Reactions to PEN-L provocations on Mexico! 1) Corruption: I cannot imagine that the problem of corruption is not an essential part of the Mexican scene, even within the PRD: Lopez Obrador is clearly part of the picture, although Mike P is probably correct in that his personal style of life and ethics have led him to be above the corruption scene but numerous of his colleagues have been convincingly accused of corrupt practices; but even more seriously, there are far too numerous instances of incorporating important operatives of the PRI and some other organizations into the ranks of the PRD as candidates and leaders at state and local levels. The structure of the political system and the real operations of the PRD in areas where it has actually won elections; I can cite my home state of Michoacan where the governor (Lazaro Cardenas grandson) had, to put it tamely, disappointed virtually all circles of progressive people in the area and nationally.
2) The op ed page version in the NY Times was a masterful toned down and therefore misleading version of the original Spanish which was much more inflammatory, even in its conciliatory approach 3) Although I would NEVER argue that the politics of corn has not dramatically harmed the farmers and that they are constantly looking for alternatives. BUT in this light rural society is NOT suffering from shrinking population and WHITE maize production has increased both because of growing productivity and increased planted area to make the country self-sufficient. This must be explained and understood as a progressive peasant response to farmers controlling their participation in the productive chain by using their grain to produce and market value added products directly to the consumer. David Barkin Mexico __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
