A Little More Thought on Mexico

Post date: Jun 2, 2010 4:26:02 AM

Architecture preserved from the 1500s on still stands and is used as museums and offices of government. Whereas the United States barricades such relics, wrapping them in tape, fences, supervised, paid tours, and no-touch policies, the Mexicans walk through ancient constructions as part of their daily lives. In Mexico, history still lives in the streets today.

Another of Mexico’s perks is its people. “This is your home,” I have been told more than once. They are excited to have a foreigner appreciating their country, and they welcome us with big smiles. So many take time out of their own lives to help you without request for a tip. People help each other here. The U.S., in comparison, idolizes self-sufficiency, independence, and private living. It’s as if the U.S. has the mentality of “Figure it out and stay out of my business. I’m busy.” This has its pros: it inspires competition, determination to succeed, and strong individuals. The downside is a baseline lack of empathy and compassion compared to the baseline of the Hispanic culture, which is also widely hailed as a very family-oriented culture.

Although it preserves well its ancestry and boasts some of the kindest citizens, Mexico has its share of problems, most of which stems from corruption in its government, which also lends to its weak economy in this global industry. At the police station in Actopan, the lead officer placed two bills under a sheet of glass on the front desk. The bills were counterfeits the officers were instructed to watch out for. And yet, according to the witnesses at my accident, they stole my camera and Ipod and kubotan and my fishing rod. This corruption extends into the educational system. I met a most interesting young Mexican woman, Natalia, who presently teaches history at a high school. The graduation rate is too low to mention. Most kids feel like they’ve made it if they just get to high school. The students report being ridiculed by teachers, and by the results of their tests, they are being taught next to nothing. Natalia also explained how the teachers’ union in Mexico City has been led since the 80s by a greedy teacher who is in tight with the government. Essentially, what the teachers want, the teachers get, and means repeat promotions that have occasionally reached 100% raises. There is a general lack of concern for the children’s education, and the parents and children appear to have learned that the situation is hopeless. This is partly what prompts so many Mexicans to immigrate, legally or not, to the U.S. Without a competitively educated upcoming generation, Mexico’s economy is unlikely to succeed in the modern, global economy.

Natalia also reports that only 30-40% of the population actually pays taxes. I wonder if this prompts the government to skim cash from its people in technically illegal ways. For example, street vendors typically pay no taxes, so the police will extort money from them to let them slide. Such under-the-table law enforcement is the culture here.

Another interesting note: people in Actopan report that citizens commonly cover their license plates with California plates. I believe this deceitfulness is the response to the lack of trust the people have in their own government.

I wonder if dictatorship is plausible solution to Mexico’s problem. The gamble is whether or not a “good” dictator would take hold, and whether any “good” dictator would remain as such through his/her duration of power. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” it is said. But how else is a thorough governmental cleansing and overhaul to take place? A revolution from the grassroots? What are the society-critics, the Academicians, saying about these problems? What solutions have been posited?

I love Mexico City’s diversity. Rich and poor, beautiful and ugly, there’s a lot of energy circulating through this titanic city. It’s a shame that smog burns the eyes though. The green town squares are quite redeeming, however. I like how certain times of the day the first cars of the subway trains are dedicated to women, children, and elderly. I also like how legislation was passed to prohibit the touching of women on the metro trains; apparently it was a problem. Police line the streets, which is bad, but they are background after awhile. Walking the downtown streets, shops are grouped according to the products they sell- cell phone dominate one block, light fixtures dominate another, and there are gobs of perfume and jewelry stores. This is the most organization I’d seen in Mexico, a country that seems to pride itself on its locals-only-knowledge. One learns his way around by trial and error and pigeon-like direction sense. To top it off, how can you beat 40 cent tacos?