Blog dedicated to reporting on Mexican drug cartels
on the border line between the US and Mexico
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Wednesday, July 22, 2020

True Story: American Couple Gives Up their 20 Year Relationship with Mexico

Yaqui for Borderland Beat from: MND  / smtimes / TY Kencito
After property invasions, cartel impunity, criminal banks and incompetence at the top it's time to go                                     "After a 20-year relationship, I’m giving up on Mexico"
                                                           Kelly and Kenneth
This is NOT an Op-Ed, It is a true story and the opinion of the writer and victim, a retired dentist from Fort Worth, Texas.

I am ending a 20-year relationship with Mexico and that is very sad for me. It’s kind of like the end of a marriage. At some point, the relationship turns so sour that one of the parties has to leave. In this case, it is me.

What makes this even more sad is the fact that I love Mexico. I love its natural beauty, from the desert, to the mountains to the pristine beaches. My family has loved it all. But most importantly, we have loved the Mexican people. Our relationships are more like family than even friends. I have personally invested millions of dollars in your country. But I give up. Your government clearly does not want me any longer.

I want to make it clear that I am not here to lecture Mexico. I am not here to tell it what to do or how to do it. It is simply not my place to do so. I am only letting Mexico know why our relationship failed and maybe, if it so desires, not to have so many future failures. Let me share with you my story.



Two decades ago, my brother and his wife bought a beautiful property in San Miguel de Allende and established roots. Deep roots. He built a beautiful home, two casitas, hired full-time staff whom he considers family, and started giving back to his community. 

He, and particularly his wife Kelly, started a dog rescue program for all the starving street dogs around town. They have rescued hundreds of animals from starvation and abuse and set up a spay/ neuter program second to none. Why? It’s part of what our mother taught us: give back to your community. This is part of our DNA.

While all of this was happening in San Miguel, I went to work in Quintana Roo. I bought a derelict house on the ocean in Puerto Aventuras and put 10 million pesos into it to restore it to glory. I also bought beach property around Mahahual, 20 hectares on Lake Bacalar and a 2,000-hectare ranch that had been abandoned near Chetumal. We then went to work.
                                                                   Lake Bacalar
Thugs at the gates:
We hired seven full-time employees to work the ranch, protect the property from poachers (we have deer, tapirs, jaguar and puma just to name a few of the animals we protect). There is a 500-hectare lake on the ranch as well and poachers were gill netting with 100-meter nets and destroying the fishery for generations to come. We stopped that from happening. Birds have returned and fish now abound. We gave back to nature and the community.

Our workers who come and go each day are well paid and fed breakfast and lunch. Our foreman lives full-time in a house we built for him and his lovely family. They all get health insurance, he gets a truck to drive, free gas, free food, free cell phone, and internet. Basically everything is paid for and he gets to use his salary as discretionary income. It’s a great deal for him but it also works great for us. It is a true win-win for all of us.

And how have I been treated? Not well. My ranch has been invaded twice. Once with 10 men and guns threatening to kill all the workers if they did not leave immediately. We called the police. What did they do? Nothing. Nothing at all. It took one year and over 2 million pesos to correct the wrong and get my ranch back from the thugs. Why would your system treat honest people like this? It is truly beyond me.

I have another property that I am fighting an invasion on and have been doing so for over three years. Sure I have won the battles in court so far but they are still on my property and I have spent over 200,000 pesos on lawyers. Will I win? Yes, but I have no desire to keep fighting this battle. Mexico requires me to keep spending money simply to hold on to those things that I have already bought and legally paid for. Does this seem insane only to me?

My brother in San Miguel was attempting to return home from a drive to Puerto Vallarta where he has a beachfront lot. On his way home, he was stopped at a cartel roadblock and robbed. When they attempted to steal his vehicle also, he did a high speed escape past a burning bus back to Puerto. He and his wife then had to fly home and have a driver get his vehicle back home for him. In what universe does this make sense? An honest citizen or visitor cannot travel down a major highway safely?

It gets far worse in my opinion. My neighbor who owns a nearby ranch was in Tamaulipas two years ago buying some cattle from local ranchers who were fleeing from the cartel. These poor ranchers had lost everything and were simply trying to sell what they could and escape, leaving their homes, ranches and other possessions behind. While my friend Jacob was there, word came that another cattle buyer on the adjoining ranch had been kidnapped and they were possibly coming for Jacob. He immediately left the ranch and went back to Quintana Roo.

A cartel convoy on a Mexican highway in 2018:
Mexico has turned over entire states to the cartel. If I told someone that I could not drive from Texas to Mississippi because Louisiana had been taken over by criminals, they would look at me as if I had two heads. Never would the U.S. allow criminals to take over a highway much less an entire state. If a cartel attempted to set up a roadblock on a highway in the U.S., a SWAT team of snipers would kill them all within an hour.


Jacob’s sister and her son were killed along with many more recently in northern Mexico by the cartel. Murdered — no, not murdered, more like slaughtered — without cause and so far Mexico has done very little to right this horrible wrong. I guess President López Obrador’s philosophy of hugs not guns seems to be prevailing. You have to understand how strange this all sounds to Americans. We are to hug murdering thugs instead of shooting them? Sorry, but I had rather send them to hell that very day.

I think the final straw that broke the camel’s back came last year when Monex stole over 20 million pesos from our accounts. We had money in the account one month and the next month, bank employees had stolen every peso. Many newspapers and TV networks reported that 158 accounts and nearly 800 million pesos had been robbed from the accounts of Americans and other foreigners. For many of these people, it was their life savings.

Did bank officials from Monex get arrested and prosecuted? No, they did not. Has Monex replaced the stolen money in full to those depositors?  No, for the most part they have not. In fact, my brother and I have yet to receive one peso of the money stolen from us by the bank. Sure we have filed criminal charges and civil actions but it might be many years before the Mexican government forces this criminal bank, Monex, to reimburse our funds.
                                                           Kelly and Ken Karger
The MONEX Scam: $7 million USD vanished from Expat bank accounts
Fraud Mexico Monex San Miguel De Allende Scam
American families retiring to Mexico must heed the warning of those scammed out of an estimated $7 million or more by a local banker, according to NBC News.

“It’s all gone. All the money is gone,” fraud victim Kelly Karger was told by her husband, per the report. “I just remember bending [over], just stopping in the street thinking, ‘I’m going to be sick.'”

“I was speechless,” Kathy Machir, 67, another US expat who was a victim of the Monex bank fraud, who was left with roughly 40 cents in her account, told NBC News. “It just gives you a sense of ultimate betrayal, loss, horror.”

The Grupo Financiero Monex banker Marcela Zavala Taylor allegedly took personal interest in her clients, asking about their families, handling their finances, and then taking them without a trace – including her own relatives – per the report.

For more on the Monex Bank fraud scam use the smtimes link at top or here.

We even hand delivered a letter to López Obrador himself begging for help. Nothing happened. A low level bureaucrat called us and explained he had been handed the complaint from a superior but it really wasn’t in his jurisdiction and he had no idea why it was handed down to him. He promptly did nothing.

This is why I fear López Obrador is worse than corrupt; he is incompetent. Maybe he can just give Monex a hug and then they will give us back the money they stole. If you want to see further details on this massive crime and cover up, check out bancomonexfraud.com.

No more high hopes for López Obrador:

I have another friend who is a pilot of private jets in Mexico. He and his family were on vacation in San Antonio, Texas, when his 12-year-old daughter opened the door on their rental car and accidentally scratched the adjoining car. The owner of that car jumped out and started verbally abusing my friend, Esteban, and his daughter. Esteban assured him that he had insurance and would pay for any damages. This did not appease the guy.

He threatened physical violence against Esteban’s daughter. Esteban called 911 and was shocked when the police showed up in less than three minutes, listened to what Esteban had to say and then handcuffed the man and took him off to jail for making threats. Esteban told me this would never happen in Mexico. But it should. Mexico deserves better than it is getting.

I had great hopes for López Obrador after Peña Nieto proved to be pretty much a failure. As I expressed those hopes to my Mexican friends about AMLO taking office, they almost all universally would shrug their shoulders and say, “We shall see. We have been promised all of this before.” Their attitude reminded me of a Robert Earl Keene song that goes like this: “The road goes on forever and the party never ends.” Except here we have to change the lyrics to “The road goes on forever and the corruption never ends.” As I wrote earlier, I really don’t believe López Obrador is corrupt. I think his office is worse: incompetent.

My brother is a lawyer by trade. He talks about the difference between a first world country versus a third world country. He always says it is mis-defined. People think that a country is third world if it is poor. This is not true. It is third world if rule of law and more specifically, honoring contracts and enforcing them is the true measure of a country’s status.  Does Mexico honor contracts? Not in the least.

Property rights are destroyed by invasions that take years to resolve and the sanctity of bank accounts and the security of those deposits mean nothing in Mexico. Even notaries and public registries falsify property sales and say no leans exist when in fact they do. You only find out after the purchase. These are not isolated incidents in Mexico.

The municipality of Tulum, by rule of guns not law, seized boutique hotels and beach properties and threw their true owners out on the whim of a corrupt politician for personal gain. Property rights meant nothing and in the three or so years after these Tulum thefts, properties have still not been returned to the rightful owners. What a travesty of justice. Even when these sorts of travesties are recognized, the Mexican legal system does nothing to correct the errors.

Unprecedented levels of violence:
We really believed Mexico was changing 20 years ago. New auto plants, more hotels, more jobs and a true middle class starting to arise. We had hope and I think the Mexican people had hope too. But in the last five years we have witnessed the rise of the cartels stealing oil, cattle, avocados and anything else available, the rise of violence in unprecedented levels and the failure of the Mexican government to actually change anything. The only thing that changed was the slogan: hugs not guns. This is true insanity on a national level.

I wish I could say that I left Mexico in better shape than I found it. For my properties, this is true. But for Mexico in general it is not. I wish I could effect change but I can’t. I don’t get to vote, I don’t get to express an opinion to politicians or government workers and no one really cares what I have to say. The only protest afforded me is with my feet and I choose to leave.

I hope and pray that Mexico finds its way out of the pit it has dug. The Mexican people deserve better than what they are getting. They deserve hope, justice, fairness, and honesty. Right now, they are getting none of these.

146 comments:

  1. They look like those abusive bosses slaving Mexicans working for them while paying them crumbs.... Pretty sure many are happy that this family is out of Mexico

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    1. I don't think the workers are happy they left. They provide a steady income and probably pay better than factories over there. I live in a border town and alot of people from Mexico rely/work for the people from across. Americans or Mexican Americans also rely on them for work. There are far more better people than criminals in Mexico. It's just that damn corruption that doesn't stop.

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    2. You can tell just by looking at a picture of them Pretty? REALLY? Pretty sure you are clueless!

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    3. 12:31 you dodo brain are the clueless one to not know that MOST Americans like these go to Mexico to live off Mexican people by the way of hiring them to work for them with a miserable pay if any or to strip Mexican people off their lands good example of that is the Lebaron family, Americans like these don't go to Mexico just to see the sunset enjoying their retired life but to make a profit....that's right get ur head out ur ass

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    4. Wow! I'm just going to assume you are just trolling with that comment. I would find it really hard to believe that you could possibly be that much of a shallow, judgemental, soulless, absolute piece of shit, racist, garbage person as your comment would suggest. Next time tone it down a little when you are trolling. Trying to believe someone that stupid would have the faculties to use a computer is kind of a long stretch.

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    5. Right...did you actually read the article?

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    6. Just say it.
      They were too White and got so got what they deserved.
      No, they probably treated their employees better than any Mexican ever did, besides, they had no beef with their employees.

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    7. 12:31 with all due respect , they DO sound a little white privileged and boasting. And investing a ton of money during a long period of time while having problems all the time , and not knowing the situation was a bit nearsighted . It leads me to believe that they didn't have any Mexican friends whom would give them good advices and a reality check . Mexico is not USA , hunger is real , desperate men are dangerous ! Feel sorry for the family , glad they got back home safely . Trying to strech a buck is smart thing , but a lot of investigation is needed ! Low profile is a MUST if you are a GRINGO -because to them you are a gringo , and gringos have mucho dinero

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    8. Probably best Americans just stay out of Mexico, the American dollar is not needed.

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    9. How is that possible when all Mexicans are Americans? Last time I checked Mexico was part of the American Continent. You probably meant to say White People stay out of Mexico? But then again there are tons of white American Mexicans in Mexico.

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  2. Well written article, thanks for posting it. Fifteen years ago my wife and I had planned to retire in Sayulita. Those plans have been canceled. The last paragraph is my prayer for Mexico as well.

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    1. Retired in Mexico 🇲🇽 had to come back where was living to dangerous, now its going try again, have to remodel the house.

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    2. Good longboard wave there.

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    3. I drove through there back about 10 years ago. I had sworn i was in Newport Beach, not Mexico.

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  3. As much as I sympathize for these people, we should really think about those who don’t have the choice to pack up and leave...

    Why is the UN, UNICEF and the Red Cross so reluctant to step in?

    We already know why the local governments are not doing anything, they are complicit!

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    1. What is UNICEF expected to do, exactly? And the Red Cross holds an entrenched position in Mexican society across the republic already. By the UN, do you mean a military peacekeeping force on UN mandate? This is the sort of unclear wishful thinking with no ground in reality that really doesn't help, and I think you know it.

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  4. Mexico is a lawless failed Country. Its going to take a civil war or another Country to take over to fix it. It has past the point of no return.

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    1. Lawless, failed Country? Sounds vaguely familiar.

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    2. I:35 the dirty deals some people make with corrupt governments look and feel good at the time, then when another regime takes over, expect the mightmares to start, in Cancun, Acapulco, or San Miguel de Allende.
      The Le Barons are Mexican, but american citizens too, and they have always known where the butter goes, in their pocket...
      the only immigrants i respect is the members of the Battallon de San Patricio, fought Zachary Taylor and Co. For Mexico,
      they did not have any Bone Spurs whatsoever...

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    3. Every time I tellt story about the Battallon de San Patricio, it is a Mexicans first time hearing it.

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  5. I stop reading the article when you talked to much about money! Sound like you show off to much!
    Take from me i dress and look poor and don't show off money or talk about it!

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    1. I do the same, and I really don't have a lot of money,

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    2. Ya cause it's like being hungry you don't talk about burgers if your starving. Same as talking about money if your broke ;)

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    3. Because you’re broke. The point of the full disclosure I understand firsthand from living in San Miguel and Chapala. Forever it’s always been an unwritten rule don’t bother the expats they’re the bulk of the local economies but the last few years all bets are off. It’s time to go! Chapo had far reaching power Mencho can’t control his own people.

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    4. I have a lot of money and i like to show it off,
      I don't know why i keep hanging around here with you, pinchis plebeyos

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    5. 733
      "
      I don't know why i keep hanging around here with you, pinchis plebey"
      Because they are bitter losers and haters,its easy to cry at people with money,racist,criminals,exploited,they are bitter haters.

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    6. 7;33
      just shows you that having money doesnt make you smart
      lol your not rich
      a pocket full of drug money makes you a Vato

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  6. Mexico is a 3rd world Country... lawless. Such a shame too.

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  7. Personally, I would have been more impressed if you had lobbied (with your money) informing Texas and the USA governments to stop guns flowing into Mexico from the USA — which those guns contribute to a lot of crime. It would be curious to hear your position on gun manufacturers profiting sales of guns in Mexico and the USA policy of “gun-walking” into Mexico.

    Doing the right thing for Mexico is keeping the bad things from the USA coming into Mexico.

    I wonder how would Americans feel if wealthy Chinese came to the USA and started buying resource rich properties in the USA and began restricting access to those areas from Americans? I would imagine the Americans would be jealous and do some "sabotaging" activities.

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    1. The Chinese are already here buying up resource rich property and our treasury notes.

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    2. 844 The Chinese already do that guey. Muslims too. Hell Mexicans do that at falcon lake in Texas. Americans are not allowed to be in national parks Along the border because cartels have taken the parks over. A taxpayer funded us park in Arizona has been closed to Americans since 2006.
      Even with Mexico’s proximity to the USA it is a failed country. Mexico would be stealing gas extorting avocados Kidnapping And taking advantage of its indigenous people anyway. What México needs to do is buy guns from the usa and require everyone to carry a gun. At least the honest people would have a chance.

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    3. It’s always the Americans’ fault.
      No matter what.

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    4. Lol blame guns and the us instead of cartels, how foolish... rich chinese do come to the us and buy beach front houses with private beaches... how old are you?

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    5. Chinese investors have been vigorously buying properties during the last previous housing crisis. Like many Americans investment firms who look for unfortunate circumstances to enrich themselves.
      I know a few Chinese investors who continue to purchase high end properties here in Chicago. This practice like many are abusive and careless of human rights.
      Gun manufacturers are deeply embedded in American politics. Guns sales & reforms are what's causing gun violence in many cities and communities today. Chicago's federal response should address gun reforms rather than bullishness.


      E42

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    6. Gosh, you are so enlightened, aren't you? Actually, this has been happening and Americans protect their rights just like any others...with the rule of law and guarantees on contracts. Step off your ideological pedestal and face the reality that Mexico is a failed state that has no one to blame but itself.

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    7. For all of you who say, "The Chinese are already doing it", you have prove my point. You don't like, so you can see why the people of Mexico don't like it when Americans come to Mexico and do it.

      There is enough data that shows less guns in a country means less gun deaths in a country.

      And don't kid yourself, the USA exports death abroad because of various American policies.

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    8. Never said I didn’t like China or the Chinese. And I’m sure the violence against honest people in Mexico would decrease if they had guns. The data you are talking about is in white Europe or New Zealand. The data shows Latin America is corrupt and honest people there don’t have a fair chance.

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    9. The drums you sound as if you are answering voices in your head. Please re read and comprehend without passing judgment.

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    10. As a fatter of fact they are, the Chinese buying up America. They come into my upper class neighborhood buying
      up houses for cash. My relative up north says the same in
      Sonora CA. Do a little internet research and you may be really pissed at just how much of the U.S. the Chinese already own.

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  8. There should be more articles on Illegal Americans entering Mexico. Theres always somebody dumb on here talking about Mexicans entering but act like it doesn't happen vice versa. Welcome to Mexico, it's not all pina coladas and your money being stretched out. Should have known what you were getting yourself into boy scout. Where you get the right to leave the violence, nuestra gente endures reality. Must be nice to move around like that. Instead of voicing your American voice for our people, you run like a coward with talks of hope. Hope is what our people hold onto. So you want things to get better so more people like you can reap the rewards of a peaceful Mexico? I wonder if they were left untouched by what the common mexican man or woman goes through, would they care?

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    1. Boys will be boys. My dumb ass friend got deported from Michoacan to the US. We always would joke about it.

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    2. They were there legally you moron... false equivalency. Are ypu truly that stupid or are you just pushing an agenda?

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    3. You sound naive did you not read this article?

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    4. 7:00 where did I say the people in the article were illegal? I said illegal Americans and made a statement about it. Did you read everything I wrote or focused solely on the fact that I said one thing? You people. Always want to go to foreign land thinking it's your retirement spot. This is reality. For the last couple of decades it's been that way. They're in shock it's that bad? Ha! Welcome to Mexico, loco. It's not pina coladas and taking advantage like these pendejos thought.

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    5. American that go to Mexico give jobs etc to the Good mexicans
      instead of having kids running drugs for other mexicans
      Stop with the blame
      and Jealous
      These people were not rapeing Mexico or the good people of Mexico
      You mexicans let other mexicans kill rape your own
      so just stop with the BS

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  9. And guess who started this whole ball of corruption? Your so proud USA! Ha! Weapon crates being found in chicago and you assume the U.S doesnt have a hand in the bloody violence? It's just random banging minorities? Projects like fast and furious? CIA planes popped with kilos? How about DEA agents collaborating with cartel members? Ask a few Zetas who have inside contacts in the very agencies meant to hunt them. Theres a lot the U.S wont allow but there's alot they have assisted in.

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    1. Or like most original zetas being trained by elite American soldiers and were amazed how they trained they even sent them to there buddy Israel for training

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    2. The US has been giving BILLIONS ANNUALLY TO MEXICO to fight the war on drugs and what have they done with that money?!?!?!?! NADA WEY

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    3. Yawn. This again?

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    4. 4:23 THE US HAS BEEN CONNED OUT OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS, but most of the money went to middlemen and weapons dealers recycling outdated junk sold to México as "new" to fight the War on Drugs the promoters also own.
      --But the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan really stole the whole shit cake at about 30 trillion dollars to steal Iraq oil and afghanistan mining of opium whose production increased more than 10000% since the US arrived.

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  10. This is a forever problem in Mexico, the more you have, the more they take from gringos. If you want to really enjoy Mexíco, live in peace with your Mexican neighbors, you have to remain low profile. You cannot advertise your wealth! There is a stigma in Mexico that ALL gringos are rich. I've been dealing with this for 25 years, living in four different states and my wife and I survive on 80,000 USD a year. Yes, things have gotten extremely worse the past 10 years or so, but I'm not leaving no matter how much I get fuct with... this is where I belong.

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    1. I am low key and live on social security in Mexico 🇲🇽 and do not have $80,000.

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    2. Well congratulations on your wealth, you must be very pleased.

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    3. Just 80k huh? That’s a ton of money even in the states make some sense

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    4. Mexicans get by on 80 peisos a week,
      if they are lucky and find a job that pays them that,
      and don't blame ALMO for the misery imposed on mexicans along with independence and revolutionary wars that killed the wariors of the people like Villa, Zapata, goroztieta, and Felipe Angeles and left in government animals like the toppled ones they replaced...

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  11. Thank you for so elequently expressing what has been on my mind for some time as I realized I will probably not return to Mexico. When I asked my brother who has lived and traveled in Mexico for over thirty years if he will ever return, there was a long silence. And the silence grew longer when we talked about his Mexican neighbors who relied every winter on gringo income to now see it all disappear. When people ask me about Mexico, I tell them it is a big, complex country with a big complex culture. A failed State amidst so many wonderful people and beauty. RIP Mexico.

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    1. “a big, complex country with a big complex culture”.
      Perfectly stated and I say the same things, you have no idea how many naive folks take a weeks vacation and a few tours and get the idea to do this. I don’t necessarily doubt their sincerity, but I always counsel : “ why not try renting here and there for a few months or a year before you gamble with your life’s savings” and I would counsel the same for all other countries as well as different areas of the US let alone Mexico. It is too bad their naivety ruined their dreams. Come on, running around Mexico investing in real estate ? Didn’t do much homework and for that matter missed a lot of lessons along the way.

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    2. The point is the country is a lawless 3rd world country

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    3. " different areas of the US " ???? Name ONE!! Tgis false equivalency and trying to make the US like Mexico is laughable. You're just trying to do it to make yourself feel better about Mexico. Intellectually dishonest and purposefully misleading.

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    4. Yes, very naive thinking that you wont get ripped off everywhere you lay your hat in Mexico. Expect anything from Mexico ? naive. Try living in South Bronx and west Detroit, etc.
      you will get a low price, but you get what you pay for. Retire in a poverty area ? really ? Travel to Mexico ? think again. They dont want you, just your money. too bad. come and invest ? really ? AMLO ? Really ?

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    5. I lived as an American and drove all over Mexico down into Belize to and I’ve always said it’s a big beautiful country full of a lot of big ugly problems. Shame but it won’t stop. Just like Lake Chapala, nice to look at but can’t fish can’t swim can’t use it at all.

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    6. @7:06 I MEANT that there are huge cultural differences anywhere in the world including the US. How can you disagree with that ? That has nothing to do with ME making myself FEEL better about Mexico, or “ comparing “ the two countries, assuming you are addressing me? I feel horrible about México mostly because of the incredible people I know and have known for years, some 4 generations of familias that have to live with this level of violence and corruption and try to raise their children in a safe and healthy environment in present day Mexico.

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  12. In 2006 my mother talked about retiring to Mexico, I urged her to be wary, the chaos was already starting to heat up and Mexico was not going in a good direction.
    I don't even think its Mexicos' fault. Guns, drugs, and money greed have created a distorted monster. An individual can say "No to corruption and violence", but cannot expect others to choose the same.
    Leaving a place you love and have invested heart and soul in is not easy. Heck even criminals/ politicians with the means "leave Mexico" by investing in businesses abroad, educating their children in foriegn schools, and buying properties.

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    1. Of course those politicians will leave after stealing public funds

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  13. Invested money in your country when your American government steals billions and when Mexicans makes deals with China they get mad Mexico really could be rich but they don’t let them so keep
    Your dirty money

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  14. Replies
    1. It can't be a failed state when the cartels are defacto part of the state and control the state. @10:26 you lose.

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    2. 10:26 you have a big wedgie,
      But Mexico did not give it to you.
      "Failed States" Presidentes do not get called to Washington DC to see if some of their popularity impregnates failing presidents' campaigns...
      You are like Frida Guerrera and other feministas bitching about their pet causes but getting paid by some of the most corrupt autocrats in the world, names like Mohammad Bin Salman pop up

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  15. ¿Que? ¿México está jodido? ¿Les costaron 20 años para aprender eso? Jajajajajaja, eso lo aprendí en mi
    primer visité a Tijuana en 1978. Siempre ha sido jodido, y siempre será. Ahora, empezamos a cantar "Cómo han pasado los años." Adiós Kenneth y Kelly, que les vaya mejor en su próximo pais.

    Att,
    AmigoAnónimo

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  16. I too have given up on Mexico, despite 25 years of travel from coast to coast. My children, who have Mexican blood from their mother's side (my suegra is from Mexico), cannot see their family heritage. It just sucks ass, and nothing seems to be getting better. The Mexican people are, by and large, wonderful and caring, but the culture of corruption is to the bone. The history of conquest and subjugation, the peninsulares' prejudice against the mestizos and indios, the gulf between rich and poor, all contribute to this mess.

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  17. por sonso te paso ezo , uvieras hecho un negocio aky y ayudar tu misma gente, ay tanto cabron mendigando por una peseta en todas rampas de los freeways,te agradecerias mas ellos, AMLO solo te dara un ABRAZO .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh si, haber, preguntale a la tropa del infierno cuantos abrazos an recibido. Preguntale al Mencho o a sus tios los Cuinis si an recibido algun abrazo. Dejate de hablar tonterias.

      Delete
  18. Amen This is what more and more people need to hear
    As i have said in my comments over and over Again Mexico is not Poor
    No excuse for Illegals coming here
    Stand Up and Fight Dont run like a beaten Dog out of your beloved country
    Stand Up to the Corrupt Officals

    I hope Change and soon is Coming
    along with yes a few innocents will die but What do you want ?

    Mexico is destoyed its self
    Is it past the point now ?
    what will it take ?
    It has to happen now today
    No time for this lazy President to wait
    Change laws Now
    Change now
    If I were the President I would
    knowing my life would be short
    but whats better saving Millions of Mexicans and children and Mexico as a country its self is to me worth my life as one human

    in other words My life is not worth
    the Millions I could save

    I would gladly give my life to save
    a whole country Yes I would ..

    ReplyDelete
  19. So true and so sad. I hate what is happening to my Mexico. I don't see any hope for it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I can't believe people are alomst happy that he lost his money. You people are part of the problem in Mexico! You ought to be ashamed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And the other "part" of the problem is in the north... Are you ashamed?

      Delete
    2. Pretty sure the north would have less problems if Mexico would get its act together

      Delete
    3. 5:36 I live in Mexico and I am careful. If the problem is in the North then why do 80% of Mexicans want to cross over and live and work in the USA? A very small percentage want to come and live here in Mexico. You have to be careful here. Are you not ashamed that almost all your countryman would desert you and head North if they could? I talk good Spanish and when I am in the USA even the illegals ask me why I would want to live in Mexico. I have my reasons. However it is not for everyone.

      Delete
  21. I think it is safer to build your homes in Somalia instead of Mexico next time.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is what kind of country Mexico is: https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/22/americas/abducted-children-rescue-mexico-scli-intl/index.html

    There are NO "happily ever after" stories for anyone who retires in Mexico, the land of "hijos de la chingada."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 11:59 the Land of the Mother fuckers is not so safe either.
      American Operation Condor has arrived in México 50 years after it was sent to Southamerica and seems to be about ready to come back home to the US.
      Not that i blame US retirees

      Delete
  23. It's sad but true. All this fucking cartel stealing from the innocent. Taking properties away, charging taxes for everything. They used to stick to their business and leave everybody else alone. Then the Z came and fucked everything up. They had everything and let it go, because of poor leadership or baby sicarios. I'm mexican and feel angry not to be able to travel the country without fear. Because in Mexico who's going to help? Maybe the military if they are close, because all the other corporations are mostly corrupt.

    ReplyDelete
  24. It is disturbing how many people want to blame everybody else for Mexico's problems. They sound like spoiled drug addicts (I have known some). They refuse to look in the mirror, admit to and address the problems they have created. Are these other countries/people blameless? No, but Mexico needs to look in the mirror. These idiots see isolated incidents of corruption elsewhere and illogically extrapolate the idea that it's as pervasive as Mexico and convince themselves everyone else is to blame. Just look at Colombia. Is it perfect? No, but they have done a lot to limit the cartels influence over every day life. There will always be crime but how a country addresses crime (or doesn't) says alot.
    -somebody

    ReplyDelete
  25. Excellent article! I know a lady who left a thriving real estate business in Puerto Vallarta of 20 years who related horrors like in the article.
    Mexico-Watcher

    ReplyDelete
  26. A cautionary tale to those thinking of retiring in Mexico.
    It's their country and if they want to steal your land or bank savings the government won't help you retain it.
    Mexico is rich in land, climate and culture but the people in control are enriched by thievery.
    Too bad really. If it was safe I could see buying a place in the Jalisco countryside.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mexico is a river of blood. Everyday more dead bodies are found. Many carry signs of brutal torture. Everyone rips you off...all the time...police, banks, all government agencies...the rip you off at the fucking post office. The lawyers, doctors, notaries, pharmacies...thieves. There is no law in Mexico. I'm so glad I lived there in the 1960s, it was turning to shit even then...I won't go back.

      Delete
    2. I have a few properties in Jalisco... GDL, Zapo, and Tepa to be exact. I have no problems and never had any problems, thank god. 2 ranches and 2 houses.

      Delete
  27. It is unfortunate to see what Mexico has become in the past 20 years.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great article. This makes me very sad. I own a ranch near Valle Hermoso / Rio Bravo in Tamaulipas. I’ve had it for many years, prior to the drug war. Back in 2016 or so my ranch was invaded by cartel members. I have a main house in the property and another one in the outskirts. They found their way there and it was impossible for me to kick them out. They lived there on and off for about a year. We often greeted them around the ejido. They would claim “andamos cuidado”.

    So one day Navy helicopters began to carry out surveillance in the area and I told the cartel members to “be careful” when they were coming back to our property. I told them their vehicles were probably spotted somewhere else and that they were likely looking for them. Navy doesn’t take any chances and will probably shoot these vehicles in ejidos / brechas. The narcos thanked me and they stopped showing up.

    ReplyDelete
  29. In other words, these foreigners were with Mexico through the good times but bailed out during bad times. Sounds like my ex.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Bye felitcha. We know you were in good conscious, but jou should've assimilated to Indian instead of forcing assimilation of that mighty dollar you all call God. Hey in hindsight it. 20 years ago apenas comensaba lo bueno. Hoy tambien. Maybe when you English becomes as good as you Spanish you will be able to hurdle the fact that while fixing mouths the language is what counts most.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Why is the graphic on the proposed "Mayan Train" included?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, poor choice, just a very general image indicating where Lake Bacalar and Tulum , Cancún are on the península. I could not get an image that would paste in in focus, haha.......sometimes Blogger really messes with us/ me.

      Delete
    2. The Mayan train is included to give free bad propaganda to AMLO.
      --and don't expect it to be the last time,
      the tools of imperialism never sleep.

      Delete
  32. Look how many people are hurt by reading the truth. You can’t change peoples minds. Just like a mother who can’t see her son doing so much wrong. Accept the truth

    ReplyDelete
  33. If he bought ejido land, he has no one to blame but himself.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I see alot of people blaming America for Mexico's corrupt legal system and incompetent politicians, judges & police & military. You can blame America all you want but that will never fix the problems. These problems are MEXICO'S PROBLEMS and they can only be solved by its people. Blaming us wont fix a thing except for your bruised egos. Im afraid the earlier poster was right about civil war or invasion being the only means for effective change.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually, it will fix the problems when you take heed and do something about addiction in the USA.

      Delete
    2. Addiction is a personal choice that affects everyone, and it seems Mexico is no exception to this curse.

      The war on drugs is a civil war & it was lost the moment it started. We should be asking ourselves why it still exists.

      Delete
    3. Dont argue with a loser

      Delete
    4. To think many want to come to the US,horrible attitude

      Delete
    5. Abuse is a personal choice but addiction is not. What training do you have in this area to make such a bold and irrelevant comment? (I'm a former drug counselor)

      Complaining will fix problems if you take heed and take action, instead you replied with an irrelevant assertion.

      Delete
    6. 8:28
      Irrelevant.

      Delete
    7. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    8. 🤔 it's interesting how you believe civil war or foreign invasion is the only means for effective change. Why do a lot of Americans resort to war?. This isn't the first time I've had this conversation on here... a foreign invasion will definitely change mexico but not for the better. Don't you know violence only breeds more violence.

      I use to look at things a lot like you do. I thought blaming the U.S for Mexico's problem was a cop out until I really started analyzing the bigger picture. It comes down to one thing and that one thing is money 💰!

      Explain to me how Canada can have similar living standards as the U.S but mexico can not. If you travel to most of Europe you really don't see much of a difference when you cross into another country, but as soon as you cross from the u.s to mexico you can tell you're not in Kansas anymore..

      How is this the U.S's fault? Well, when you have American companies who move to Mexico to pay less for labor, manufacturing and taxes it lowers the standards of living for Mexicans. Mexico hasn't always been as violent or corrupt as it is now. I remember going 15 years back and it was still safe. If you really want to reduce crime in Mexico then what needs to be done is they need to raise the minimum wage to American and Canadian standards. The U.S should stop exploiting mexico in unfair trade agreements and allow the country to prosper. Funny story, i recently read an article about an american ventilator company in Mexico that did not want to sell Mexico ventilatorsfor the covid pandemic. After they agreed they would be sold at U.S market value. Think about that, you make an item for cheap in mexico and try to sell it back to them at a 200% profit! How is that shit fair?! How are mexicans suppose to afford the merchandise they make at the rate these American companies are paying them?!

      I can gaurantee you if the standards of living are raised by increasing salaries to meet the U.S's you would have a lot less crime and a lot less immigration. Mexicans have become corrupt to compete with their 2 top neighbors standards of living. Civil War or foreign invasion won't solve Mexico's problem. It's very very complex.. what I can tell you is fair trade agreements,decent wages, education, jobs, social programs and bringing Mexico to Canadian and U.S standards of living will definitely help pave the way for a better future.

      Now don't think I'm placing all the blame on the U.S. Mexico definitely carries a lot of the guilt, but not without placing some of that guilt on the U.S.

      Delete
    9. Civil wars and foreign invasions, exploitation, colonialism, that you can't see and many deny because their "patriotism" is on the way, and looks better if it gets cloudy or invisible, can't be won or exhibited.
      Unless rebel factions come to make change at the top.

      Delete
  35. He probably didn't know how to run a business. I wouldn't of put all my eggs in one basket. That's just not smart especially if you don't know the right people or knows how shit gets done. You don't need to be making millions of dollars to live in mexico. Enjoy it being simple, having fun and you will have a good life. Been retired down south with 20 dollars a day as my budget. Having a blast living " low profile "

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes I'm sure he was a millionaire because he didn't know how to run a business. Please.

      Delete
  36. I cannot believe the comments of mexicans on here,the hate and self pity?No wonder no one gets involved in Mexico

    ReplyDelete
  37. If Mexico is a 3rd world country, then what is the u.s.a? Cause we sure don’t look like a 1st world country.

    ReplyDelete
  38. No pasa nada, right? . Interesting to hear from the Mexicans on this blog about how evil the US is. I wonder why so many Mexicans try to immigrate here; legally and illegally if we’re so evil. Must be because it’s safe in the US, and you can live better here. Interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mexican immigration has gone down. It's mostly central Americans who are immigrating to the u.s.a. Also I hear mexicans are immigrating to Canada and spain.

      Delete
    2. Hopefully thats true,ohh thats racist,why would you let someone who hates you into your house

      Delete
    3. The fact that people have to immigrate at all makes the obvious point that mexico was ALWAYS a hopelessly screwed up country. Per capita income is almost 8X more in USA than mexico. I gonna repeat eight times!!!!

      The people in this article were foolish for even going down there.

      Delete
  39. Not a good country to own property in. Also, not a good idea to be viewed as wealthy by the locals. It seems that lawless thugs will eventually zero in on people of means. As an American who has spent considerable time in Mexico, I would not feel safe living there, owning property or having any kind of Mexican bank account. I would feel like a potential target. I will continue to visit my Mexican friends but con cuidado on a tourist visa.

    ReplyDelete
  40. They probably bought property in an ejido through a shady dealer which will always bring a landslide of problems.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Coverage of the Monex story in Bloomberg media:

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-23/expats-millions-in-life-savings-disappear-from-mexican-accounts

    ReplyDelete
  42. Come on Mexico, us gringos love your people and your culture. However, you remain a 3rd world country as long as you can't self-govern.

    My friend and I were kidnapped by the "police" because he purchased a bottle of low grade pain pills from the pharmacy. We were thrown in the back of a truck and driven into an industrial neighborhood of Tijuana. Then I was instructed to go north and get $5,000 to buy my friend's freedom. I politely told the no, no way, fuct that, never, I wont leave my friend... my wife, uncle and cousin were LEO's and my friends father and brother are LEO's. We were lucky, they believed my story and we were allowed to live. They eventually dropped us off at the bridge after emptying our wallets. This is your "police"?? It pains me to say I will NEVER step foot in Mexico again. Costa Rica and Nicaragua have always treated me better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. "I will NEVER step foot in Mexico again"

      Its a wonder someone hasnt said GOOD

      Delete
  43. Finally, some real dialogue from everyone. Thanks to all the commenters!

    Let's keep it constructive and respectful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 11:02 i believe Hell is a better place than Mexico...
      --Have a nice trip.

      Delete
  44. In the 90's I taught at the Tec de Monterey in Sonora. This was when PRI was still in charge, but NAFTA was about to kick in.. It was a surrealistic, mind warping experience, one that has marked me deeply. In my gringo arrogance, I used to lecture my students on how Mexico's problem was corruption, and the lack of rule of law. Now, I see the same sort of corruption manifesting itself everywhere in the States.. It's only a question of degree, not kind. People say that the problem with a place like Venezuela is socialism. They are wrong. The problem everywhere in Latin America, and now increasingly in the United States, is a lack of respect for the social contract, of the utter corruption of the elite, and vicious tribal/clan conflict among the middle class and poor. In Mexico, all of this in manifested and exacerbated by the cartels. I've been all over Mexico and Latin America, and I have always loved the culture and people. It's heart breaking to see what is happening.. Mexico the past two decades has become incrementally wealthier, but almost everything else has become worse. I hope for Mexico, as I hope for the United States, but I am afraid things are only going to get more and more insane on both sides of the border..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Could not agree more. The disintegration of the family unit, lack of God/religion, free abortions, false idols, etc. are making the rich richer and the poor poorer. Ay dios mio I sound like my parents. Stay safe, smart, sober and sane. Prayers to all

      Delete
    2. I live in Chihuahua. The only problem is that the corruption is the in your face corruption coming from everywhere and to everyone. You can not call the police, and over 90% of the people here will not call them after they have had a crime perpetrated against them. Anyway you look at it. You can drive across the USA and sleep on the side of the road, camp out, and do things that most Mexicans cannot. I am just as afraid of the Federal police as I am the cartels. You cannot drive a few miles here and see dozens of police cars from all agencies, and of course the transit police that fleece everyone. The minute you walk out your door you are running the gaunlet here in Mexico. When you cross into El Paso, I have driven a whole day and seen just a few police at times.

      Delete
    3. I've only heard gun battles in the USA in the 80s and early 90s, crazy gang days back then, the police would not dare drive into certain neighborhoods, even road blockades to partially blunt speeding police cars.

      Delete
  45. What is happening and accepted in Mexico is being indoctrinated here in the USA. De funding the police will drive us to a world like Mexico.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Very well written article, but I have to say I am amazed that you lasted 20 years. And if you believe that Mexican politicians including all of their presidents aren’t corrupt then you’re incredibly naïve. Please name one just one in the past 50 years I’m sorry 100 years who hasn’t been corrupt. You can’t because they all are and it’s a cultural issue with multiple variables involved. If you were naïve enough to sync that much money into a foreign country then I’m sorry for what happened to you but not surprised. The next time you get the urge to invest money in a foreign country do you research before taking the plunge, otherwise you will learn the hard way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Name me one in any country in the last 100 years who hasn't been corrupt?

      Delete
    2. The tiny country of Honestan,has never been corrupt.

      Delete
    3. De Gortari wasn't corrupt.

      Delete
  47. You have to lay low In Mexico u can’t show that kind of money u will be kidnapped. U have to dress like the locals if u have a tone of money u have to make alliances with the local cartels if u want to keep your money its a brave new world soon coming to a place near u

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes to all that but it really helps if you HANG OUT with la gente. Become real amigos with the locals esp if you are in a rural area or small pueblo. Of course, when I say "Rural" I really mean rural. People of the land, not the real estate kind of land. Go to their cumplianos, quincieneras, weddings, funerals, events. All of it , embrace their culture wholly.

      Delete
  48. Always live in a foreign country for a year at least before deciding to spend so much effort and dinero in it.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Thought Mexicans were supposed to be good people?
    Look at these disgusting racist comments on here?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 10:00 racism is in the eye of the beholder...
      You are blaming every mexican while complaining about the commenters, none of whose comments matter to you, apparently...

      Delete
    2. So,there are no racist comments then ? OKayyyy

      Delete
    3. 1056
      "racism is in the eye of the beholder"
      If you believe that you are either lying or obtuse,or both ?

      Delete
  50. Excessive optimism leaves you precisely in this kind of predicament.. In Mexico the laws don't work in your favor, we have to continue repeating this phrase until people get it through their heads. This is a country that is rotten to the core, always has been going back centuries. I love when people get a dose of reality, it brings forth a change in perspective for a lot of people who might read/hear this story and rethink their outlook on the world. This is the Wild West

    ReplyDelete
  51. What is it with gringos and rescuing the street dogs?

    ReplyDelete
  52. I have many family members in Sinaloa. One is a good, honest businessman who imports jeans and fragrances from the USA. He has to pay off a customs guy in Hermasillo. Two years ago, he lost a 15k shipment. The customs guy retired and didn't tell him. Never saw any of it, no recourse. Now he pays off a customs guy in Tepic for his orders to get through. All cash, all done by hand. The 15k order literally disappeared...

    ReplyDelete
  53. Daily Heads in coolers and bodies hanging from bridges agree!
    No matter what gun debate or drug appetite argument the trollers on this site will try to fallback on to try to justify what is happening.
    Ultimately they have no real argument because they don’t want to admit it.
    Truly a Failed state, raped by the upper classes greed and ability to let it happen.
    The only fix for Mexico will be when the poor class gets sick of it and revolts against the politicians and cartels in full effect.
    They should just rename it Murderexico.

    Find any coolers today?

    ReplyDelete
  54. according to what I have read. the banker/promoter is being sued not the bank for that reason they will have a hard time recovering their money, the banker/promoter for Monex. Zavala is in legal ties and is having to sign at the cereso every 15 days and can't leave the country untill it gets resolved.
    in other words they have to sue the bank not the banker if they want to see their money.

    ReplyDelete

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