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Mexican political climate


Herman

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I do not yet live in Mexico, but will soon. 

When I watch the daily national news in the US the political mess I see will not be missed. This is not the US I grew up in. I’m done. 

I hope the Mexican daily news isn’t as pathetic. We hear of the cartel stories but that’s it. 

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No worries about cartels if you're not into the drug scene.  Just don't complain about their barking dogs, loud music, the usual stuff.  Mind your own business and never raise your voice for any reason.................and don't be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Welcome to Mexico and forget everything you learned in Kansas.

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Country is pretty optimistic about AMLO.  Reformers pretty much swept Jalisco and much of the other elections.  Corruption is so endemic here they are really going to have their hands full.  

Should be interesting.  Hopefully not that fictional Chinese curse of "may you live in interesting times."

The news media up there is less believable or balanced than at any time in my lifetime.  Take it all with a very large grain of salt.  For the most part I just ignore them and stick to living here.

Don't come here thinking this is some sort of paradise.  For example, less than 2 percent of crimes actually result in arrest and conviction.  Often it is hard to tell the cops from the criminals.  Rip offs are far more common than one might expect in a relatively small town like this.  Adopt a big city awareness and approach to your surroundings for best results.  Expect to get used to erratic utilities, rough streets and highways, a lot of environmental neglect and more than a little noise.

And yes, you do need to think about being collateral damage in the cartel wars.  Stay out of bars where any druggies might be found to start with and for God's sake stay away from dope and dopers.  Understand you have the primary responsibility for your own personal and property security.

That being said, people who take sensible precautions don't encounter a lot of problems here.  And BTW the climate is unbelievably good.  Going on 11 years here and it is still a constant marvel.

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Also, be aware that there is a large group of very poor people here and you will encounter beggars and skilled thieves.  Don't leave your wallet in a "liftable" pocket or your handbag in the shopping cart.  Lock the car, even if you're just popping into a place "for a minute". In other words, "big city awarenes" applies. 

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Don't forget too bring a large amount of Patience, and a laissez faire attitude with you as well... 

...and try to resist saying, "These People!" as many a frustrated person has done... local folk often understand English... even if they do not speak the language. A friendly attitude, shaking hands and introductions go a long way towards good relations. I hope you grow to love México the way many of us do... best of luck in all you do and may you have a smooth trip down. Lizzy

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12 minutes ago, bobnliz said:

Don't forget too bring a large amount of Patience, and a laissez faire attitude with you as well... 

...and try to resist saying, "These People!" as many a frustrated person has done... local folk often understand English... even if they do not speak the language. A friendly attitude, shaking hands and introductions go a long way towards good relations. I hope you grow to love México the way many of us do... best of luck in all you do and may you have a smooth trip down. Lizzy

...and know that they don't understand English any better when it's shouted. In fact, you can generalize and say shouting is a very bad idea here.  Most of all, the priorities are different. Money isn't the top one.  Family is.  And don't try to accomplish more than one appointment per day.  You'll find out why, soon enough.

Meanwhile.....WELCOME and best of luck !

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What Gringal said... go ahead and make your list, just remember that one-thing-done is par for the course... and when your one appointment is done you can kick back and relax... with whatever you like to relax with..you're gonna love it here... Lizzy

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  • 6 months later...

Yes you have to drive very very defensive. For example In the U.S. you can generally expect that  people will drive by the rules, people passing on the left, stopping for stop signs, stop lights etc.  But here the rules are "optional".  We have also hit many motorcycles passing on the right and people not stopping for red lights.  So whatever you do be on the look out and expect the unexpected.  We have mostly mexican friends.  It is little like the "wild west" which in many ways is good.  People take justice into their own hands because many times the law does not.  We have a good friend who was a member of a neighborhood watch.  If a mexican man was beating his wife consistenatly, he was warned, then if he did not stop, he was taken out into the woods and i wont tell you what they did to him but he was never the same.  He was able to work but disabled in a way.  Weve seen, when the law does not meet their responsibility, the people will.

Anyway, we love it here, yes take personal responsibility for everything

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I know this is an old thread sputnik, but you may want to read today's Guadalajara Reporter about police forces who will be cracking down on driving infractions by both foreigners and Mexicans. To me, that's a breath of fresh air and long overdue.

 

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Just read an article today in Washington Post (I am a subscriber) that many intelligent, well placed people are predicting a civil uprising (some say civil war - but that is extreme) if the U.S. president is voted out of office in 2020. He will refuse to give up his position. I wonder where the "refugees" will go?

On the other hand, there are pockets here at Lakeside where the outside world of Mexican, Chapala or U.S. politics mean very little. Tranquil oasises of peace, nature and no real problems. The days slip away like silk scarves in the wind. Some find it boring, others find it like sleeping through a beautiful dream.

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I get the Post also but must have missed that one!  Yes, there have been op-ed’s for a year now talking about ‘civil war or civil unrest’ if he looses. One pundit said that he ‘might not give it up if lost’.  My opinion is that there are waaay to many opinions swirling around this man’s presidency and this is just another one. Makes for good? press but lousy reasoning. 

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Topic here is Mexican political climate not idle speculation from highly biased sources that the U.S. President would do anything other than respect the results of an election.

So let's not divert this thread to that topic.  

Polling still shows very strong and diverse support for AMLO.  He seems to be moving decisively to confront the big concerns here about crime and corruption.  Only time will tell if his initiatives pan out.  Let's hope so.  Mexico slipped far in all the measures of crime and corruption under AMLO's predecessor.  It wouldn't surprise me a bit to find that guy took big money from Chapo. 

This civil defense force will be a big test.  As will whether the government is able to keep the lid on gasoline theft.

It is being reported in the Mexican news that deep corruption in INM has been outed and a cleanup promised.  This too should come as no surprise to expats.

 

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On ‎3‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 1:23 PM, AngusMactavish said:

The US Secret Service would remove him by all means necessary. 

you do know that is treason , punishment by hanging, hidden in history, George Washington was attempted to be removed and the culprits , twenty of them, were hung in front of the white house !

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9 minutes ago, bobby brown said:

you do know that is treason , punishment by hanging, hidden in history, George Washington was attempted to be removed and the culprits , twenty of them, were hung in front of the white house !

Apples and kumquats.

The USSS wasn't formed until July 5, 1865, a few years after Washington's death.

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On ‎3‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 12:17 PM, CHILLIN said:

Just read an article today in Washington Post (I am a subscriber) that many intelligent, well placed people are predicting a civil uprising (some say civil war - but that is extreme) if the U.S. president is voted out of office in 2020. He will refuse to give up his position. I wonder where the "refugees" will go?

On the other hand, there are pockets here at Lakeside where the outside world of Mexican, Chapala or U.S. politics mean very little. Tranquil oasises of peace, nature and no real problems. The days slip away like silk scarves in the wind. Some find it boring, others find it like sleeping through a beautiful dream.

Post/ rag , intelligent well placed people,   hacks      .as memory serves  the only ones that want revolution for loosing a election are the radical left Socialist Democrats.  This president was not suppose to win,   HA ////  please excuse my lack of punctuation  as  my computer suffered from the humidity and I had to replace my keyboard for one  in Spanish.

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Just now, bobby brown said:

however,, quite  applicable today..                       criminal acts still have consequences today.

Please read my edited post, I had to get my facts as I am not as readily informed as you.

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14 minutes ago, bobby brown said:

you do know that is treason , punishment by hanging, hidden in history, George Washington was attempted to be removed and the culprits , twenty of them, were hung in front of the white house !

Truly remarkable, considering that New York City and Philadelphia were the national capitals during Washington's administration and construction had not even begun on the White House. It sounds like you have a confused recollection from reading something about the Whiskey Rebellion.

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13 hours ago, bobby brown said:

Post/ rag , intelligent well placed people,   hacks      .as memory serves  the only ones that want revolution for loosing a election are the radical left Socialist Democrats.  This president was not suppose to win,   HA ////  please excuse my lack of punctuation  as  my computer suffered from the humidity and I had to replace my keyboard for one  in Spanish.

These observations are coming from the right - starting with Michael Cohen's (former long time personal lawyer to Trump) testimony to congress, and Steve Bannon's (former Presidential advisor) own predictions about riots in the streets, leading to civil disobedience. And contrary to your opinion, this "revolution" is exactly what he wants to happen, he has written books about it, and is/was doing everything he could to encourage it. A lot of fear and loathing among the right in Washington right now. It will effect Mexico if the U.S. dollar drops, which the President the other day says he wants to see happen, to make American exports more price competitive.

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