Based on that extensive (NYT?) article from a few weeks ago, it doesn't look like Mexico will ever be able to pull itself out of this mess. The article suggested that most of the govt and police force was either in bed with the various cartels, or too terrified of them in order to do anything about it. It's a very lucrative arrangement for everybody but the poor bystanders who might become civilian casualties in the endless turf wars.
It feels like the only way to fix this is to tweak the "demand" variable, perhaps through legalization.
It feels like the only way to fix this is to tweak the "demand" variable, perhaps through legalization.
I wonder what the cartels' reaction would be to legalization? Would they willingly give up their massive amounts of wealth to become part of a regulated system?
Illegal drugs just have the right risk/return balance. Legalizing would change that (probably a race to the bottom for cost). While this would disrupt a cartel's primary cash flow for a short period, there are still plenty of illegal things to move (secretly) and sell - weapons, humans, counterfeits, actually dangerous drugs which would probably remain illegal (meth, cocaine, heroine).
Legalization might hurt a cartel long enough for them to be unable to pivot, but like any business, they've found an expense to cost ratio that they like. When their industry (again, largely transportation of contraband) Is disrupted, they will die, but more likely adapt.
Don't want to sound too conspiracist, but I'm pretty sure that's part of the reason why the legalization didn't happen yet. Cartels just won't let it happen without a fight.
It feels like the only way to fix this is to tweak the "demand" variable, perhaps through legalization.