Well --- they did get a pretty bloody revolution in the early 1900s --- but it accomplished nothing of course. In fact the group that was forced out of power was probably better in many ways than what took over power. Porfirio Diaz was a Mexican Indian (100% Oaxacan Indian) --- and it was his presidency they overturned and he had to head over to Spain. Benito Juarez was another pre-Revolution Mexican Indian president --- Zapotec. Unlikely today that an Indian could become president in Mexico.
The reason I think they could become a middle class society --- many (not all of course) of the mestisos are perfectly capable of becoming middle class actually quite quickly --- and Mexican Indians have attained the level of Mexican president in the past. There's no good explanation other than extreme corruption that many of Mexico's poor can only hope to achieve middle class by coming to the USA --- at least some of them reach middle class within one generation --- even less. Mexico certainly has the wealth and natural resources --- but the class system makes it so only the few elites can access those.
The reason I think they could become a middle class society --- many (not all of course) of the mestisos are perfectly capable of becoming middle class actually quite quickly --- and Mexican Indians have attained the level of Mexican president in the past. "
Of course, Mexico's mestiso and indigenous (Indians) are 'capable' of becoming middle class, "quickly" if not immediately - given opportunity to improve economic conditions.
"There's no good explanation other than extreme corruption that many of Mexico's poor can only hope to achieve middle class by coming to the USA --- at least some of them reach middle class within one generation --- even less."
I guess I didn't make my point, but that is exactly what I meant. Mexico's poor class has no hope to progress (upward econ-class mobility) because of its government's "extreme" corruption and ruling elite. Government policies and the prosperous elites' indifference effect economic oppression of lower and poor classes.
"Mexico certainly has the wealth and natural resources --- but the class system makes it so only the few elites can access those."
Mexico's "class system" replicates old aristocratic Europe. In fact, Mexico's ruling elite are Europeans*. Frankly, if the U.S. government had ANY GUTS and moral conviction, it would boycott Mexico's government and its representatives, and apply punitive sanctions against Mexico - force its government to open up economic and educational opportunities with programs and reforms. Reforms are more productive than revolutionary jabs which can be characterized as "guerilla terrorism."
*Many with German surnames! Germans who settled in Mexico, and in South America too, just about the time Hitler shot himself in a bunker, if you get what I mean.
Just had a thought: the U.S. should charged (sue) Mexico's government for the costs and expenses caused by illegal immigration. Why should American citizens and taxpayers suffer the costs and disturbances because of the U.S. government's inability to deal with this problem?