Mexico and United States

FavreKev04 · March 12, 2007

Hey guys, I have been wondering for the longest time... why is Mexico still a third world country? This is the only situation in the world that a 1st world country (United States) is bordered with a 3rd world Country (Mexico). Theres other 1dt world countries who boarder 2nd world countries but never 3rd. I also thought, how come United States dosn't make products their and went to china for their labor. They both work cheap, but I think it would help out United States more if we made cheap goods in Mexico. This way we could ship in the product by train and get it faster, and would provided jobs to the Mexicans so they wouldn't have to cross the border illegally. We won't have to worry about the chineese crossing the border cause we don't share a border with them. I think if we invested more money into Mexico it could easily go up to a 2nd world country and earn lots of money. I'm still surprised their a third world country when every other country in North America is a 1st world country.

Mexico City, Mexico

New York City, United States

mayormommy · March 13, 2007

My understanding of the situation is that rampant corruption and tax laws that inhibit foreign investment and in particular foreign residency make Mexico a dicey venture for American companies or even individuals looking for a cheap place to retire. It is too bad, since these things in theory could be easily fixed.

NintendoMaster128 · March 13, 2007

You know what I've been wondering? Why is this forum so political?

Camaron · March 13, 2007

From the winder point of view, I have always found this map interesting:

Image shows a world map shaded in two colours: green for less economically developed regions; and white for more economically developed regions. The green areas include Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The grey areas include North America, Europe, Russia and Australasia.

How did the northern and southern hemisphere get so divided economically? There are loads of reasons, a few are probably beyond my knowledge, but some include...

- Corruption in governments.

- Foreign domination (such as the British Empire) probably are a big historic factor in how countries have developed economically, especially with Africa.

- Weather and natural hazards, a disputable one especially when you think about countries such as Japan.

- The idea of a rich north and poor south is not fully accurate, what about Australia and other countries in the Southern hemisphere that are very well developed?

manman99 · March 13, 2007

Mexico is till a thrid wolrd country becuase if you have ever taken a look at thepoverty around there, its completely different from American poverty. Living conditions are extremely harsh in the slums of Mexico which happen to be almost everywhere except Mexico City. And like Camaron said corruption in government.

FavreKev04- the rest of thge countries in North America are not 1st world countries! That is absolutely inaccurate. All of Central America is littered with 3rd world countries. Plus not to mention some parts of the Caribbean. Haiti for example.

Manman99

el_grande02 · March 13, 2007

Dont forget about the corrupt politics in Mexico.

FavreKev04 · March 13, 2007

manman99 - I said northern American countries not central, you just proved yourself wrong

Camaron - Yes it is a very corrupt place, so was China before Nixon open trading connections with them in the 70's. We could do the same with Mexico as we did with China. China was very corrupt and abused its power with all communist, now their going more capitalist and are being less corrupt and are expanding their country really fast. Even today some companies are expanding into Mexico and their economy's is steadily going up, I think we should invest more into Mexico then in China.

montrouge · March 13, 2007

Originally posted by: Camaron From the winder point of view, I have always found this map interesting:

Image shows a world map shaded in two colours: green for less economically developed regions; and white for more economically developed regions. The green areas include Central and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The grey areas include North America, Europe, Russia and Australasia.

How did the northern and southern hemisphere get so divided economically? There are loads of reasons, a few are probably beyond my knowledge, but some include...

- Corruption in governments.

- Foreign domination (such as the British Empire) probably are a big historic factor in how countries have developed economically, especially with Africa.

- Weather and natural hazards, a disputable one especially when you think about countries such as Japan.

- The idea of a rich north and poor south is not fully accurate, what about Australia and other countries in the Southern hemisphere that are very well developed?quote>

They are some erreor in this map actually one part of south america is in the "first world" It is called French Guiana because it is an oversea french departement like Haiwai for USA.

You should know that the coutry wich have largest border with France is the Bresil.

French Guiana is in European Union and the money is the Euro.

French Guiana has exactly the same status than the departements located in Metropolitan France.

Actualy this is the poorest departement of France the average salary is at 20,000 € (about 25,000) PIB per capita is at 13,500 € ($17,000) according Eurostat.

the unemployment is high and it has a very big problem with illegal imigration.

The population of this departement is about 200,000 but some people estimate at 300,000 350,000 the real population here because the illegal imigration

It is the most dangerous departement of France !

In the Southern hemisphere Reunion island (Near Africa and Madagascar) is very develloped because it is like French Guiana an oversea departement of France

It is in European Union and the money is Euro (It is the first part of E.U to have the Euro)

This departement is in economical and demographical boom but some pollution problem due at the big traffic (more than 700 cars for 1000 inh) and at no efficient public transportation

This departement has one of most active volcan of the earth and has hurricane

Reunion is very diverse and safe.

HabLeUrG · March 13, 2007

consider this that Mexico is growing and soon will be a 1st world...

manman99 · March 13, 2007

FavreKev04- central America is on the continent of North America, but if you mean way North as in the US or Canada that I completely get you, I was just trying to make a point.

Manman99

edit

HabLeUrG- you are right about that, but its going at a slow pace, which I dont like because of all of the illegal crossings into this country which then take away from Americans' jobs and leave Americans in debt. But Im a little off topic. I just had to get that off my chest.

MarcosMX · March 13, 2007

Mexico City:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:IMG_2079.JPG
New York City:

Corruption, crime, drugdealers (narcos) and history are the main factors of why Mexico is a third world country. Thank godness the current president is doing something against drug dealers.

Duke87 · March 13, 2007

[Edited by BarbulaM1] - please watch your comments

beto_080480 · March 13, 2007

Duke87, your comment is very offensive... I'd appreciate you'd not post something like that in the future. How can you be so sure that "all Mexicans are hopping the fence over USA instead of trying to do something to fix their situation"? And the happy face after your comment makes it even worst. I think an apology is due here, man. I think the situation is way more complicated than just what has been said here. In part, USA is responsible for the poverty in Mexico, because it is benefitial for them. You guys should try and get a copy of "Barbarian Mexico" by Kenneth Turner. It explains why Mexico was so poor back in the beginning of the XX Century, which hasnt improved a lot, actually. It is true, corruption is a big issue here, but is not an ethos of our people. Rather, we have been ruled by corrupt people. You also have to take into account that we were ruled by the same political party for over 70 years, thus making it the most perfect dictatorship in the world, as the Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa said it. It breaks my heart to see the inequity of my country. The 3rd richest man on earth lives here with 49 billion bucks in his pocket, and just this morning I was watching on TV how people in some rural areas in Chiapas still get illnesses that only Africa and some parts of Asia suffer. So sad. Please, be careful with your comments. I guess you do not get to be entitled to opinion when you really dont know the situation. sorry if it sounds harsh.

Frankie_Grove · March 13, 2007

Either way, I personally believe that calling a country '3rd world' is not polite at all. Just because they are not industrialized makes them inferior? Just because an area is 'undeveloped' or..is not up to date with modern technology and such does not make them inferior. And calling them '3rd world' is insulting.

And the "south is always poorer than the north" phrase is very inaccurate as you stated, Cameron. Look at the UK, the Southern part is where most of the country's cities and wealth are.

And by all means, Mexico has huge potential, however it's leaders are not willing to explore it. And foreign investment is little to none.

...just my 3 cents on it..

beto_080480 · March 13, 2007

Direct Foreign Investment in 2006 was actually of almost $20 billion dollars. The problem is not that, the problem is that most companies establish in Mexico because they can pay lower salaries. Again, thanks to our corrupt leaders. Wal-Mart pays 170 dollars a month to its cashiers, for example, and Mexico is the country where they get more money from, only second to USA.

I'm very sorry for triple posting. My bad

FavreKev04 · March 13, 2007

beto_080480 - Don't post three times of the same thing

Duke87 - your right in a very racist way, they are hoping to USA because of lack of jobs and better future for their family. Yes we are still in Iraq but that dost mean companies couldn't invest in Mexico

MarcosMX - China was like that with its opium huts, and they cleaned up

HabLeUrG - Yes its growing, I'm not arguing with that, but we need to speed up the pace

manman99 - yeah I know what you meant to, but usually when someone says North America they mean Canada, USA, and Mexico. Anything lower then Mexico to Southern America is considered Central America. But I see what you mean.

RobledoRessainance · March 14, 2007

In my very humble opinion as a Mexican citizen (who, BTW, is not expecting to cross the border illegally someday), our history shows clearly why we are still living in an undeveloped country. Since the 19th century we've been experimenting an unstable government, external debts, wars, invasions (fortunately those ones stopped some time ago).

Mexico is a very centralized country, actual democracy arrived little time ago (still on discussion if we live in actual democracy) and the social structures are very complex. We live in a society where there is still an elite group living from the poorer masses; where the politics are seen as a mere bussiness. Globalization has not necessarily lowered poverty. Basically, rural misery evolves into urban poverty.

I see a huge hole in the economy: the government receives only 30% (the number is not necessarily accurate, just an example that it's very little) of taxes that should actually be received. Plus, the Mexican industry can't compete with more developed industries like the Chinese one. Agriculture can't compete with the methods of production in the USA (ironically most of peolple who work there are hispanics).

Whether right wing or left wing politics do not seem to help this historical situation. It's a matter of inequality, I believe.

Let's hope this won't become very political...

Duke87 · March 14, 2007

Originally posted by: beto_080480 Duke87, your comment is very offensive... I'd appreciate you'd not post something like that in the future. How can you be so sure that "all Mexicans are hopping the fence over USA instead of trying to do something to fix their situation"? And the happy face after your comment makes it even worst. I think an apology is due here, man.quote>

That's not a happy face. That's a tongue out face. Meaning that was said jokingly, not seriously.

I'm far from being the first and certainly won't be the last to make a joke like that. if it's been acceptable a million times before when other people did it, it's acceptable now when I do it.

It's called humor, people.

spa · March 14, 2007

That map is also inaccurate in terms of several of the Asian economies. Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea really can't be lumped in with the poorer countries any more, Malaysia is close behind and Thailand will probably be there in the next decade or so. Israel and perhaps the United Gulf Emierates in the Middle East also breaks the North/South divide.

sc4portugal · March 14, 2007

Originally posted by: montrouge