What can the US do to help Mexico finally stop the cartels?
Politicians constantly talk about stopping the illegal immigrants that are coming from Mexico, but putting a wall has never and will never be a solution since the reason why so many displaced keep coming across the border is mostly to escape the crime, corruption, inequality, and violence of they have to live in their home countries. The worst part is that most of these terrible things is that happen in third world countries are rooted in constant subversion by developed countries, primarily the US. I feel like since we caused this (even if in part) we should help stop it now, even if we didn't publicly admit guilt to save face.
So, how do we do it? Do we straight up invade Mexico and go on a full out war against the cartels like we did against Osama Bin Laden?
If not, why not? And, is there anything that can be done?
I would like to keep things civil. Please, let's keep this respectful as I know this is a tough issue and there is anger on both sides of this issue.
Cartels gone overnight. Handle addiction as a medical problem. With legal MDMA, mushrooms, weed and acid, the hard stuff isn't going to be anywhere near as big an issue as it is currently.
Decriminalize the use of currently illegal drugs, and increase penalties for the dealing of illegal drugs. Then increase funding for the medical treatment of addiction. And homelessness. And food insecurity. Too bad none of that will ever happen, since our stupid government prefers to solve all of its problems with cruise missiles.
From what I understand, the US is actively investing in the Mexican economy right now in order to both shift our manufacturing reliability away from China and also to provide economic stability in Mexico to shift power away from the cartels. Please take this with a grain of salt as I do not remember where I read this and cannot provide a source. But from what I recall, the long term plan is to setup manufacturing in Mexico for the above reasons with the bonus of reducing shipping costs, time, and shipment vulnerability. I really hope it works, because if you think about it, it just makes sense all around. If we make Mexico our biggest trade partner, we both benefit in big ways. And the more options people have in Mexico for jobs, the less they have to rely on the cartel.
Aside from that, I used to agree that legalizing drugs would take the market away from the cartels, but then you have to remember that the cartels have since diversified. So stop eating Haas avocados??? I don't know, I'm just a graphic designer ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
"do we straight up invade.. like we did...." Do you know the mess that actually comes from there? And How much it had enforced extremist behaviour in other countries.
"What US needs to do?" Start by taking care of your own issues like guns, they will inevitably end up in dark market serving cartels and others, it would also stop massive killing happening in your own country at the same time... Priorities to education and healthcare, Stop invading countries (can't remember last US invasion which was actually useful...), start supporting smart guys instead of bad/extremist guys so they don't get more powerful (exemple: Masoud instead of Bin Laden in Afghanistan against Russia).
There are definitely some good ideas in this thread, I would like to know, however, where I can go to escape the crime, violence, inequality, and corruption in the United States?
Legalize drugs, stop the war on drugs from Nixon era. It should be treated as a health problem, not a criminal one, and once they're at least decriminalized the cartel's profits would PLUMMET.
Ofc USA has probably the strongest propaganda system and has incentive for the cartels to continue existing, so I don't see that happening unless some change that's major and unexpected happens.
The US could stop buying the drugs or stop supplying the weapons. The CIA was heavily involved in the creation of the cartely so the US should stay the fuck out of it. Whenever you try to fix stuff you make it worse. Mostly because you only act like you try to fix it while at the same time looking how to profit from it.
While it's true that the U.S. is the most convenient market for Mexican cartels, it's worth knowing that it's far from the only one. Mexican drug cartels have major connections to markets across the globe. and that Mexico specifically is the de facto administrator of drug trade in the western world. For example, a drug bust in India found fentanyl that had been purchased in Mexico from China. . That's not the sort of arrangement that the US can ever hope to do away with through domestic legislation without undermining the autonomy of dozens of states around the globe.
While removing the cartels' access to the American market via decriminalization would certainly take away a lot of funds, let's not act like black market operations don't exist in legal markets anyway.
In this hypothetical situation where the US is responsible for Mexico's drug cartel problem (which I disagree with), I don't think the road to success ends at the US legalizing drugs.
I would also add "Repeal Section 1" to this list. Let Philip Morris, Phizer, and their ilk deal with the problem. The cartels think they have power, they have no idea.
Legalize and regulate the drug trade and prostitution. Would overnight make those activities significantly less harmful and you would be able to put all that blank check DEA money into treatments and going after child traffickers which is the only market that shouldnt be regulated or exist. Wow. Problem fucking solved. Let them keep their avocadoes and shit. Boom, we just solved billions of dollars worth of problems and can actually use these things to better society for ourselves and the people that the cartel terrorize with this shit. Almost like, they dont want the problem to be solved.
The majority of illegal immigration into the US has nothing to do with walking across borders anywhere. It’s people overstaying their visas, and they got to the US on a plane. The whole Republican thing about immigrants marching across the borders is one of the most fantastical stories they’ve made up to make democrats look bad.
Probably nothing. Mexican citizens will have to rise up and it won't be without loss. It will legit be civil war. You can't stop people from wanting drugs.
Bankrupt them by legalization/regulation/discouragement/taxation of all drugs and then flood money into R&D of any product they move into. Are they messing with Avocado growers? Spend ten billion developing ways to grow them in Florida.
People are posting all kinds of ridiculous solutions that they know are impossible. Legalize drugs. Use less drugs. The cartels run more than just drugs! They run fucking avocados!! And electronics!! They have diversified. Never mind that it’s politically impossible to do anything like that. It can’t happen.
Invading Mexico and shooting the cartels CAN happen. It gives money to the defense industry, which itself is enough reason that it could happen. It’s probably even in the USA’s best interest to try and de-corrupt Mexico (never mind that this would be a bloody mess with huge loss of life). My point isn’t that it’s a good idea, it’s that it’s a solution that could actually happen in real life.
Let's not pretend that the border patrol (including the wall where it makes sense) is not part of illegal immigration the solution. Any country should be able to control who enters its borders.
As for cartels, drug legalization in US will go long way. Investments into Mexico economy is another path. Cartels, are not ideological enemies like jihadists/terrorists. Give them opportunities to earn money safely and more profitable in legal ways and they will disappear.
We can only hold the problem back as long as Mexico isn't vigilant enough on them. If I was president, I wouldn't invade Mexico but I'd definitely be suing them (and then maybe use the money to pay off national debt; what Mexico has been doing surely makes them indebted/owe us, right? Right?)
Best thing to do is wholesale execution. The moment any of your family is suspected proven or otherwise of involve,ent in illegal activity, execute everyone instantly. Thus had to happen in the civil war and many other uprisings in the past.