Where blame lays

Corruption in Mexico and the US proxy war on drugs being fought in Mexico to meet US demand are completely separate issues. Mexico never had much of a problem with narcos, except a periferal one, because they were generating much needed money and filling a vacuum the government and our economy didn't otherwise fill. Narcos have long been considered heroes and benevolent benefactors in parts of Mexico. Don't confuse narcos with the rest of the country's security problems. Since Calderón began playing your war on drugs game, every crime statistic in the country has gone up, and that is all going to change as soon as the PRI wins the next presidential election.

Scott is right on. The US duplicitous and failed policy towards banned intoxicants is the core of the problem. US folks talk about narco violence spilling over into the USA, while we see the problem as exactly the opposite: the US narco violence has spilled over into Mexico.

Please don't measure Mexico using a US yardstick. We have a culture of tolerance. Several intoxicants banned in the USA have long been accepted here in Mexico and were only made illegal here under US pressure.

Our problems with lawlessness and corruption are only made worse by Mexico allowing itself to be dragged into trying to play the US's game. My goodness, your so-called elected representatives won't even consider the issue of banning military firearms or any other meaningful steps to curtail the endless supply of arms sold in the USA and entering Mexico to be used by violent criminals. Wouldn't want to hurt any US businesses now would we?! The USA long ago gave up on controlling street dealers. To the contrary, for the past 25 years or so the USA has glorified violent street dealer culture!

So don't mix apples and mangos. You're only making excuses to support a failed policy and avoid taking responsible action. If collectively you're too stubborn to admit the lessons of Prohibition then woe unto you.

STOP THE WAR ON DRUGS