not all of Mexico is a shithole if you’re in the top 75 families. In Cal there is a very wealthy upper class. It is about power and tradition and they believe they are entitled. They don’t care what downtown looks like ion you never have to go there.
This is true of all shithole countries. An oasis in the middle of a shithole is well, still a shithole. Heck even communism is great if you are one of the few elites, everyone else, not so much.