People in the US seem to have a fascination with saying how awful Mexico is. In December 2014, after having lived here for the best part of a year, I recorded this video to attempt to set the record straight.

FUD

I can only assume that there is a lot of media talking about the horrors of Mexico. Those things never reached me in Australia, especially because I rarely watch television. I only wonder about how they address the subject in the press, to make people's opinions about Mexico so strong - I imagine a five minute section after every news segment saying "By the way, just in case you forgot, Mexico is scary, a dangerous place, people die there. Stick around - we'll be back after these messages!"

To put on my tin foil hat for a second, I have to wonder about the influence of the US government. Whenever I go on the Australian governments "Smartraveler" site, I notice that you can pick virtually any country, and it will tell you that there is an alert on that country. If you want to run a taxfarm, it's best to give the illusion of freedom to your livestock. If you want them to feel free without running away, simply convince them that they're in the "best country (taxfarm) on Earth". Of course, you have to target the neighbouring taxfarms especially, to make sure the loyal cattle don't think they can just walk across the border to another amazing country.

The economics of Mexico

In the comments on YouTube, one lady decided to tell me that Mexico ain't that hot, that her husband worked there as an engineer and only made $30 a day, and that I should pull my head out of my privileged ostrich-hole. There is little I find so ironic as someone accusing me of being privileged, while in the same breath, revealing that they are blinded by their privilege. The fact is, $30 a day is a lot of money, in Mexico, and actually, in most of the world. When I reviewed the statistics she provided, I realised that they stated, while wages in Mexico are going down in dollar terms, they're actually increasing in terms of purchasing power.

In recent years, more people have been coming to Mexico from the US, than the other way around. There's also a lot of irony in that fact - that so many people in the US are getting riled up about the threat of immigrants, when perhaps what they really need to worry about is that, people don't want to move to the US any more. Don't get me wrong - the US is great in so many ways, but in terms of opportunity and freedom, people are voting with their feet.

"Welcome! This is your house!"

Don't believe the hype. Mexico is great, and a lot freer than many other countries in the world. If you come down to Guadalajara, let me know and we'll go for a mezcal.

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About me

My name is Kurt Robinson. I grew up in Australia, but now I live in Guadalajara, Jalisco. I write interesting things about voluntaryism, futurism, science fiction, travelling Latin America, and psychedelics. Remember to press follow so you can stay up to date with all the cool shit I post, and follow our podcast where we talk about crazy ideas for open-minded people, here: @paradise-paradox, and like us on Facebook here - The Paradise Paradox

Some other cool posts

Here are some other posts of mine to check out:

Steemit will make the world an anarchic, voluntary society

Freedom seekers' song: "Freedom on the beach (To Acapulco Part 2)"

Impossible! A conversation with a statist about starting a business