Trade Between U.S., Mexico
President Salinas’ free trade agreement initiative is not the product of vision and courage, but rather a desperate attempt to find an overnight solution to 60 years of neglect, incompetence and abuse that has produced discontent among Mexican people and has seriously undermined the ruling party’s (PRI) grip on power.
Salinas’ failure to properly address grave domestic problems ranging from an exploding population growth (expected to double by the year 2010) to widespread corruption, nepotism and inefficiency in government and industry makes his free trade proposal questionable at best.
The unprecedented challenge by the opposition during the last presidential election sent a clear and sobering message to Mexico’s power structure to begin producing positive results. The desired results will only come about with good judgment, integrity and hard work, and not by a single stroke of the pen.
JULIO C. ZAMARRIPA
Huntington Beach
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
