Fox will take it, i think eh ... unless C rdenas splits off more PAN ... but they say he is splitting off more PRI just now ... depends on the poll you read, there is a spectrum of them, and the race appears close. Overall i am of course for Fox but am uncomfortable with the degree to which he is religious ... his mexicanidad is questionable [something wildly symbolic in him being the ex-jefe of CocaCola, lol], and of course he is promising much more than anyone could possibly deliver ... i have concerns about his integrity as well, but then that is true of all politicians ... Still, if he can end the rule of the pri¡stas, he's the man, there is no better choice available.
A friend of mine used to talk about democracy within the PRI, but he doesn't any more, not for years now.
On corruption - No question the narcotraficantes are extremely strong, this is another facet of the 70+ year reign ... whether Fox could change this within his sexenio is another matter though ... he does make the Economics 101 point that the trade is driven by the immense US demand, and that producing, transit, and consuming nations share responsibility for it [i'm with you and Peter Tosh - Legalise It] [but i would criticise it as well, actually].
There is another side to the corruption, though, not connected to drugs, and that is the extent to which it is engrained as a culture in the everyday life of the people ... i believe this is lessening, slowly to be sure but quite noticeable when you arrive after a time away ... you no longer routinely offer a clerk 'algo pa' tu refresco' to speed up some papers in a palacio de gobierno, for example ... it can be taken as an insult or attempt at entrapment ... this is a major change over the last few years ... it goes along with the expectations of reasonable levels of service on the part of quite ordinary people, a realisation of rights ... it will never be eliminated of course, it exists everywhere on the planet to some extent, but it is improving in M‚xico in everyday life, in my view.
You make many fine and amusing points for your 'merging', but you and i know it's not going to happen ... they are two very different nations with strong and distinct identities, and could not agree on mutually acceptable terms ... there is more to the strong feeling than the manipulation by the politicians, much more ... though that has been a factor, for sure, in both nations ... i would be much more open to consideration of an alliance, even a confederation, with Canada, personally ... no baggage with that one, no threat.
As for cannon, i understand they are considered out of style ... but i betcha i could get an RPG on a credit card within a day ... and you know there are many who actually would ... best left in the realm of idle musing, these sorts of things ... later ... cheers
ps - another place to see those same whales is from Long Beach on the west coast of Vancouver Island ... that's where they are in April ... you need more clothing there, of course .. and more cash -g- |
