Blog #2: The Mexican Government's Positive Spin on Violence

Global Crime: The Mexican Government's Positive Spin on Violence
Kaitlyn Toomes
January 28, 2011
12:22PM

The Mexican Government's Positive Spin on Violence

For several months news stations across America have been reporting on the growing violence displayed at the Mexican/American border. So what is the Mexican government's take on the situation? For President Felipe Calderon, whose term runs out in two years, the violence is on a decline. During an interview with Mexican television "Mexico City's new point man for public relations, Alejandro Poire, put a positive spin on the balance of power between the Mexican state and several large criminal organizations" (Juarez, 2011). According to Poire, Mexican authorities have detained several key players in the underworld organization since December 2009. However, "in 2010, more that 15,000 people were reported killed in incidents attributed to organized crime" (Juarez, 2011). Also, in last year alone "14 Mexican mayors were slain" (Juarez, 2011). Due to this and other disturbing information several citizen activists are questions the validity in Poire's report.
I think the world would agree that the violence in Mexico seems to be a growing, serious social problem. No individual desires to live in fear, or in such a hostile situation. However, with that being said why is no one addressing the crime of another politician lying to the people? Poire tells a drastically different story than the reality of what is actually going on. One of the conditions that must be met to make a problem a social problem is the violation of social norms. I would bet money that lying, or slightly bending the truth, violates the social norm. Another condition that must be met is solvability, or is the problem solvable. Two options are available: either the government stops bending the statistics to fit their ideal image, or the activists and concerned citizens rise up. The influence of these crime lords and their crimes will spread. As evidence, the crime is already breaching the American border. It is time for the Mexican government to stop making up statistics and start telling the truth so we can solve this ever growing social problem.

Juarez, B. (2011, January 16). The mexican government spins positive on violence. Retrieved from http://www.mexidata.info/id2925.html