THE “WALL” AND THE MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS.
If you have followed my postings on Mexico, you know that
I’m a fan of borderland beat. Is it perfect journalism? What is? Is the site
questioned on its sources of information? Yes, no different than any other
investigative operation. So, what sets Borderland Beat apart from the rest?
Simple, feedback! Look at “comments” section of just about every article they
post and you will find an unusually high volume of opinions. I watched
postings, editorials and so called professional news stories as they are posted
from all four corners of the globe. Very few of them match the amount of
feedback Borderland Beat generates.
Not only does Borderland Beat prosper from the high volume
of feedback, the clientele of who responds is even more remarkable. About ten
years ago, I was talking to few coworkers about this site and the major topic
of our conversation was the realization of just how many Drug Cartel members,
supporters, were responding to most of the postings. Borderland Beat had and
has a reputation of getting into a story quickly with a flair for raw
information. Photos! They understand the power of photos! As we continued to
“follow” this site, it became clear just what level of feedback was being
provided. Not sure the Drug Cartel leaders ever understood or still understand
the importance of hearing from the very people who are creating the violence in
Mexico and the US. Yep. Borderland Beat
gives a voice to those who are in the trade and those same members provide
great information if nothing less than on the psyche of the “Players”. This
whole issue of “feedback” is important to what my point will be here in just a
few minutes.
THE WALL:
I won’t argue that some of the points brought up in this
article are more than a “stretch”, but I also won’t argue a few of the Author’s
points are more than possible. The topic of the building the Wall is far more
complex than The Donald realized or probably still realizes and I have little
confidence in just what level of analysis is taking place in DC. What are the
Second and Third Order Effects of this Wall? Who is truly looking into one of
my favorite issues; The Law of Unintended Consequences?
As much as I enjoyed reading this posting, let me make an overall
comment. The Author has a fundamental flaw in the analysis. The Wall is not
about drugs! It’s about people! Now, I realize the Author is looking at the
topic of the Wall from the perspective the site is most concerned about, drugs,
but stopping the flow of drugs into the US is not the primary intent of the Wall.
Just look at the Trump’s Campaign message from day one. The Wall was, is and
will be about people! Illegal Emigration. That was the drive behind the concept.
The Donald did not campaign on an anti-drug platform. He drove his message to the
American Blue Collar Class on Illegal Emigration and jobs! So, in a sense, the Author has done what I’m afraid
DC is not. This story, with a few of its assumptive flaws takes a real shot, no
pun intended, at Second Order Effects and The Law of Unintended Consequences. It’s
for that reason alone I found this worth talking about.
FEEDBACK:
Okay, back to my point about “feedback”. At the time I read
this story, there were over 75 comments made on this one post. As I stated
earlier, that is a remarkable response! If you take the time to read through
the comments, you should be able to see the wide variety of responses. As is
the case with most editorial articles, the level of intelligent thought is ………“wide”
to be politically correct! What makes the responses on Borderland Beat valuable
is the “who” not the “what”. I can guarantee
you many of the 75 comments were made by individuals who are in the drug
business or deal with the drug business! How does the Drug World see the issue of “The
Wall”? What do they believe the consequences
might be of that Wall going up? And most useful of all, do the decisions makers
in the US and Mexico understand the options that might be revealed here?
Opportunity lost or gained. What will it be?
