Mexican Politics

An institution based on the fair ideals of democracy, freedom and union. With laws created almost a hundred years ago to which we have only added. Not value unfortunately.

We are a country that is still to politically energized to hope for constant growth with a small deficit. A large portion of the population attempts to behave in a leftist manner without understanding the underlying masters like perhaps Marx and Engels once were. Instead the leftist movements here are relegated to the poorest, most uneducated parts of the country. Also the parts of the countries governed by formerly para-military black ops that have now gone rogue and chanced their names from Zetas to "the people".

And the young minds (hopefully bright) of the educated Mexican burgeoisie gather around a plate of soft bread, oil and vinegar and glasses of wine to talk. All the while looking over their shoulder to make sure no one from the wrong side of the tracks (read drug lords or wannabes alike) is taking offense. You don't want a grenade thrown at you or worse a tail later in the night.

They talk as the lights grow dim, the salad bar closes and more people trickle in to the restaurant for drinks. It's always the same disparate tone. It's frustrated and full of self-deprecating humor. Our politicians have the power to wield influence and money as they see fit. Nepotism is a mass produced dietary supplement.

The radio in the background breaks from salsa/cumbia adaptations of Beatles and Guns'n'Roses hits to allow for the government commercials. They tell the people (not The People from the U.S. Constitution but The People as in "la gente" from the Mexican forms) of all the great things they do. Of Singer's solution and how good it will be once it's done and set up. Huh, maybe I should make copies for the Senate. Talk about the Tanned Man's burden.

The evening wraps up and the girls who have not let go of their purses since they sat down work their way down that rabbit hole looking for cash to pay with. Plastic isn't all pervasive here yet. People still use money for their day to day transactions. Terminals are brought to the table if you do use a card to show you how much they're not going to try to steal your info. Whew, comfort, security.

The bill is paid. Hugs and kisses go all around and everyone parts each walking as non-chalantly as possible.

And I wonder what part of Mexican politics still makes sense. Why the change we often talk about isn't here and why we "aren't the change we want to see in the world".

We're afraid. And not the Coach Carter afraid. The I'm afraid-for-my-country-and-the-future-of-it afraid.

Afraid :)