part of the problem.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. Why do they think Obama is part of the problem?

Because he's acting like an American president?

The immigration issue? He has been the deporter-in-chief.

[cbayer]

6. It has to do more with trade issues and the US being complicit in drug and gun trafficing.

Deportation is also any issue, and I have met scores of people who lived in the US from childhood who are now back in Mexico. In many cases, their english is better than their spanish.

It's hard to tell exactly what is going on. Mexicans tend to hold their cards tight to their chest when around gringos. I try to talk to people when I can, but I often encounter a high level of anxiety.

The fact that Obama was silent on the kidnappings and murders until just this week has not helped.

[Comrade Grumpy]

7. Yeah, well, trade and drugs and guns are perennial issues. They predated Obama...

...and they'll still be issues after he's gone. He can be criticized for not making radical breaks with past policies, I suppose. But, yeah, he's acting like an American president. I guess I'm saying I think it's not Obama they have a problem with as much as it is continuing US policies. I'm sure Mexicans will be just as unhappy with the next guy (or gal).

I take it you're living down there. Where are you, if you don't mind?

[cbayer]

8. Very much about continuing US policies.

That is something I also take issue with.

I don't think Mexicans hold the US responsible or in any way expect the US to fix things. But they do recognize that the US feeds the problems when it could starve them.

Right now I am in Bahia de Banderas. I have my residente temporal and plan to stay indefinitely.

[Comrade Grumpy]

9. Yes. A lot of our Mexico policies suck pretty bad.

I've never been to the Puerto Vallarta area.

Probably spent about three years of my life in Mexico though, over several dozen trips. Lots of time in the Bajio, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Michoacan.

Last time, I needed dental work done. I flew from Oakland to Mexico City, spent two weeks in a cheap hotel near the Monument to the Revolution, had a nice working vacation, got my dental work done, and it was still cheaper than going across the street to the dentist here.

[cbayer]

10. It's a wonderful country.

I've been in about 23 states so far, each different and wonderful in it's own way.

The dentistry is phenomenal and there is a whole industry in some of the border areas. Medical care is also really great.

Hope you get back here sometime soon.

[Comrade Grumpy]

11. Me, too. Maybe I'll retire there.

Hasta la vista.