Wow.  A month in Mexico, and lots to show for it.  Lots going on UPSTAIRS, anyway.

Speaking only for myself, I can tell you that there were a lot of stereotypes at work in my imagination, and to be quite frank, a lot of beliefs that just aren't true.  If there are any proud Mexicans reading this, please speak up and help us get this right.

THEY'RE MOVING ALL OF OUR JOBS TO MEXICO!

Ever heard that?  I have, and for some reason, I tended to blame the Mexicans for 'taking' American jobs.  WHAT?  Let's take a look at the history of Mexico for a moment, shall we?

You see, much like the U.S., Mexico was 'discovered' by Europeans.  The Spanish were working their mojo down south around the same time the English were shaking things up on the East Coast.  While we were wiping out the indigenous people, the Spanish found themselves with a BIG problem.  You see, their women were getting sick and dying.  Solution?  Playing house with the locals.

There were plenty of massacres, no doubt, but there were also lots of babies.  With whitey.  I'll let wikipedia fill in the blanks, but this fundamental situation has a lot to do with the relationship between Mexico and the U.S.   We are very similar, and would undoubtedly be MORE similar had we taken a different path.  Insert your ridiculous reference to 'manifest destiny' here.

One thing that stood out immediately was the similarity to Europe.

The news has a global perspective.   People speak multiple languages.  There isn't a feeling of denial, that the rest of the world doesn't exist.  And now, manufacturing is popping up left and right.  Why?  Because Mexican laborers don't ask a lot of questions and they don't have a lot of alternatives, so the labor is pretty cheap.  Here's where I think it gets scary.

The Mexicans aren't buying what the Mexicans are producing. 

Why is that scary?  Because the United States is giving their industry away to make it cheaper for U.S. consumers.  Great.  But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to do the math.  If the U.S. consumer doesn't have a job, then it doesn't matter how cheap stuff is.  Right?  As always, peeps, we urge you to lift your head out of the sand and find the truth; no matter how inconvenient.   We're talking about GREED.

Nobody in Mexico is taking anything away from you.  'The Man' isn't taking anything away from you.  WE are pushing industry away with an unrelenting desire to get a great deal.  so we can afford to buy more than we need.

And you know what?  There is nothing wrong with that.  Not until we start pointing fingers, that is.  The U.S. provides opportunity because its citizens (for the most part) don't WANT to work for low wages.  Who does, right?  it doesn't get ugly until we start feeling 'entitled'.   Somebody has to do the work.  Might as well be someone uneducated and a little darker in color. 

Giving someone with no opportunity a 'job' for wages that are illegal in this country seems to be our solution.  Our 'compromise'.   It's a little sketchy, don't you think?  We made similar conditions against the law here, because if it were left to the consciences of business men, then humanity would take a back seat.

Just like it can in Mexico. 

But let's take a different perspective.  What if the supply of inexpensive goods isn't the problem?  What if it's the demand? 

Open your eyes, peeps.  If it's too good to be true, then chances are, it isn't.

PPF!
(peepee pals forever!)