this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2023
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[–] blazera@kbin.social 91 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I remember Mexico pleading for US to legalize marijuana, as these cartels only exist to capitalize on the US market for illegal drugs

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 38 points 1 year ago (3 children)

But then how would the DEA justify their ridiculous budget?

[–] IHeartBadCode@kbin.social 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

See that's just small thinking. DEA gets tons of money to bust folks so that they can be arrested and made to work for free. That's why there's so much pumping drugs into communities either via the CIA or the more recent vogue method of making heroin a prescription drug that some family can profit off of.

The entire point of NOT helping drug abusers is so that we can maintain a steady stream of slave labor. Because we still haven't figured out how to do this whole society thing without a bunch of people in forced labor, or as some lawmakers like to say to make sound nicer, penal labor.

That's the entire point of the Prison-Industries Act of 1979. It's explicitly to create a legal slave labor under the 13th amendment so that states can have various industries be mostly worked by slave labor. When you make something that is a chemical addiction illegal, you create assurances for prisoners that will be in your slave labor. When you deny help for that chemical addiction and put the onus onto the users ("Well I guess you shouldn't have gotten addicted to a drug your doctor prescribed to you!") you've basically created a system that absolutely assures people will be finding their way back under your whip.

I cannot stress this enough, the United States is NOT interested in actually stopping drug abuse because we've woven that deeply into our very way of life. There are too many core things of modern society that rely on slave labor in this country. Anyone trying to "fix it" would unravel all of that. I mean SHIT, some rich white guy MIGHT not be able to buy their second yacht! Is this the society we want?

But seriously for a second, the US has a very messed up take on how to handle those who need help for drug addiction. And it is in ways that if we all had a better perspective on it, we'd be ashamed that we're still living like we're in the 1700s. The whole Sackler family, they didn't get away with it for so long just because the Government was sleeping at the wheel. They got away with it for so long because it was beneficial for a lot of people, one of them the prison industry. This country will look the other way on some serious shady shit as long as it drives a profit. The Housing market crash, opioid epidemic, climate change, and so on. Anyone want to count on one hand how many people have faced prison for those things? Our country is way more fucked up than just some law enforcement budget, but yeah, 100% and more what you said.

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[–] Project_Straylight@lemmy.villa-straylight.social 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

The DEA is always keeping relevant.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There will still be a black market to crack down on. Those cartels won't just say "oh I guess that's it".

[–] Franzia@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 year ago

Keep your enemies closer. We still have black markets but when they are next to legal markets, its easier to track them down.

[–] ours@lemmy.film 7 points 1 year ago

It's not like the US learned a lesson during the alcohol prohibition.

[–] Buelldozer@lemmy.today 86 points 1 year ago (5 children)

JFC, I do not understand what is with these Republican Politicians and their hard-on for sending our military into Mexico. It would make the situation 100 times worse in every imaginable way.

[–] oatscoop@midwest.social 22 points 1 year ago

Fascists love starting wars.

They're a great way to silence critics and boost support through "us vs them patriotism". They're the perfect distraction from domestic issues and an excuse for consolidating power. They're also great for making a boatload of money.

[–] RickyRigatoni@lemmy.ml 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Remember that time we invaded Mexico and took almost half their country? I think the republicans just want the rest to complete their collection.

[–] Not_mikey@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They don't seem to remember the last time we invaded, bungled around for a while and left without accomplishing anything, which is what this will turn out to be.

[–] Astroturfed@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

That was at least a reaction to raids across the border instead of some veiled racist drug war excuse.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca 10 points 1 year ago

Iraq and Afghanistan are over, need a new war. But we can't afford to help Ukraine against Russia, oh no, not that, an actual bad state, too expensive. I swear the cognitive dissonance is unreal.

[–] ours@lemmy.film 10 points 1 year ago

Some people grew up reading way too much Tom Clancy but some of us have an easier time telling military fantasy from reality. What's next? Sending the Swiss Guard to secure Israel/Palestine (yes, TC suggested this in a book).

[–] Maeve@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

The clincher is, as much as people fear and hate our own gangs and cartels, as despicable as some of the activity is, most regular people trust them way more than military and police at home. Anything but focus on that we made the mess, have only ourselves to blame. Yes this is a broad, sweeping statement with plenty of exceptions, and it’s also the bottom line.

[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 70 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I believe that's called an "invasion".

[–] Kalkaline@programming.dev 25 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It's striking how close it follows the Russian playbook.

[–] rgb3x3@beehaw.org 6 points 1 year ago

It is, however, not surprising.

[–] MrVilliam@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Gee, I wonder why that might be...

[–] ikiru@lemmy.ml 28 points 1 year ago

US will start focusing on reigniting America's Backyard policy.

If it wasn't for 9/11 and the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the US would have probably invaded Venezuela to remove Chavez and destroy the revolution to get their oil. They've already started drumming up Latin America as the next warzone again. We'll be seeing the entire region further destabilized more than it already is.

[–] ramenshaman@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago

I wouldn't trust us either.

[–] ChillCapybara@discuss.tchncs.de 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is border caravan 2.0 and will be the topic du jour for the election cycle.

[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 year ago

Mexican news coming soon: ¡Gringos planean enviar caravana militar a México!

[–] UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

last time they let someone in the Conquistadors came the Aztec went bye bye

[–] Brunbrun6766@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

No, last time they let someone in it was the US going after Poncho Villa, and then the whole Mexican American war happened

Same actors this time, and same excuses

[–] Someonelol@lemmy.ml 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Pancho Villa attacked US border towns in 1916 which prompted general John J Pershing to launch an unsuccessful expeditionary force to capture or kill him. The Mexican American War happened in 1846 to 1848 which was before his time. I think you might be referring to the Mexican Border War that was part of the bigger Mexican Revolution going on at the time. Either way I doubt Mexico would allow another military incursion from the north this time around.

[–] UltraMagnus0001@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Was that the one where the Americans started moving into Mexico because they were encouraged to and then america used it as an excuse to attack Mexico? Now Mexico turned into Texas, Arizona, California etc and the irony is that anyone that looks native to those areas are illegal immigrants even though they were there before "the new world was discovered. James Polk?

[–] Someonelol@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

Mexico encouraged Americans to move into Texas as means to populate and develop the area so long as the settlers agreed to assimilate to Mexican culture. Unfortunately the settlers weren't loyal to the Mexican government and started a revolt for independence when Mexico outlawed slavery in 1829. Thanks to the fumblings of general Santa Anna, the rebels captured him and had him sign the Treaties of Velasco in 1836 essentially conceding all land above the Rio Grande to the rebels in exchange for his life.

This of course infuriated the central Mexican government and they refused to ratify the treaties. Due to internal instability though the central government was unable to do much about it and had no choice but to leave the matter alone. It was only after Texas was admitted to the US as a slave state did president James K Polk start a fight with Mexico over the territory that eventually led to Mexico's defeat and loss of all other land that make up the states you're referring to.

Even though all Mexican citizens who ended up in the new American borders were invited to stay as American citizens, some were systematically deported over the years well into the early 20th century.

[–] Jumper775@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (5 children)

We could easily overpower them, let’s just take Mexico. On top of that let’s just grab Canada and then just take all of North America except Panama (tax haven)

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I think maybe people thought you were being serious haha

[–] keeb420@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago

These days it can be hard to tell.

[–] ramenshaman@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago

I picked up on the fairly obvious sarcasm and don't think you deserve the downvotes.

[–] geekworking@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If we take Mexico, then all Mexicans will become legal US residents.

Immigration Problem solved.

That would be priceless irony for all of those "build a wall" ass hats.

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[–] lazylion_ca@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

We could easily overpower them ... On top of that let’s just grab Canada

Refresh me, how did that work out last time?

[–] Jumper775@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

That’s just like history man

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[–] Nougat@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We already essentially own the important part of Panama anyway.

[–] Jumper775@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Yes, plus how else can we evade taxes?

[–] guts@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 year ago

Mexico open borders if they try.

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