Mexico Voters Fear Nation on Edge of Chaos

ABC News ^ | May 17, 2006 | JULIE WATSON

[one more state]

Police enraged by the kidnapping of six officers club unarmed detainees. A bloody battle between steelworkers and police leaves two miners dead. Drug lords post the heads of decapitated police on a fence to show who's in charge.

Less than two months before Mexicans elect their next president, many fear the country is teetering on the edge of chaos a perception that could hurt the ruling National Action Party's chances of keeping the presidency and benefit Mexico's once-powerful Institutional Revolutionary Party, whose candidate has been trailing badly.

Some blame President Vicente Fox for a weak government. Others say rivals are instigating the violence to create that impression, hoping to hurt National Action candidate Felipe Calderon, who has a slight lead in recent polls.

A poll published Friday in Excelsior newspaper found 50 percent of respondents feared the government was on the brink of losing control. The polling company Parametria conducted face-to-face interviews at 1,000 homes across Mexico. The poll had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

In April, suspected drug lords posted the heads of two police officers on a wall outside a government building where four drug traffickers died in a Jan. 27 shootout with officers in the Pacific resort of Acapulco.

A sign nearby read: "So that you learn to respect."

[one more state]

Tell me why our border with Mexico should remain open.

[frankiep]

Because Bush and the scumbag senate said so.

Now, bend over.

[teldon30]

and like it!

[A CA Guy]

We need to get lots of functional wall up pronto so we can keep the revolution and crime more out of reach of the United States IMO.

[kinoxi]

what, no crocodiles with lasers on their heads?

[A CA Guy]

The instability of our neighbor to the south could be why politicians from both parties haven't locked down the border.

They survive by trickle down economics.

Their people come up here to work and enough money trickles down there to prevent total anarchy and rule by drug lords.

Don't know that for a fact, but it is a possible theory.

[A CA Guy]

I think that is Florida now with all the excessive home building.

The only crocks to worry about with the border will be the ACLU! Ug...

[one more state]

drug lords posted the heads of two police officers on a wall outside a government building "So that you learn to respect."

Is this what it will take on own side of the border before Bush understands. Mexico is no different than the Middle East.

[kinoxi]

florida gators can't take the heat on the bulk of the border, but crocs can. ;)

[kinoxi]

of course they are different than the middle east... they're...south? :)

[Lurker]

Because the Senate Republicans and the President want to to be so, that's why.

L

[Dallas59]

Sounds like Los Angeles...

[antceecee]

They need to market their own brand of lubricant!

[one more state]

The instability of our neighbor to the south could be why politicians from both parties haven't locked down the border.

This is exactly why the border should be locked down. Mexico could end up with a mass exodus like in the Congo. Mexican immigration may not be economic at all. The government would never go public saying that illegals are moving north because they fear for their life.

[kinoxi]

a wall should be built. i don't think that mexico falling into chaos would have positive repercussions here in the US

[one more state]

I would say Mexico's chaos problem is the same as our border and immigration problem. Both have been let go for too long.

[JennysCool]

I think everyone's missing the point. This is ABC trying to make a case that illegals are actually "refugees" from political turmoil.

I wonder if this is going to be the new MSM tactic?

[Ditter]

I think you are correct. We are the only reason Mexico has not fallen to communism already. I think we should take Mexico over by military force and straighten it out before that happens. We won't, but we should, for our own good.

[kinoxi]

sorry , i was unclear. when i said chaos i was implying anarchy. the mexico that i currently hate is perpetual chaos.

[one more state]

My point is I don't want refugees. If the border was closed Mexicans would have to solve Mexico's problems.