By: Daniel Nardini
According to the Mexican government, over three million more people have fallen into poverty in Mexico from 2008 to 2010. This means that 52 million Mexicans, or 46.2 percent of the entire population, now lives in poverty. Of that number 11.7 million are in what is categorized as “dire poverty.” What this means is that despite improvements in education and the job situation, the number of Mexicans who are now living in poverty has risen. According to the study, made by the Mexican National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy, the main culprit for this rise in poverty is the world economic slump that has affected almost the entire world.
Regardless of what caused this jump in poverty, this bodes ill for the Mexican government’s efforts at making the country more stable. Poverty gave rise to the number of people having left Mexico over the decades and still leaving. Poverty has given rise to corruption within the state apparatus that has tainted the country’s local police forces, local government, and even the higher echelons of Mexico’s state and federal governments. Worse, poverty is the force that has helped fuel the narco-syndicalist guerrilla war that has killed 54,000 people since 2006, and continues unabated.
Poverty has made so many people desperate, and has also fostered a culture of “get rich quick” where young people are lured by what the narco-syndicalists offer. Never mind how many innocent people have died in this ugly war, nor the horrible things done by the narco-syndicalist guerrillas. The study has proven to be a sad eye-opener for the Mexican government and for many people. What can be done to try and bring the poverty rate down? That is the key, but alas the government seems more determined to fight the narco-syndicalist guerrillas than to try and find ways to fighting poverty itself.
Poverty plus bad uncertain economic times are among the greatest threats that any country can face. Mexico is far from being the only country in that situation. What Americans should be concerned with is the fact that Mexico is one of our next door neighbors. So what happens in Mexico affects us as well. We are neighbors forever, and as such neighbors must look after each other.
The Real Threat to Mexico’s Stability
By: Daniel Nardini
Regardless of what caused this jump in poverty, this bodes ill for the Mexican government’s efforts at making the country more stable. Poverty gave rise to the number of people having left Mexico over the decades and still leaving. Poverty has given rise to corruption within the state apparatus that has tainted the country’s local police forces, local government, and even the higher echelons of Mexico’s state and federal governments. Worse, poverty is the force that has helped fuel the narco-syndicalist guerrilla war that has killed 54,000 people since 2006, and continues unabated.
Poverty has made so many people desperate, and has also fostered a culture of “get rich quick” where young people are lured by what the narco-syndicalists offer. Never mind how many innocent people have died in this ugly war, nor the horrible things done by the narco-syndicalist guerrillas. The study has proven to be a sad eye-opener for the Mexican government and for many people. What can be done to try and bring the poverty rate down? That is the key, but alas the government seems more determined to fight the narco-syndicalist guerrillas than to try and find ways to fighting poverty itself.
Poverty plus bad uncertain economic times are among the greatest threats that any country can face. Mexico is far from being the only country in that situation. What Americans should be concerned with is the fact that Mexico is one of our next door neighbors. So what happens in Mexico affects us as well. We are neighbors forever, and as such neighbors must look after each other.