Whose problem is the Mexican Drug War?

The answer is in your question. Mexican drug war.

I agree. Mexicos. But there is a very easy solution. If the government legalized and taxed drugs then it would take all the income away from these evil drug lords while making the government money.
sigh

Currently it’s Mexico’s problem. But as some of those conflicts between drug lords get closer and closer to the border, who knows? We might give them our input as well. And by input, I’m hoping for a shitload of lead raining down on those assholes.

I’m with Uber. Legalize the shit and tax it.

Use the taxes for rehab clinics and use the taxes the people working in rehab clinics pay for wars. That should appease Democrats and Republicans.

I have always thought the end user was the cause of all the drug problems.

@YARNLADY

I feel like this is the one situation where the consumer is not the cause of all the problems – or at least, is not at least partially responsible.

Drug users I think, in the end, are the least culpable in this context. If there were a legal method for distribution and sale, it would not occur on the black market. If the black market is the main arena of production and consumption, it is controlled inevitably by the most vicious parties with the least concern.

I think that because the U.S. – Mexico border is essentially invisible in terms of the drug market, it is as much our responsibility as theirs. This is why there has been a call for U.S. cooperation in this context.

I admire the passion in the phrasing of this question. I don’t think that the parent/child example is the best, however. Unfortunately, because drug use is a crime, the stigma surrounding it is enhanced. Nobody, I think, should be proud of their drug use. Nobody should be proud of drinking. However, if you make it that it’s not only potentially shameful but also frightening to talk about or admit, discuss openly and honestly, you can’t get the communication that you want to make sure we’re all making the healthiest decisions.

it’s Mexico’s. Their president wants American gun owners to sacrifice some of our guns so the violence might slow down, yeah right. And wants us to accept all his citizens that want to live here. He should do some serious house cleaning down there before he starts giving us tips on how to behave.

@woodcutter

Of course. Even though it’s American consumers that actually fund and provide the incentives for the black market industry that is the arena for all the violence. We can’t be responsible at all as long as it’s down there.

It Mexico’s and our problem because it leaks over the border or sneaks over the border, however you put it. If we had a more secure border it would lessen. I would think.

@Frenchfry

We can’t evade our responsibility for problems caused by a market we fund with American dollars by building a wall to keep their violence out. That’s similar to spilling a bunch of toxic waste just over the border and then sealing it up and pretending it’s just their problem.

There is so much corruption in too many areas of Mexico. Until that changes there is little chance of positive change, same as in the US although to a lesser degree.

The causes of this problem are very complex—on both sides of the border. In Mexico, the economy has not been able to support the population. They don’t pay their officials enough. So it is easy for officials to become corrupt. They need ways to earn more money, and the drug trade makes that easy for them.

The drug producers and shippers work on both sides of the border. Financing of the drug trade happens on both sides of the border. Consumption happens mostly over in the US. WIthout consumption, there would be no need for a product. Without the illegality, there would be no need for armies to protect the product from the government. On both sides of the border.

It’s both nation’s problem. The drug violence is just a part of a much larger problem. And of course none of this is made any better by the fact that making something illegal is probably the least effective way of stopping the behavior.

In the end, only education will help—both with reducing demand and with changing the way supply is supplied. In the end education is what the Mexicans need, so they can make money doing things other than illegal labor. Education will also help reduce the corruption of public officials.

Drugs need to be decriminalized (as opposed to legalized). They need to be taxed and the tax money should support efforts to discourage use and to care for those hurt by the drugs—in a campaign similar to that against cigarette smoking.

And on the Mexican side, they need to create alternatives to crime. They need to find ways to improve the economy and the job situation. They need to become less dependent on the US.

Together, it may be possible to do something, but fighting with each other over who is responsible is surely one of the best ways of making sure nothing gets done.