Changing Mexico

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
No need to respond, rwingett. As I suspected it is a Chavez initiative. I would strongly advice mexico to distance itself from Hugo Chavez! It is the usual socialist claptrap. Social justice for some, repression of the opposition, financing terrorism. Corruption by leftists usually leads to death for many.

I do not approve of everything Chavez has done, but as he is providing the only viable alternative to IMF piracy and "free market" colonialism, he deserves some support. Mexico would do well to join.

Originally posted by rwingett
I do not approve of everything Chavez has done, but as he is providing the only viable alternative to IMF piracy and "free market" colonialism, he deserves some support. Mexico would do well to join.

Well you will not persuade me nor I you. At least, unlike some, you debate intelligently and respectfully and I truly appreciate this in you. I fear for any country adhering to Mr. Castro Light. All he's interested in is consolidating his own power. He reminds me of the demagogues of ancient Rome.

Originally posted by scacchipazzo
I'm telling you it goes beyond mere aesthetics. Studies have been done by academics on this very issue. There is one neighborhood where people decided to clean up, chase the hookers and drug dealers away and the transformation was impressive. One isssue we have combated in my neighborhood is the exploitation of young Latina females to sell beer in scant ...[text shortened]... g back. My neighborhood is multiethnic and quite gentrified. These establishments are a blight!

Now you also mentioned aesthetics, that is one aspect and I get it that there is more to it in its effects. Also, i'm all for it, there are a lot of small battles with big impacts. I never considered scantily clad Latinas serving beer a major battle, but if they're a front for prostitution I understand shutting them down, it's basically illegal. Also, if you get to bad a crow in the neighborhood and as you said you miss the opportunity to educate rather than use people, it has a lot of long-term costs to not invest in people.

Originally posted by eljefejesus
Now you also mentioned aesthetics, that is one aspect and I get it that there is more to it in its effects. Also, i'm all for it, there are a lot of small battles with big impacts. I never considered scantily clad Latinas serving beer a major battle, but if they're a front for prostitution I understand shutting them down, it's basically illegal. Also, ...[text shortened]... to educate rather than use people, it has a lot of long-term costs to not invest in people.

Small issues indeed add up. These girls deserve better, but they get exploited by their own as the owners of these beer outlets are Hispanic. This makes it no better or worse, but is emblematic of the silliness of people who state you're more likely to be treated better within your own ethnicity. these poor girls are oggled by the passersby and the whole thing is rather demeaning and makes the neighborhood look run down. Many of these girls just need a push in the right direction. Scanitly clad young women of any ethnicity is always a problem. Efforts at guidance pay off, however. I know of one young Hispanic girl who resisted being thrown to the wolves. She works full time and studies full time. A real go getter. Attends college on various grants. I greatly admire her tenacity and drive. Also a shining example of what an older sibling can do to model behavior for younger ones. Her younger sister is following in her foosteps, whereas these girls' mother is a mess. Tha above mentioned girls' stepfather is black and made every effort at guiding these girls in the right direction. Far from perfect himself, but impacted these girls in a positive manner.

But I digress. If Mexico trusted the shining light of the Garza Sadas of the world th country would be more like Monterrey, the most industrious and hard working city in Mexico. Placing trust in poeple like Lopez Obrador would be a bad mistake, but Mexicans indeed saw through him and voted Calderon. I applaud Calderon for his courage. My other hero is Michelletti in Honduras. There's a mench!