An Economy Should Serve Its Citizenry

I have experienced the range of gringo presences in the area.

My first visit was in the early 1980s when I stayed at the Club Med at Playa Linda. This was followed by annual vacations staying at the Aristos hotel. The Aristos was owned by Fonatiur and was built to show the Mexican government’s commitment to a tourism industry. I have stayed at at least five hotels in Ixtapa.

I have stayed at places in Zihuatanejo, including the Hotel Suzy, the Posada Michel, and several other places. I have stayed in places for $14/night and places for $300/night. I have stayed in hotels and rented a house.

Almost all of those places supported two things. They supported the local economy. They supported some level of “connection” between visitors to the area and residents of the area.

My experience of all-inclusive was limited to a work-related promotional exposure. I learned that all-inclusive thrive on limiting contact between gringos and local people. They thrive on keeping money within the property, adversely affecting the local economy. One all-inclusive manager was proud that he could “food and drink” people for less than US$10/day because they brought their supplies in bulk from Mexico City.

I believe that the economy ought not to support the holders of capital. The economy ought not to be the master of the citizenry, it ought to be the servant of the citizenry.

I am not a citizen of Mexico, so I think I ought not to interfere with its politics. But I am interested in learning Rob’s views on the proper relationship between the people and the economy.