16 Die in Mexican Shootout…Is this Place Still a Tourist Destination?

Acapulco…shooting in the streets…police being held hostage…this s*%t is happening around resorts now…boycott Mexico as a tourist destination.

Mexican Prison Break – Mexican Prison Guards Become Mexican’t Prison Guards

There was a prison break in Mexico and the guards stood around as 53 “dangerous inmates walked out”.  The guards didn’t even do anything until the “convoy of escape vehicles had disappeared in the night.”  Among the freed inmates were roughly two dozen members with ties to a powerful drug cartel in the country.  The whole “prison break” took five minutes.  ONCE AGAIN…DO NOT GO TO MEXICO…

Here is another portion of the article…it describes how things went down: (The Article is Linked…)

“The video shows bored-looking guards watching TV before one of the prisoners opens an unlocked gate to his cell block and then orders a group of inmates to follow him into the guards’ room. The guards step aside, making no moves to stop the escape, until they are shoved into the cell block by the inmates, some of them armed.

Prisoners then cover the camera with a blanket. Meanwhile, a second security camera outside the prison filmed the arrival of gunmen in police cars with flashing lights shortly before 5 a.m. Two guards run to open the front gate without questioning the drivers.

Eight gunmen wearing jackets with federal police insignia then enter the prison building and escort the inmates to the cars waiting in the prison parking lot. After they are gone, one guard with his hands bound by plastic luggage ties is seen walking calmly down an empty hall.

Only after the convoy is well out of the picture can guards be seen running toward the gate, some crouching with their guns drawn. Reforma added in a caption that the guards appeared to overacting for the cameras, ‘in Jim Carrey style.’”

Why are we surprised about the “swine flu”?

It has been difficult finding stories over the past couple of days to write about.  The news about the “swine flu” has seized control of all major (and minor) news agencies around the world…is this news THAT surprising?!?  People travel in sealed cylinders in the sky to reach Mexico…and of course…many of the destinations do not have the sanitary standards that we take for granted in our “developed world”.  Vacationers exploit these areas by spending the equivalent of what would be sometimes a yearly salary for an average inhabitant…on a plane ticket/accommodations and then romp around for a week or two enjoying all the “benefits” of the area.

Let us remember that the following information has always been available…

In Mexico…the average income (all sectors) = $351/month not including income tax (2005)…the population of Mexico is 109 955 400 (2008).  The population of Mexico City is 8 836 045.  The unemployment rate in Mexico is 3.7% (2008)…underemployment rate is at 25%….The total population below the poverty line using the “food-based definition” is amounted to be more than 40%. (2006)  The Mexican government is losing a lot of its revenue to corruption and a “war on drugs” that is extremely expensive…how could a reasonable individual expect that the country would have the proper infrastructure or focus to contain disease in such overpopulated, impoverished areas? 

The Mexican government is unable to afford the expense of expanding sewer systems and other public works projects to raise the standard of living and sanitation for its citizens…why is it SOOO bloody surprising that when vacationers go visit these places…there is a chance for them to pick up a communicable disease and transport if back to their place of origin?  It is not Mexico’s fault…citizens from developed nations need to take more responsibility for their actions by understanding the risks associated with their travel… they also have to understand that they may need to be quarantined when they return home to ensure the safety of their fellow citizens.  (This cost should be picked up by the traveler if they knowingly travel to high-risk areas.)

Mexico…ugh

Yet another reason to stay out of Mexico…the “swine flu”…  Only a couple of weeks ago we learned that Conquest Vacations Inc. customers were being harassed by Mexican authorities and resort personnel who were trying to swindle extra $$$ for all inclusive reservations from customers who already paid Conquest Vacations Inc.…now we learn that there is a “swine flu” that can reach epidemic proportions. 

When are people going to realize that they should stay the fuck out of Mexico until that country can figure out a solution for their corruption and credibility problems….between the drug killings, tourist killings and robberies, detaining individuals for alleged crimes without the opportunity of fair trials…I don’t see what the attraction of going to Mexico is?  You can’t even eat the food or drink the water…everything is toxic…from the food…to the politicians…to law enforcement.

I will leave some links to Mexico articles:

Swine Flu:

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/health&id=6780088&rss=rss-wabc-article-6780088

Being held without trial:

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=620b04f6-d167-4c8b-b6af-35659c8c26de

Conquest customers:

http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/619866

Swine Flu: