How Come Mexicans Are so Poor?

[Kortpeel (imported)]

A question: how come the Mexicans and other Hispanics are so poor that they need to resort to being illegal immigrants in the US with all the attendant risks?

Why don’t those Latin countries share in the prosperity of the New World? Is it something to do with their national culture, their educational system, the greed or incompetence of those in power, or what?

I don’t know the answer but I would like to learn. So if any of you Gringos or Hispanics over there know the answer I would be interested to read it. And if my language in the last sentence is politically incorrect, then lighten up. The world is nauseatingly PC these days.

[gareth19 (imported)]

A question: how come the Mexicans and other Hispanics are so poor that they need to resort to being illegal immigrants in the US with all the attendant risks?

Why don’t those Latin countries share in the prosperity of the New World? Is it something to do with their national culture, their educational system, the greed or incompetence of those in power, or what?

I don’t know the answer but I would like to learn. So if any of you Gringos or Hispanics over there know the answer I would be interested to read it. And if my language in the last sentence is politically incorrect, then lighten up. The world is nauseatingly PC these days.

Because they have the perfect supply-side, trickle-down Tea-bagger Reaganomics unregulated economy with all of the tax breaks going to the wealthy and nothing going to the working class; its what Sarah Palin, G. W. Bush and Meg Whitman would turn America into.

[Dave (imported)]

Land reform occurred in the USA when we declared independence from Britain. After that, anyone (pretty much) could own land. Then again it happened after the Civil War.

Mexico never had land reform. The poor do not own land. It makes a tremendous difference.

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

Before World War Two, Michigan probably never saw a Mexican. During the war when our boys were off fighting fascism in Europe and Japanese expansionism in the Pacific, there was nobody at home to harvest the sugar beets. Mexicans by the thousands were brought up from Mexico to pick sugar beets.

Today, the offspring of those pickers are the owners of Mexican restaurants and other businesses all over Michigan. No doubt there are many poor Mexicans in Michigan too but no greater number than the poor whites.

[Arab Nights (imported)]

First, you see it changing now before your eyes.

Second, historically we are talking about two completely different cultures.

The word of Columbus' discovery of a new land where people shared, were happy, etc. slowly spread thru Europe. It was the proof that an alternative to medievel society was possible. That was the seed that got people thinking and eventually led to the Reformation, Age of Enlightenment, etc. etc. in northern European societies. I think it was on Columbus' second or third trip they found a war party of Carib Indians with freshly castrated war captives in their canoes. The Spanish then figured that the New World was not a paradise, just more of the same. They did not evolve like northern Europe. Instead of evolving to capitalism and communism, Spain got the Inquisition. There really are two quite different philosophies between Spain and northern Europe.

North America was settled by northern Europeans who came to stay. They brought their ideas with them. From Mexico to the south was settled by Spanish and Portugese who came to get rich and return. Because of the mineral wealth, only Mexico and Peru got much investment including education and culture. Many of the other countries were just sort of left without much attention.

That is a very broad brush summary with all the weaknesses of broad brush summaries. It is not my idea. I read it in a book by a Venezuelan intellectual and I rather agree with it.

[A-1 (imported)]

Because they have the perfect supply-side, trickle-down Tea-bagger Reaganomics unregulated economy with all of the tax breaks going to the wealthy and nothing going to the working class; its what Sarah Palin, G. W. Bush and Meg Whitman would turn America into.

GEE!

Another statement that I agree with. Youse guys are getting smarter and smarter...

[SplitDik (imported)]

A question: how come the Mexicans and other Hispanics are so poor that they need to resort to being illegal immigrants in the US with all the attendant risks?

Why don’t those Latin countries share in the prosperity of the New World? Is it something to do with their national culture, their educational system, the greed or incompetence of those in power, or what?

I don’t know the answer but I would like to learn. So if any of you Gringos or Hispanics over there know the answer I would be interested to read it. And if my language in the last sentence is politically incorrect, then lighten up. The world is nauseatingly PC these days.

The answer is corruption. If you are entrepreneurial in Mexico, as soon as you get any success, the local cartels, politicians and police all start coming by for bribes and extortion.

We often don't appreciate that a pivotal point in US history was the Elliot Ness era of battling the Mafia. Before that time, you couldn't be successful in most of the large cities without the similar involvement of graft and corruption.

You'll find a very strong relationship between successful societies and the low level of corruption.

But you're right that Mexico has all the resources, pioneering spirit, educated population, etc. to be potentially very successful. The people (despite the sterotype) are actually very hard working as well. It really is the corruption.

[Riverwind (imported)]

Its a two class country, rich and poor, the rich are in power and will stay in power keeping the poor, POOR. Much like what is being tried here as posted above. The reason it works there is because the poor doesn't know any better, here they will riot in the streets.

River

[Arab Nights (imported)]

I think SplitDicks point is also part of the explanation.

[Sweetpickle (imported)]

And don't forget an oppressive church which supports the ruling

classes.

Look at the history of any country with poor separation of church

and state. Feudalism is alive and well.