Comments for Roaming Around with Peter Rice http://peterbrice.com updated every Monday in the wee hours Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:19:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Taking an ego hit for Mexico by Kelly Hart http://peterbrice.com/taking-an-ego-hit-for-mexico.html#comment-213 Kelly Hart Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:31:47 +0000 http://peterbrice.com/taking-an-ego-hit-for-mexico.html#comment-213 There are some economic factors to consider here. First, if the drugs were decriminalized, then their price could find it's appropriate level, comparable to other ingested commodities, such as bananas and coffee. Once the hugely inflated price of the drugs has settled down, then the huge profits that spur the drug cartels to action would also diminish, and with it the incentive to carry on as usual. But drugs are a high end illicit commodity, so it is only natural that they get most of the attention. If they weren't so lucrative, then the cartels would migrate to some other lucrative item most likely, or resort to extortion or kidnapping for a living. The other factor is the pay scale for law enforcement in Mexico. Local police are paid squat, so there is a huge incentive to cooperate with the cartels just to make a living. The Federal Police are paid somewhat better, but what the gangs offer is very tempting because this would be added onto what they are already making. Corruption is rampant in Mexican law enforcement; it has been a way of life for so long that officers tend to assume that bribes are how they make up the difference between their pay and their needs. It is hard to see a real solution to all of this, since unemployment and poor pay are everywhere in Mexico. The Mexican economy, which is largely based on oil export at the Federal level, will soon experience the loss of much of this income. This will certainly exacerbate the problem. There are some economic factors to consider here.

First, if the drugs were decriminalized, then their price could find it’s appropriate level, comparable to other ingested commodities, such as bananas and coffee. Once the hugely inflated price of the drugs has settled down, then the huge profits that spur the drug cartels to action would also diminish, and with it the incentive to carry on as usual. But drugs are a high end illicit commodity, so it is only natural that they get most of the attention. If they weren’t so lucrative, then the cartels would migrate to some other lucrative item most likely, or resort to extortion or kidnapping for a living.

The other factor is the pay scale for law enforcement in Mexico. Local police are paid squat, so there is a huge incentive to cooperate with the cartels just to make a living. The Federal Police are paid somewhat better, but what the gangs offer is very tempting because this would be added onto what they are already making. Corruption is rampant in Mexican law enforcement; it has been a way of life for so long that officers tend to assume that bribes are how they make up the difference between their pay and their needs.

It is hard to see a real solution to all of this, since unemployment and poor pay are everywhere in Mexico. The Mexican economy, which is largely based on oil export at the Federal level, will soon experience the loss of much of this income. This will certainly exacerbate the problem.

]]> Comment on Taking an ego hit for Mexico by Kim G http://peterbrice.com/taking-an-ego-hit-for-mexico.html#comment-211 Kim G Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:53:54 +0000 http://peterbrice.com/taking-an-ego-hit-for-mexico.html#comment-211 The "reality distortion field' around U.S. drug policy is nothing short of amazing. Not only have we been watching this "groundhog day" of a movie on drugs for some time now, but we it's merely a sequel to the "groundhog day" of a movie that we watched under prohibition. No one ever asks why it was impossible to maintain prohibition of alcohol, but will be possible to maintain the prohibition of stronger stuff now. But, alas, this is one of the rather fundamental problems of our federal government. It is so large and powerful that it does not admit to the possibility that there are tasks that are beyond even its prodigious powers. Meanwhile the drug war will continue to rage on until we try something different than just more of the same. Very good points on Canada, by the way. Regards, Kim G Boston, MA The “reality distortion field’ around U.S. drug policy is nothing short of amazing. Not only have we been watching this “groundhog day” of a movie on drugs for some time now, but we it’s merely a sequel to the “groundhog day” of a movie that we watched under prohibition. No one ever asks why it was impossible to maintain prohibition of alcohol, but will be possible to maintain the prohibition of stronger stuff now.

But, alas, this is one of the rather fundamental problems of our federal government. It is so large and powerful that it does not admit to the possibility that there are tasks that are beyond even its prodigious powers.

Meanwhile the drug war will continue to rage on until we try something different than just more of the same.

Very good points on Canada, by the way.

Regards,

Kim G
Boston, MA

]]> Comment on Taking an ego hit for Mexico by Steve Cotton http://peterbrice.com/taking-an-ego-hit-for-mexico.html#comment-210 Steve Cotton Fri, 27 Mar 2009 01:57:18 +0000 http://peterbrice.com/taking-an-ego-hit-for-mexico.html#comment-210 Well thought post, Peter. We have two systems side by side with malfunctioning parts. It is far too easy to merely blame one another. Well thought post, Peter. We have two systems side by side with malfunctioning parts. It is far too easy to merely blame one another.

]]> Comment on The definitive guide to Mexican hand gestures by Miki http://peterbrice.com/the-definitive-guide-to-mexican-hand-gestures.html#comment-206 Miki Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:10:53 +0000 http://peterbrice.com/the-definitive-guide-to-mexican-hand-gestures.html#comment-206 Thank you so much for this! Im doing an art project on hand gestures so this really helps :) Thank you so much for this!
Im doing an art project on hand gestures so this really helps :)

]]> Comment on Worshiping at the church of Keillor by Laurie http://peterbrice.com/worshiping-at-the-church-of-keillor.html#comment-202 Laurie Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:56:42 +0000 http://peterbrice.com/worshiping-at-the-church-of-keillor.html#comment-202 I love Prairie Home Companion. I attended a live session in New Orleans a few years ago, but I was quite disappointed. Either he was having a bad night or he felt compelled to play up to New Orleans rather sleazy reputation. The opening monologue was a string of raunchy jokes, followed by ever-increasing vulgarity. The highlights of course was the music, featuring our lady of music, Irma Thomas. My date and I were surprised to be subjected to crude SNL type of material. Having read almost everything Keillor ever wrote, the whole experience was a bit disappointing. I love Prairie Home Companion. I attended a live session in New Orleans a few years ago, but I was quite disappointed. Either he was having a bad night or he felt compelled to play up to New Orleans rather sleazy reputation. The opening monologue was a string of raunchy jokes, followed by ever-increasing vulgarity. The highlights of course was the music, featuring our lady of music, Irma Thomas. My date and I were surprised to be subjected to crude SNL type of material. Having read almost everything Keillor ever wrote, the whole experience was a bit disappointing.

]]> Comment on Drug Violence Gets Weird, Heads North by lupita de culturlingua http://peterbrice.com/drug-violence-gets-weird-heads-north.html#comment-201 lupita de culturlingua Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:06:41 +0000 http://peterbrice.com/drug-violence-gets-weird-heads-north.html#comment-201 Hola Pete! cómo estás? todo bien en méxico y tú? espero que todo esté bien en donde te encuentres. uuuyyyyy que amarillista te ves con todo lo que pones sobre méxico y el narcotráfico y asesinatos y todo lo demás... si es cierto que la violencia aunada al narcotráfico está para llorar, más la situación económica, pero tambien no olvides que estados unidos está consumiendo cada día más drogas, lleva el primer lugar como consumidor, así que, qué hacemos Peter? donde sea está la violencia, ya viste lo de alemania? ponte a leer mas de la nota roja de estados unidos, aparte de drogadicta la gente en estados unidos está loca, imagínate, que bueno que dejaste atrás Michoacán, estás a salvo en estados unidos..... saludos............bye......... Hola Pete! cómo estás? todo bien en méxico y tú? espero que todo esté bien en donde te encuentres. uuuyyyyy que amarillista te ves con todo lo que pones sobre méxico y el narcotráfico y asesinatos y todo lo demás… si es cierto que la violencia aunada al narcotráfico está para llorar, más la situación económica, pero tambien no olvides que estados unidos está consumiendo cada día más drogas, lleva el primer lugar como consumidor, así que, qué hacemos Peter? donde sea está la violencia, ya viste lo de alemania? ponte a leer mas de la nota roja de estados unidos, aparte de drogadicta la gente en estados unidos está loca, imagínate, que bueno que dejaste atrás Michoacán, estás a salvo en estados unidos….. saludos…………bye………

]]> Comment on Drug Violence Gets Weird, Heads North by Brian Hall http://peterbrice.com/drug-violence-gets-weird-heads-north.html#comment-200 Brian Hall Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:46:25 +0000 http://peterbrice.com/drug-violence-gets-weird-heads-north.html#comment-200 No doubt that these are scary times, however I don't think it's without hope. I just got back from a weekend in a tiny pueblito south of Ensenada, and I asked an older local woman what she thought about the news reports, and she said "Yes, they're awful, but it's sort of blown out of proportion. It's bad and violent, but it's not as wide-spread as people think..." We crossed the border twice (coming in Tiajuana, returning in Otay Mesa) and while security seemed beefed up, there was no looming danger of violence. It felt the same as it has the past 6 years. The truth of the matter is, I believe, that the violence is taking place because Calderón is stepping up to the plate, in a way that his predecessors had not. I don't doubt it's bad, and I hate that human lives are being lost, but I just want to make sure we're not blowing something out of proportion just because it's getting closer to the border. Drug cartels, violence, and injustice have been part of the broad-Mexican way of life now for some time, and I believe this is the beginning of a new guard... No doubt that these are scary times, however I don’t think it’s without hope. I just got back from a weekend in a tiny pueblito south of Ensenada, and I asked an older local woman what she thought about the news reports, and she said “Yes, they’re awful, but it’s sort of blown out of proportion. It’s bad and violent, but it’s not as wide-spread as people think…”

We crossed the border twice (coming in Tiajuana, returning in Otay Mesa) and while security seemed beefed up, there was no looming danger of violence. It felt the same as it has the past 6 years.

The truth of the matter is, I believe, that the violence is taking place because Calderón is stepping up to the plate, in a way that his predecessors had not.

I don’t doubt it’s bad, and I hate that human lives are being lost, but I just want to make sure we’re not blowing something out of proportion just because it’s getting closer to the border. Drug cartels, violence, and injustice have been part of the broad-Mexican way of life now for some time, and I believe this is the beginning of a new guard…

]]> Comment on How to be a Third Wave Masculinist by Steve Cotton http://peterbrice.com/how-to-be-a-third-wave-masculinist.html#comment-196 Steve Cotton Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:24:09 +0000 http://peterbrice.com/how-to-be-a-third-wave-masculinist.html#comment-196 Great list. I suspect mine would be far more John Wayne in tone -- if only because I am 60. Great list. I suspect mine would be far more John Wayne in tone — if only because I am 60.

]]> Comment on The View from New Mexico by Alex Mora http://peterbrice.com/the-view-from-new-mexico.html#comment-193 Alex Mora Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:41:24 +0000 http://peterbrice.com/the-view-from-new-mexico.html#comment-193 There was part of my country until you rob us in 1830, thanks for ramember me Why I want to be mexican all my life. Vietnam is the best, and they don´t say nothing, jeje Have hello´s and critic my friend of Russia: Vladimir Putin(the american´s father) Bye Pedro Arroz... There was part of my country until you rob us in 1830, thanks for ramember me Why
I want to be mexican all my life. Vietnam is the best, and they don´t say nothing, jeje
Have hello´s and critic my friend of Russia: Vladimir Putin(the american´s father)

Bye Pedro Arroz…

]]> Comment on A Nervous Latin Aftershock from the U.S. Election Earthquake by alex mora http://peterbrice.com/a-nervous-latin-aftershock-from-the-us-election-earthquake.html#comment-192 alex mora Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:31:38 +0000 http://peterbrice.com/a-nervous-latin-aftershock-from-the-us-election-earthquake.html#comment-192 My democratic and american Peter... Hello, How are you? Ihope fine, I only want to tell you thanks for don´t critic the mexican President, my mister Felipe Calderón him is doing all his effort to make MEXICO(my beautifull and relax country) stronger to pass this american fall economy. I got the Christmas card of your father and I want to tell him thanks for gave you the permiss to came to México last year; Athena is good, but is too american, and if we say "United States sock" we have to go to the office with MISSES FRANCISCO and tell to her "Sorry for critic the best country in this word, I won´t do it again". I hope you have a good job (carnicerías no cuentan) and a good salary(como en el culturlingua)say hello to your parent´s and your sister.WE WILL SEE US AGAIN...ONE DAY. TAKE CARE OF and don´t critic my strong country. (you speak very battly and MÉXICO is the best). REMEMBER, we are students...¡NO MACHINES¡... My democratic and american Peter…

Hello, How are you? Ihope fine, I only want to tell you thanks for don´t critic the mexican President, my mister Felipe Calderón him is doing all his effort to make MEXICO(my beautifull and relax country) stronger to pass this american fall economy.
I got the Christmas card of your father and I want to tell him thanks for gave you the permiss to came to México last year; Athena is good, but is too american, and if we say “United States sock” we have to go to the office with MISSES FRANCISCO and tell to her “Sorry for critic the best country in this word, I won´t do it again”. I hope you have a good job (carnicerías no cuentan)
and a good salary(como en el culturlingua)say hello to your parent´s and your sister.WE WILL SEE US AGAIN…ONE DAY.

TAKE CARE OF and don´t critic my strong country. (you speak very battly and MÉXICO is the best).
REMEMBER, we are students…¡NO MACHINES¡…

]]>