Mexico aka United Mexican States aka Estados Unidos Mexicanos (1917-) - Our Southern Neighbor, and the 13th-Largest Country in the World

[DonRocks]

There's so much I could write about Mexico that it could fill a bookshelf, but right now, I'd like to highlight a map of their 31 states, just like I did for France.

Here's a lot of information about the 31 states of Mexico. Anyone with a good general education should know all 31, at least by name.

Considering Mexico's long and rich history, it's a bit iffy that I list them as "existing" since 1917 (read about the Mexican Revolution of 1910), but that's when their current Constitution was ratified, so technically, that's when the current country has its birthday. Still, if anyone wants to shoot me down on this, I'll be happy to change my mind.

I've always gotten the feeling that as citizens of North America, "we," in general, don't know as much about Mexico as we should, and I hope to help alleviate that.

[Ericandblueboy]

Most Americans don't give a rat's ass about Mexico and I don't blame them.  Mexico is most famous for producing tequila and drug cartels.  I visit Mexico annually but I stick to tourist areas because I don't want to get kidnapped or get shot in Drive-bys.  People use to not visit SW DC for the same reasons.  Why are they and other Latin American countries so dysfunctional?

[Rieux]

54 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said:

Most Americans don't give a rat's ass about Mexico and I don't blame them.  Mexico is most famous for producing tequila and drug cartels.  I visit Mexico annually but I stick to tourist areas because I don't want to get kidnapped or get shot in Drive-bys.  People use to not visit SW DC for the same reasons.  Why are they and other Latin American countries so dysfunctional?

This is so offensive, ignorant, and racist. If you made similar comments generalizing an entire US state or ethnic group would Don let this stand?  

[DonRocks]

49 minutes ago, Rieux said:

This is so offensive, ignorant, and racist. If you made similar comments generalizing an entire US state or ethnic group would Don let this stand?  

[I cringed when I read it, but it isn't partisan politics, and it isn't a personal insult, so I don't see how I can touch it, but I still haven't made up my mind. I was hoping people would see it and let it go. ]

I for one care enough about Mexico to be teaching myself Spanish, and to be studying the country and its history.

[Ericandblueboy]

3 hours ago, Rieux said:

This is so offensive, ignorant, and racist. If you made similar comments generalizing an entire US state or ethnic group would Don let this stand?  

Orly?  Tell me how it's ignorant?  What does Mexico produce other than tequila, drugs, and illegal immigrants that we all know of?  I'm an international tax lawyer who visits Mexico annually.  If I'm ignorant, then the rest of America must be clueless.  Your comment is insulting and backed by nothing.  Politically correct comments change nothing.  

I'll shit on China too unless you keep telling me I'm racist.  China produces crap because labor us cheap.  Everything you own probably comes from China, but do you really know shit about Chinese food or their people?

[DonRocks]

16 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said:

Tell me how it's ignorant?  What does Mexico produce other than tequila, drugs, and illegal immigrants that we all know of?

Eric, you answered your first question with your final four words.

(BTW, he didn't say "you" are racist; he said "this" is racist.)

Jul 27, 2017 - "Mexico Registered $62 Million Trade Surplus in June" by Anthony Harrup on foxbusiness.com

In June, the U.S. ran a trade *deficit* of $43.6 Billion.

[Ericandblueboy]

6 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

Eric, you answered your first question with your final four words.

Exactly.  Mexico produces homophobic soccer fans and a generally racist society, much like other Latin American countries.  

[DonRocks]

5 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said:

Exactly.  Mexico produces homophobic soccer fans.

[Okay, this is enough. I'm sorry. Why you chose today to push the boundaries with these blatant generalizations, I don't know.]

Mexico has the 11th-highest GDP in the world.

[Ericandblueboy]

You're right, they're generalizations, but they're not mischaracteriazations.  I travel to Mexico annually but I'm seeing an impoverished country with lots of people living in terror.  My point is, if a drug cartel runs Virginia, would you be okay?

that trade surplus is built on cheap labor and doesn't benefit the society in general.  What does the 11th highest GDP do for its people?  U.S. has high GDP too but we lag behind many socialist countries in terms of welfare.

i'm going to vegas  and I should've happy   I guess being a cranky bastard is just my nature. 

[Rieux]

I work in international development with Latin America and have for over 14 years.  I travel to countries in the region at least once, and usually twice a month.  Before that I worked on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Western Hemisphere issues, including trade, immigration, and narcotics.   I couldn't type more because I was driving back from vacation earlier.

This is from the USTR:  

Imports

• Mexico was the United States' 2nd largest supplier of goods imports in 2016.
   
• U.S. goods imports from Mexico totaled $294.2 billion in 2016, down 0.8% ($2.3 billion) from 2015, but up 48.4% from 2006. U.S. imports from Mexico are up 637% from 1993 (pre-NAFTA). U.S. imports from Mexico account for 13.4% of overall U.S. imports in 2015.
   
• The top import categories (2-digit HS) in 2016 were: vehicles ($75 billion), electrical machinery ($62 billion), machinery ($51 billion), optical and medical instruments ($13 billion), and furniture and bedding ($11 billion).
   
• U.S. total imports of agricultural products from Mexico totaled $23 billion in 2016, our 1st largest supplier of agricultural imports. Leading categories include: fresh vegetables ($5.6 billion), other fresh fruit ($4.9 billion), wine and beer ($3.1 billion), snack foods ($2.0 billion), and processed fruit & vegetables ($1.5 billion).
   
• U.S. imports of services from Mexico were an estimated $23.5 billion in 2016, 7.0% ($1.5 billion) more than 2015, and 57.9% greater than 2006 levels. It was up roughly 216% from 1993 (pre-NAFTA). Leading services imports from Mexico to the U.S., in 2015, were in the travel, transport, and technical and other services sectors.

Some parts of some states of Mexico do indeed have crime problems.  And yes, there are some very serious international cartels producing drugs and causing violence.  And this is terrible for the natives of Mexico who live in those areas who want nothing to do with those people (and the innocent locals are the majority, not the minority).  Just as there are terrible crime problems, and corruption in some parts of some states in the US, and in other countries.  What I take exception to is you painting with an extremely broad brush - labeling an entire country (Mexico), its people (Mexicans), and then an entire region (Latin America) as without merit from some very broad generalizations.  

I have traveled to Mexico City 25 times, urban and rural parts of the states of Guanajuato, Oaxaca, Jalisco (the entire state), Baja California, Puebla, and many other parts of Mexico. I have never been robbed, assaulted, been fearful of my life or possessions.  I have been warmly embraced by locals, bought amazing art, visited places of amazing natural beauty, seen marvels of engineering and culture that pre-date many other civilizations of the world (the Mayans, Olmecs, and Aztecs were really something), and since this is a food board, have eaten some of the best meals of my life in places highbrow (Pujol) and low-brow (elote on the street).  I've had meetings with and worked with inspiring politicians (Vincente Fox, various ministers of Finance, Governors, other Ministers and Central Bankers) and bureaucrats, and some that were a little less inspiring, and some that were corrupt (just like the ones I have worked with here in the US).  But, for the most part, if you are willing to write-off exploring this amazing country, you are missing a lot.  I mean, it's your loss if you don't want to hike to see the valley of the monarch butterflies, Monte Alban, or eat a mole, not mine.  

And, I am restraining myself from commenting on your language on "illegal" immigrants - because I think Don would delete what I would have to say in response to your comments on that.....  

[Ericandblueboy]

I know your background.  I didn't say Latin America is without merit, I said they're dysfunctional. I also visit Mexico annually so I don't know why you think I'm writing off Mexico or Latin America. Your comments are even more broad and offensive than mine.

[DonRocks]

38 minutes ago, Ericandblueboy said:

I know your background.  I didn't say Latin America is without merit, I said they're dysfunctional. I also visit Mexico annually so I don't know why you think I'm writing off Mexico or Latin America. Your comments are even more broad and offensive than mine.

Eric, I've been refraining from saying this, but you said up above that you "stick to tourist areas." If you're talking about places like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Acapulco, and Cozumel (and I'm not saying you are, but *if* you are), then that's like someone saying they go to Pentagon City Mall every year, so they "really know Virginia." I've been to a couple of these, and the *only* really good meals I've ever had (and this includes spending five nights here):

were when I asked the taxi drivers where they go to eat, and ended up going to out-of-the-way taquerias. Based on what you've written so far, you don't appear to be in a position to slough off what Rieux wrote so quickly. I applaud Rieux for having taken the time to write a thoughtful, detailed post supported by hard facts.

[Rieux]

4 hours ago, DonRocks said:

[I cringed when I read it, but it isn't partisan politics, and it isn't a personal insult, so I don't see how I can touch it, but I still haven't made up my mind. I was hoping people would see it and let it go. ]

I for one care enough about Mexico to be teaching myself Spanish, and to be studying the country and its history.

Don, if you ever want to discuss Mexico, or need help on planning the best itinerary of sights, food, and art in Mexico City (which I know really well), Oaxaca and Jalisco (which I know slightly less well), or the Tequila trail (which my work helped create), send me a DM.  Some of the best food in the world is in Mexico City and in Oaxaca city.  Edited to add (I can also provide information at length on the PRI and the realignment of Mexican politics; Mexican Agriculture Policy; Forestry; Coffee; Communal Land Holding; and Remittances and agent banking in Mexico, but these are way less fun topics for tourists and tourism- lol).

[iolaire]

22 hours ago, DonRocks said:

Eric, I've been refraining from saying this, but you said up above that you "stick to tourist areas." If you're talking about places like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Acapulco, and Cozumel (and I'm not saying you are, but *if* you are), then that's like someone saying they go to Pentagon City Mall every year, so they "really know Virginia."

And the thing is right now the Acapulco's are the areas striking fear into the hearts of tourists (and the boarder areas).  The Guadalajara's of Mexico don't crop up as much on the fear factor levels.  I mean look at the top hit on google for Guadalajara drug shootings versus Acapulco drug shootings, on one hand the top hit on google is from 1993 versus 2007!  If anything it feels like the tourist areas are more at risk, especially if you frequent discos and nightclubs late at night.

Also it should not be overlooked that one of the big Mexican (and maybe more so Latin American) exports right now is a labor force who will work low paying jobs that keep our dining industry functioning.