Comments by "MarcosElMalo2" (@MarcosElMalo2) on "Why The US Needs Mexico: Replacing Chinese Manufacturing || Peter Zeihan" video.

@carlspam5335 He’ll find something that confirms his weird conspiracy thinking. It won’t convince anyone else, but it will feed his monomania.
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Well, there is already a connecting rail system and the cartels don’t regularly derail it. Do you imagine that expansion of the already existing transnational system would suddenly make the cartels want to start derailing trains? Don’t be dense. The cartels are like any other industry. They rely on rail transport when and where it makes sense.
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@Domesticated_Ape If only there was some sort of economic coalition of countries in Europe of which the UK could be a member. 🤣
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@mjb.o There are routes that cross the country from North to South and East to West. It’s just not as well integrated and as coordinated as RRs in the U.S. and Canada, but they’re working on it. What Pete said isn’t wrong, but he seems to have given the misperception that the RRs stop north of Mexico City. What Pete is actually saying is that Mexico needs to build out the rail infrastructure and modernize it.
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Mexico is a big country and there are definitely high risk areas (especially the border cities). That said, much of the country is as safe as their U.S. equivalents. Mexico City has its neighborhoods you’d want to avoid, same as New York, Chicago, or L.A. Incidentally, I’ve given up using “third world/first world”. They’re Cold War era geopolitical descriptors that really aren’t applicable. They were used to describe political alignments, not economic conditions. Anyway, I’ve learned to use the more accurate and more neutral “developed/developing/undeveloped” descriptors and I hope you’ll consider using it, too.
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@george2113 What were the interest rates on toy train loans back then? 😉
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I think calling it a “fortress” is overstating it. All three countries have resources, but I do think that more economic cooperation and more trade will be a necessity. I wouldn’t look for any sort of political unification, however (and I know you weren’t suggesting that). The main stumbling block is the xenophobic 21st century “know nothings”.
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That’s basically what the North American automotive industry has already done. The expensive models are made in the U.S., and the lower cost models are made in Mexico. However, all the components and subassemblies are made on both sides of the border and shipped back and forth as needed. So your high end made-in-USA SUV contains components made in Mexico, and your economy car hecho-en-Mexico has components built in the U.S. Incidentally, Mexico is increasing becoming a supplier of precision parts for the aerospace industry.
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Why imagine it. Watch the video and see it.
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Why would the cartels want to interfere with the movement of goods? Set aside the horrific violent crime aspects for a moment and ask yourself, “What is it that drug cartels do?”. One of the answers is that they move product from point A to point B. It would not be in their interests to interfere with cross border trade because their business IS cross border trade.
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@gitargr8 Including a substantial number of U.S. citizens who take advantage of the lower cost of living and commute back and forth daily.
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@reagan445 “Housing Restrictions” is mostly a zoning issue.
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They need to switch to Hose B because Hose A is worn out.
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I heard or read that Queretaro is the fastest growing city in the world. This was pre-pandemic. I never verified if it was true or not. If it was, I wonder if it is still the case. I do know that Qro is home to several top universities in STEM fields, so there’s already an educated workforce.
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It might, but nothing will be effective until the money laundering in the U.S. is addressed. If you want to kneecap the cartels, go after the money and the people who facilitate its movement. Sadly, that won’t happen because of the influence of the banking industry will protect those banking executives involved and/or accountable.
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Poor Mexico, so far from heaven, so close to the U.S.A. 😜
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@russelljackson2818 the flag of the Organization of North American Nations (ONAN)?
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The original suggestion of political integration is a complete non-starter. There is potential for greater economic integration between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, however. NAFTA III will become a topic in 2027 or 28.
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Mexico was a major manufacturer of shoes before China opened up. Major brands built their shoes in León for sale in the U.S. (I remember K-Swiss was one such company.) They already were the cobbler of the U.S.
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@rh81454 Do you know what would put a real dent in the Cartels’ business? Go after the money launderers in the U.S. However, I’m not sure if there is the stomach or political will to go after banking executives and real estate moguls. Until we attack the money flows, your suggestion will fail.
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I think there’s a wait and see stance towards Peru. They just elected a Marxist for President. That doesn’t mean Peru will go the way of Venezuela, but it’s an open question as to what the election means. At a minimum we can read it as a rejection of the Fujimorists (which is a good thing, imho), but what else might we expect? Peruvian politics is not my specialty, but what I do know is confusing and weird to me. Perhaps you can cast some light on the subject.
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@johnschuh8616 You mean like the rail ports-of-entry at Laredo, Eagle Pass, and Brownsville? Also Presidio and El Paso? These all connect with Lazaro Cardenas which (iirc) is the main west coast seaport. There has been a proposed port at Punta Colonet in Baja (proposed in 2009, no construction as yet) and the port of Guaymas in Sonora is a candidate for expansion and modernization.
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Que bueno, amigo. Has viajado a Mexico? I’m from Los Angeles and now living in Mexico. One of my jokes is that I’ve always lived in Mexico.
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It’s probably one of the easier languages to learn. If you’re sincerely interested, here’s my advice. On your next vacation, visit Guanajuato or San Miguel de Allende (both in the state of Guanajuato), and enroll in Spanish classes on a weekly basis. You’re not there to sightsee, you’re there for the immersion. Arrange with the school to stay with a local family. The exchange rate is pretty good right now (it’s been better, but it’s not bad). If you can take the time off, a two week Spanish learning vacation will be cheaper than one week anywhere else. If you can take a whole month off, so much the better. Do this once a year for a few years. The two towns I mention are towns that I know. Ask around. Some might have better suggestions. San Miguel de Allende is a solid choice for your first visit because there are a LOT of English speakers (that cater to the big expat community there) but that can also be a crutch.
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⁠ @visitante-pc5zc not made in Mexico City. You are obviously not a Mexican nor educated about spirits.
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Off hand, it’s over 2000 meters asl. Comparable to Denver, maybe a little higher.
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@persist_123 That’s a weird xenophobic fantasy. Second and third generation Mexican Americans identify as Americans. No one is eager to reconquer former Mexican territory for Mexico. That’s a daydream/nightmare of the extreme right (Lou Dobbs) and the extreme left (a handful of kooks calling themselves the Aztlan movement). (And I think the left got a new hobby: trying to add “x” to Spanish words to degender them. 🤣) But there was a cultural conquest of the U.S. by Mexico. It’s called the taco. Viva Mexico! 😋
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How old?
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@neuconmachinery Those Mexican-Russian menonitas make the best cheese. I had a heck of a time finding cheddar for a reasonable price until someone recommended queso menonita, which is a good analog.
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Good question! Is there a federal agency with jurisdiction over the railroads? Does it fall under DOT, Homeland Security, or DOJ? And then there is the question of security in Mexico.
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@berrytrl1 San Diego and Tijuana have this thing called the Cross Border Express (CBX). The Tijuana airport is built right on the border, and CBX is a pedestrian bridge between San Diego and the Tijuana airport. Going through customs in either direction is a breeze, and domestic flights inside Mexico are much cheaper. I generally take the train from (or to) Los Angeles and then take a shuttle to CBX, but one could also take a shuttle from San Diego’s airports. Depending on when I travel and how far in advance I buy the tickets (I usually wait for a sale), I’ve saved $100-$150 vs flying from LAX. (But my main motivation is that I avoid the hassle of LAX, tbh. I’m adding a few hours by taking the train, but I enjoy the train ride.) The point is that the CBX concept could be replicated at various other points on the border, such as El Paso-Juarez or Laredo-Nuevo Laredo.
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My first babysitter was a Spanish speaker, someone in the neighborhood’s abuelita. I don’t remember her because I was too young, but I grew up knowing that manzana, naranja, and plátano were the Spanish words for apple, orange, and banana. I didn’t learn Spanish in school until 7th grade, but I’d already heard it more or less daily, growing up in Los Angeles. By the time I graduated high school, I had pretty good “Spanglish”. But it wasn’t until I really immersed myself in Spanish that I gained any fluency. So I agree with your proposal (the earlier the better), but I would add a semester (or more) abroad component. I’d also recommend Mexican grandmother babysitters, but I’m not sure if that’s really practical. 😄
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@尖嗓 You don’t know what slavery is. You should just stop trying to communicate your fuzzy thinking and try to learn.
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Side question here 🖐️! Isn’t Toluca the capital of the state of Mexico (Estado de Mexico) and (my real question) is CDMX considered separate from Edomex? I know part of it is the Distrito Federal (DF), but is the whole of Mexico City outside of the State of Mexico?
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