I am currently in Mexico and I think that to put things in proper context Americans need to realize that perhaps the over ridng larger factors revolve around the TWO WAY IMMIGRATION currently going on.
American retiree's are moving to Mexico in numbers that increase noticeably every month. At least thats what realtors in Baja and other gringo zones are saying. Figures I have read are saying retiree's are typically bringing one to three million dollars per person or couple. It was an interesting article revolving around the old MLATS from the war on drugs. Search engine searches on things from the article were suspiciously thin so I wont post it. Instead I will encourage people to do their own research.
I think one way or another the rich in the states are going to bring in more cheap labour. If not through amnesty, some other way. The two way migration is going to have a leveling effect on both economies. How big a leveling effect? I dunnow. We will see. The effect is already large in Northern Mexico in terms of land being driven up in price in places Gringo's like.
This TWO WAY IMMIGRATION is already having an effect of screwing the middle class and poor on both sides of the border while the rich get richer. What a surprise huh? It will get a lot worse BUT in spite of this short term and intermediate term I see it as American thugs gaining the upper hand on CHinese thugs.
Also consider that the drug gangs from Gautamala are moving further North all the time.
WHO are they?
People trained in central America by the School of assasains in fort benning georgia. HMmmmmmm...
From my experience listening to many political conversations amongst the upper middle class and rich, Castro is resected but Chavez is not. I am sure in Chiapas this would be VERY different. Chavez is considered a nut case buy some and unproven by others. Again this is amongst the upper middle class and rich.
Liberals have a really big blind spot for assuming immigrant workers and othert oppressed Latinos are blindly democrats. Loyal Catholics? Loyal democrats? Right. Latino's helped vote in Reagan if I am not mistaken. There is zero gaurentee amnesty is going to help the democratic vote. Note that it matters in a one party system anyway.
Mexico is the ONE place on the face of the planet I have been where the U.S. is not losing populatiy like a falling stone. Short term and intermediate term I think America is winning the popularity contest as far south as Gaudalajara. I am not sure if the Gautamalan drug gangs are as far north as gaudalajara but they are close.
Long term is a completely different ball of wax and places like Chiapas are a whole nutha ball of wax. I am refering to "modern" Mexico.