Generational Dynamics Forum - New Site

Navigator wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 4:21 pm Central and South America have always had corruption problems, predating the drug trade by centuries.

The drug problem gave the "bad guys" a LOT more money and thus greatly magnified the problem.

At this point there is no solution, but a large war would interrupt illegal trade about as much as regular trade, and this will drastically reduce the income. But criminals will not suddenly go away, and will just move to other less lucrative income sources (such as kidnapping and protection/extortion) which will make things even worse for the locals.

Bob Butler wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 3:55 pm Just don't forget that the US drug problem leads to corruption in South America which leads to asylum seeking latinos, which leads to border problems and more prejudice. It would be draconian to legalize drugs, but not talked about. The alcohol prohibition didn't work. I don't know that the drug prohibition will either. I hesitate to recommend a particular solution to the mess.

Navigator wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 12:14 pm Corruption, Drug Money - Drug Gangs, near Anarchy. Another country south of our border implodes.

I don't see how the country digs itself out of its current mess without draconian measures, which would lead to a whole other slate of problems.

Note that this was once one of the better places in South America. Its kind of a cautionary tale to US citizens who think that they can have a better life by emigrating south.

Guest wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 11:46 pmButler, have you ever considered moving to Mexico where everything is perfect?

Bob Butler wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:38 am

Guest wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 11:46 pmButler, have you ever considered moving to Mexico where everything is perfect?

No. Happier here in a blue state.

El Jefe wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:23 am

Bob Butler wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:38 am

Guest wrote: Wed Jan 10, 2024 11:46 pmButler, have you ever considered moving to Mexico where everything is perfect?

No. Happier here in a blue state.

With open borders, your blue state will soon be just like Mexico.

With four criminal trials to worry about, Donald Trump has not been a fixture of the Iowa primary campaign trail this year.

The former president has been shuttling between legal hearings in Washington and New York, and has largely left his team of campaigners and surrogates to handle his rallies on the ground.

But last night, Mr Trump appeared before a crowd of voters at a town hall hosted by Fox News, and showed he still had his old magic.

To chants of “U-S-A”, he took to the stage in Des Moines and played to the audience, joking about the other candidates and setting out his stall for becoming a “dictator…for one day” if he wins back the presidency in November.

Attacking his second-placed opponent, he joked: “You like Ron DeSantis, but he wouldn't even be around today – he'd be working in a pizza shop or perhaps a law firm – if I didn't endorse him.”

Joe Biden, meanwhile, was “a man who can't find his way off the stage when he makes a speech that lasts for about two minutes,” and Hillary Clinton was the subject of a reprised routine on her new Trump nickname: “Beautiful Hillary”.

With Mr Trump 50 points ahead nationwide, he appears relaxed about the primary race, including the news that Chris Christie has dropped out of the race, in an apparent boost for Nikki Haley in New Hampshire.

“Nobody cared too much about that,” he said, adding that Mr Christie’s hot mic comments that Ms Haley would get “smoked” in the primaries was “one of the few things he has been right about”.

The event overshadowed a televised debate between Ms Haley and Mr DeSantis across town, and perhaps proved the wisdom of his decision to appear at few events in person in this year’s race.

For the few Trump supporters who were worried his legal proceedings had cowed the former president – last night was proof he still has the campaign zeal he demonstrated in 2016.