Mexico’s Economic Crisis

Re “Zedillo Firms Up Details of Mexico Economic Plan,” Jan. 3:

If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different outcome each time, then our policy of helping the Mexican government is, at least by this definition, insane.

Their quasi-democracy is nothing but a facade for the oligarchy of the 30 or so families that control 70% of their nation’s wealth and their hired henchmen known as the PRI. Our continued financial support of their government and our de facto open border policy are enabling the continuation of one of this hemisphere’s most oppressive, corrupt and least democratic regimes.

The current economic and political crisis in Mexico is a direct result of their ruling elite’s determination to hold on to power at any cost--especially if we are again willing to pay that cost for them. Thanks to NAFTA and the devaluation of the peso, their exports will increase tremendously while our exports to them will shrink to near nothing. Thanks to our government’s complicity, Mexico’s millions of poor and unemployed will continue to come to the United States in even greater numbers seeking the jobs and social services denied them by their rulers.

We will have an additional $9 billion in uncollectible debts, billions in additional social service costs, an exploding balance of trade deficit, and the unsettling knowledge that we are, in large part, responsible for allowing it all to happen. It’s insane.

E. ROSS ROBERTS

Whittier

* Ross Perot’s “Perspective on NAFTA” (Commentary, Jan. 4) is most interesting in view of recent events in Mexico. When NAFTA was in the final stages of debate and consideration in Congress, the Administration and all of its spokespersons insisted the consequences of approval would be overwhelmingly favorable to the U.S. in all respects. Objectors, particularly Perot, were derided and made to appear as “enemies” of economic progress for all segments of society.

With the U.S. now rushing to bail out the Mexican economy and its government with funds certainly not in excess here, I find few media references that perhaps the supporters of NAFTA had at least some holes in their arguments. I can’t help but wonder why.

A quite similar situation exists in Orange County. When Robert Citron, the architect of a now failed investment program with adverse consequences in the billions, last ran for reelection, his opponent did his best to point out the inadequacies in Citron’s investment programs but was viewed as not credible because the Establishment did not want any disruption and no public review.

JOHN J. BORER JR.

Palm Desert

* Re “Let Mexico Bail Itself Out, Peso by Peso,” Column Right, Jan. 6: Well, this is a first! I have never agreed with Pat Buchanan, but in this case I agree with every word. The American people have been conned. Inflate the peso until NAFTA is passed, then pull out the real set of books and play the latest version of “The Mouse That Roared.” This is a setup. Don’t send a penny of our money.

NINA PARKINSON

West Hollywood

* The former president of Mexico, Carlos Salinas de Gortari, is being considered for the presidency of the World Trade Organization. May I suggest that after his dwindling of the financial reserves of Mexico from $20 billion to $6 billion to support the peso over a very short period of time, the WTO might want to think twice about this man.

JEFFREY D. LITTELL

Costa Mesa