President Obama, Governor Romney, as a Mexican, I was disappointed that you left Mexico out of a foreign policy debate. We are not only your third largest trading partner, we share a 3,326 kilometer border, full of poverty, on our side, and violence, corruption and contraband, this sadly now on both sides of the border.
You talked about the humanitarian cost of Syria and Libya each with 30,000 deaths, but failed to mention Mexico with 60,000 deaths.
You failed to address the cause of the growth of drug smuggling, the growing power of the cartels and the deadly violence in Mexico. It is not just our corrupt police, our less than stellar politicians; unfortunately we have much of both. But it is the continued growth in the demand for drugs in the US. Where there is demand, there will be supply.
The latest United Nations report on world drug use reports that in the US 14.1% of the 15 to 65 year old population uses marijuana, 1.8% amphetamines and 2.2% use Coke. That is 35 million marijuana users in the US. Just for comparison in the same age group in Mexico 1% uses marijuana and in “Don´t worry, be happy” Jamaica it is 9.9%. The only way to rid the world of cartels is to slow the demand.
President Obama, Governor Romney, I don´t agree with the second amendment in the US Constitution, but I respect your “right to bear arms”, I am a firm admirer of your constitution a model of simplicity and a guarantee of freedom, but just don´t export assault weapons to Mexico. Really Mr. President, Fast and Furious?
It is not just drug dealers, cartel members and corrupt police who are killed with those assault weapons, it is also innocent women, children and loyal army and navy personnel. Who ever wins please be just as diligent in stopping illegal arm transfers to Mexico as you are stopping Mexicans from crossing into the US. Mr. President, you must know that there are over 6,000 gun dealers within 100 miles of the Mexican border. It is harder to find a Starbucks than a gun dealer.
At last but not least, neither of you mentioned the immigration issue. It is a problem both in the US and in Mexico but begs for a solution. Most Mexicans I have talked that have crossed over would come back to Mexico, if given a guest worker visa. We have had that program with Canada for many years and it has worked.
President Obama you mentioned that the greatest security threat to the US were the terrorist networks, Mr. Romney you mentioned it was a nuclear Iran. I sadly believe it will be Mexico if no comprehensive immigration reform is put in place. Returning millions of Mexicans to Mexico without Jobs, will only lead to higher crime rates, a highly unstable society and will no doubt be lead us straight to a leftist government, and you both know we have been close.
Most Mexicans, have mixed feelings about the US, a popular saying in Mexico is “"Pobre de México, tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de los Estados Unidos." But in general they look up to and admire your country.
I know I do. I don´t know who is going to win, but who ever does win, remember as George W. Bush rightly said, “Mexico is the US's most important bilateral relationship”. We cannot win this fight alone.
You talked about the humanitarian cost of Syria and Libya each with 30,000 deaths, but failed to mention Mexico with 60,000 deaths.
You failed to address the cause of the growth of drug smuggling, the growing power of the cartels and the deadly violence in Mexico. It is not just our corrupt police, our less than stellar politicians; unfortunately we have much of both. But it is the continued growth in the demand for drugs in the US. Where there is demand, there will be supply.
The latest United Nations report on world drug use reports that in the US 14.1% of the 15 to 65 year old population uses marijuana, 1.8% amphetamines and 2.2% use Coke. That is 35 million marijuana users in the US. Just for comparison in the same age group in Mexico 1% uses marijuana and in “Don´t worry, be happy” Jamaica it is 9.9%. The only way to rid the world of cartels is to slow the demand.
President Obama, Governor Romney, I don´t agree with the second amendment in the US Constitution, but I respect your “right to bear arms”, I am a firm admirer of your constitution a model of simplicity and a guarantee of freedom, but just don´t export assault weapons to Mexico. Really Mr. President, Fast and Furious?
It is not just drug dealers, cartel members and corrupt police who are killed with those assault weapons, it is also innocent women, children and loyal army and navy personnel. Who ever wins please be just as diligent in stopping illegal arm transfers to Mexico as you are stopping Mexicans from crossing into the US. Mr. President, you must know that there are over 6,000 gun dealers within 100 miles of the Mexican border. It is harder to find a Starbucks than a gun dealer.
At last but not least, neither of you mentioned the immigration issue. It is a problem both in the US and in Mexico but begs for a solution. Most Mexicans I have talked that have crossed over would come back to Mexico, if given a guest worker visa. We have had that program with Canada for many years and it has worked.
President Obama you mentioned that the greatest security threat to the US were the terrorist networks, Mr. Romney you mentioned it was a nuclear Iran. I sadly believe it will be Mexico if no comprehensive immigration reform is put in place. Returning millions of Mexicans to Mexico without Jobs, will only lead to higher crime rates, a highly unstable society and will no doubt be lead us straight to a leftist government, and you both know we have been close.
Most Mexicans, have mixed feelings about the US, a popular saying in Mexico is “"Pobre de México, tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de los Estados Unidos." But in general they look up to and admire your country.
I know I do. I don´t know who is going to win, but who ever does win, remember as George W. Bush rightly said, “Mexico is the US's most important bilateral relationship”. We cannot win this fight alone.
