Why do you think Mexico is so much poorer than the USA?

[shira]

Mexico is so much poorer because there's a lot less money in Mexico.

 

[Drift3r]

Originally posted by: CrazyHelloDeli
Massive corruption mostly.

Plus, like many Latin American countries, the people tend to be incredibly socialistic and collectivist.

Pure BS...The rise of communism in some Central and Southern American nations had more to do with oppressive US backed right wing dictators more then anything else. One extreme breed another and thus you had communism taking root where it other wise would not. Our constant meddling South of the border is akin to former European powers meddling in former African colonies. As for Mexico it has for most of it's recent history in the past 50 years been run by right leaning political parties.

As for why Mexico is the way it is has more to do with it being the place where Americans go to do "have fun" and the massive drug trade directly linked to our own massive consumption of drugs ( yes we consume 90% of the worlds illegal drugs ) which is fueling corruption in Mexico on an epic scale. Then again if people do not think there is no corruption in the US then they are blind and stupid. Corruption in the US is definitely around but it's usually done behind closed doors with winks and nods where are as in Mexico it's blatant and done in the open in many cases.

 

[Drift3r]

Originally posted by: Socio
They have more natural resources than the US; they have been here for 12,000 years and still not accomplished what the US has in 200. Thus there can only be one plausible reason for Mexico all the way to Cape Horn to not be as rich or richer than the US or as powerful.

They are genetically predispositioned underachievers.

Wow can you say racist? You and ultra laser must attend the same clan rallies.

Also who was here 12,000 years? Mexico has only existed as a nation for a few hundred years and most Mexicans are a mixture of both European Spaniards and Native Indians with varying degrees of either being more prevalent depending on family heritage.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Drift3r

Originally posted by: Socio
They have more natural resources than the US; they have been here for 12,000 years and still not accomplished what the US has in 200. Thus there can only be one plausible reason for Mexico all the way to Cape Horn to not be as rich or richer than the US or as powerful.

They are genetically predispositioned underachievers.

Wow can you say racist? You and ultra laser must attend the same clan rallies.

Also who was here 12,000 years? Mexico has only existed as a nation for a few hundred years and most Mexicans are a mixture of both European Spaniards and Native Indians with varying degrees of either being more prevalent depending on family heritage.

QFT



To be precise, Mexico became an independent nation in 1821.

The Europeans (Spaniards) arrived in 1519 and started the eventual destruction of the Native cultures (Aztecs, etc) soon after.

Sociopath probably would have enjoyed all of the Gold-fevered ethnic cleansing.

 

[piasabird]

The success of business ventures often is based on the Rule of Law being enforced.

I would venture to say that the Drug gangs run Mexico. They kill murder and destroy all who oppose them. They are now trying to set up their power base in the USA. They were growing Marijuana in a forest reserve where the Feds confiscated thousands of Pot plants. These thugs had dammed up streams and were using irrigation techniques to grow their drugs.

http://www.fs.fed.us/congress/...ht/gaffrey/101003.html

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=98900&src=1

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories...e=RSSattr=U.S._3097301

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: bdude

Originally posted by: ultra laser
Mexicans are more corrupt and less intelligent than the White people who built America. As such, their country isn't as good.

agreed

mexican ppl = tomato pickers
blacks ppl = cotton pickers
asian ppl= calculator punchor
white ppl = kings/queens
everybody else = hunter/gatherer

sounds about right

this made me lol

 

[glugglug]

Who says they are poorer?
Mexico City subway

New York City subway

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: glugglug
Who says they are poorer?
Mexico City subway

New York City subway

Oh that's right. Mud on a subway car is totally indicative of wealth.

 

[dainthomas]

Probably because they pop out so many kids. Mexican immigrants have at least double the fertility rate of whites (probably even higher in Mexico). It's much more difficult to improve your station with 8-10 brats to care for.

Plus something like 7 families own half the country.

 

[Infohawk]

I appreciate that some people are being honest about their racist beliefs. I would imagine many Americans share the view.

I prefer to say it's culture. I don't see any evidence that native american and/or spanish genes lead to poverty. However, the culture of many Mexican and Latin Americans might explain it. Just compare the values and behavior of some Asian immigrants.

For those who say corruption is the reason, how do you explain the continuing corruption? Americans get outraged at corruption in the US. I believe this is a cultural thing. What is the average Mexican doing about corruption? Throughout history there has always been certain corrupt people, yet Western culture has dealt with and moved largely beyond it. It's all explainable by culture. One thing we don't need to import in the USA is Mexican culture (okay except the food).

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
I appreciate that some people are being honest about their racist beliefs. I would imagine many Americans share the view.

I prefer to say it's culture. I don't see any evidence that native american and/or spanish genes lead to poverty. However, the culture of many Mexican and Latin Americans might explain it. Just compare the values and behavior of some Asian immigrants.

For those who say corruption is the reason, how do you explain the continuing corruption? Americans get outraged at corruption in the US. I believe this is a cultural thing. What is the average Mexican doing about corruption? Throughout history there has always been certain corrupt people, yet Western culture has dealt with and moved largely beyond it. It's all explainable by culture. One thing we don't need to import in the USA is Mexican culture (okay except the food).

I think the issue is the existing levels of corruption when coupled with the violent environment that black markets, there is no option to change the system even if they wanted to.

If the US ended it's stupid drug crusade tomorrow, Mexico would probably quickly become a major economic power. The profit motive of the drug cartels would vanish and with it their influence.

 

[5to1baby1in5]

Originally posted by: Deeko

Originally posted by: glugglug
Who says they are poorer?
Mexico City subway

New York City subway

Oh that's right. Mud on a subway car is totally indicative of wealth.

I think that's lugies and puke.

 

[MagicConch]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
I appreciate that some people are being honest about their racist beliefs. I would imagine many Americans share the view.

I prefer to say it's culture. I don't see any evidence that native american and/or spanish genes lead to poverty. However, the culture of many Mexican and Latin Americans might explain it. Just compare the values and behavior of some Asian immigrants.

For those who say corruption is the reason, how do you explain the continuing corruption? Americans get outraged at corruption in the US. I believe this is a cultural thing. What is the average Mexican doing about corruption? Throughout history there has always been certain corrupt people, yet Western culture has dealt with and moved largely beyond it. It's all explainable by culture. One thing we don't need to import in the USA is Mexican culture (okay except the food).

Americans are fine with govt. corruption until it financially affects them. Their only caveat is that it cannot be called corruption outright since that would be embarrassing. I agree Mexico's problems stem from their culture though.

 

[maverick44]

Originally posted by: MagicConch

Originally posted by: Infohawk
I appreciate that some people are being honest about their racist beliefs. I would imagine many Americans share the view.

I prefer to say it's culture. I don't see any evidence that native american and/or spanish genes lead to poverty. However, the culture of many Mexican and Latin Americans might explain it. Just compare the values and behavior of some Asian immigrants.

For those who say corruption is the reason, how do you explain the continuing corruption? Americans get outraged at corruption in the US. I believe this is a cultural thing. What is the average Mexican doing about corruption? Throughout history there has always been certain corrupt people, yet Western culture has dealt with and moved largely beyond it. It's all explainable by culture. One thing we don't need to import in the USA is Mexican culture (okay except the food).

Americans are fine with govt. corruption until it financially affects them. Their only caveat is that it cannot be called corruption outright since that would be embarrassing. I agree Mexico's problems stem from their culture though.

Mexico and the United States historically have the same culture.... that of immigrants

 

[maverick44]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
I appreciate that some people are being honest about their racist beliefs. I would imagine many Americans share the view.

I prefer to say it's culture. I don't see any evidence that native american and/or spanish genes lead to poverty. However, the culture of many Mexican and Latin Americans might explain it. Just compare the values and behavior of some Asian immigrants.

For those who say corruption is the reason, how do you explain the continuing corruption? Americans get outraged at corruption in the US. I believe this is a cultural thing. What is the average Mexican doing about corruption? Throughout history there has always been certain corrupt people, yet Western culture has dealt with and moved largely beyond it. It's all explainable by culture. One thing we don't need to import in the USA is Mexican culture (okay except the food).

It has nothing to do with culture.. it has everything to do with the United States being the largest cohesive market with the most liberal trade regimes available. Economies of scale work better here ....


Mexico was actually more prosperous and progressive versus the United States till about 1980's when a series of crisis struck the economy. Price of oil collapsed leaving the government in debt because of the money borrowed pay for expanding the nationalized oil industry. Import substitution worked terribly well for a while but with the rise of the semiconductor and computer industry it was almost impossible for to continue interfering in the economy.

The drug wars also worked against them...

Basically they keep getting fucked just like pakistan cant compete with india for opportunities and britain could compete with germany and the united states in the late 19th century

 

[beyoku]

When people say "culture" what culture are they talking about?

 

[jonks]

Originally posted by: Infohawk
We take it for granted that Mexico is poorer than the USA. But why should this be the case? Mexico has natural resources and a good-sized population. Why is Mexico still underdeveloped?

Why is Canada poorer than the US? Why is almost every nation in the world poorer than the US? What is poorer anyway? GDP or per capita income?

Originally posted by: ultra laser
Mexicans are more corrupt and less intelligent than the White people who built America. As such, their country isn't as good.

is your handle named after what you got shot in the brain with?

Originally posted by: maverick44
Mexico was actually more prosperous and progressive versus the United States till about 1980's

based on what metric?

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: maverick44
-snip-
Mexico was actually more prosperous and progressive versus the United States till about 1980's when a series of crisis struck the economy.

I have no idea why or how anyone can say that.

Please see my post in this THREAD about my 6 week long journey through Mexico in the late 1970's.

Fern

 

[Fern]

Why do you think Mexico is so much poorer than the USA?

I think there are a number reasons, but certainly culture and attitude are among them.

I traveled extensively through Mexico in the late 70's and spoke to a number of people there. One conversation I had continues to stick in my mind. It was with a Mexican intellectual, an author. He complained about a percieved misunderstanding the people of the USA had about Mexicans. He thought we judged Mexico on material wealth, and that it was an invalid perspective; the problem was ours. He said Mexicans are not as materialistic as those in the USA, that Mexicans preferred to enjoy the company of their friends & family. He thought theirs was a better way of living; a higher quality life. He criticized the life-style of those in the USA, their persuit of material positions, and how we oerworked ourselves for unimportant reasons in the big scheme of things etc.

I can't say I disagree with him at all.

But so I think culture, what a society values, plays a big part in any wealth disparity (along with factors too).

Fern

 

[maverick44]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: maverick44
-snip-
Mexico was actually more prosperous and progressive versus the United States till about 1980's when a series of crisis struck the economy.

I have no idea why or how anyone can say that.

Please see my post in this THREAD about my 6 week long journey through Mexico in the late 1970's.

Fern

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_miracle


Your article is more about filth than real poverty......

 

[maverick44]

Originally posted by: Fern

Why do you think Mexico is so much poorer than the USA?

I think there are a number reasons, but certainly culture and attitude are among them.

I traveled extensively through Mexico in the late 70's and spoke to a number of people there. One conversation I had continues to stick in my mind. It was with a Mexican intellectual, an author. He complained about a percieved misunderstanding the people of the USA had about Mexicans. He thought we judged Mexico on material wealth, and that it was an invalid perspective; the problem was ours. He said Mexicans are not as materialistic as those in the USA, that Mexicans preferred to enjoy the company of their friends & family. He thought theirs was a better way of living; a higher quality life. He criticized the life-style of those in the USA, their persuit of material positions, and how we oerworked ourselves for unimportant reasons in the big scheme of things etc.

I can't say I disagree with him at all.

But so I think culture, what a society values, plays a big part in any wealth disparity (along with factors too).

Fern

Other countries have similar value systems too..

Singapore , Hong Kong, Taiwan , South Korea..... They are much richer than mexico...

The oil rich countries have value systems that are completely against economic prosperity but that doesnt stop their growth. They just use the oil.

Value systems change.... as a society grows wealthy keeping up with the jones means that everybody has to be on their toes...

 

[Fern]

Link

Mexican GDP per capita in 1980 was $4,100 (1975 was $2,330)

USA GDP per capita was $12,255 in 1980

Link

I still don't see how one can say they were more prosperous than teh USA (I read your wiki link, it just indicates they were growing fairly well then).

Those shacks/huts I saw and spoke of in no way indicate prosperity.

Fern

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: beyoku
When people say "culture" what culture are they talking about?

For the USA, I would say the dominant Anglo-European culture.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: jonks

Why is Canada poorer than the US?

I'm not aware of any huge difference in wealth between Canada and the US. We are talking per capita here.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: Fern
He said Mexicans are not as materialistic as those in the USA, that Mexicans preferred to enjoy the company of their friends & family. He thought theirs was a better way of living; a higher quality life. He criticized the life-style of those in the USA, their persuit of material positions, and how we oerworked ourselves for unimportant reasons in the big scheme of things etc.

I can't say I disagree with him at all.

I think this is a big component of the cultural differences. It also reminds me of some happiness studies that say that Latin-American countries are among the happiest and that Asian countries are among the least happy. Another anecdote: there was a story a while back about an Asian girl who pretended to go to Stanford because of family pressure. She snuck in the dorms, attended classes, but wasn't actually enrolled. I can't imagine a Mexican person doing that, and that's a good thing. On the other hand, when you see poverty in Mexico, you have to wonder if a little more industriousness wouldn't help out.