http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/index/ en U.S. Department of State 2012-02-11T15:54:03+00:00
happy]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/u.s._mexico_share_continent_future/ Mon Mar 30, 2009
I agree with the Secretary that the U.S.' insatiable demard for illegal drugs is a major component of Mexico's problem with the drug cartels.

Therefore, legalize the drugs they are selling, regulate their sale, TAX them, and quit spending billions on the "Drug War" that multiple U.S. "Drug Czars" have admitted is unwinnable.

The biggest killer in American is tobacco, not illegal drugs.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/u.s._mexico_share_continent_future/ Sat Mar 28, 2009
Wake up moms of America...Help Michelle. Help Hillary...Horton heard the who ...Is anybody listening??? S.O.S Save Our Schools! Teresa

Latino Kids are the Future too...even in America!]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/u.s._mexico_share_continent_future/ Fri Mar 27, 2009
I am delighted to hear that the United States and Mexico will work as partners to confront the challenges effacing our common citizenry. Having spent my formative years in the medical profession during the first wave of the HIV/ADS epidemic, I can rin San Diego, I can reflect remarkable partnerships that formed between UCSD and Tiajuana General to save lives. In terms of capacity building, fostering one's ability to transcend boundaries spatially and sociologically, without dismissing cultural and linguistic differences was equally as important to knowledge of treatments, prophylatics and prognoses.

I urge the forming binational team to continue thinking outside of the box and look to analogous social experiments proven efficacious like the ones that still exist preventing and treating AIDS (see http://chrp.ucop.edu/funded_research/abstracts/2007_viani.html).

Whether or not one believes that drug addiction is a disease with a given neurobiological basis, its epidemiological breadth rapaciously impacts everyone on our shared continent. Every citizen, young and old, is adversely effected; by the drug trade on multiple fronts, personally, professionally, pyschologically, and physically to name but a few. Indeed treating an epidemic requires the active participation of actors in urban, suburban rural regions regardless of income level, legal resident status or other variable that impedes full citizen engagement.

A comprehensive plan that endeavors collaborative problem solving needs to conceive a community of actors from multiple sites of agency in the social, financial, health, educational, faith based and government sectors. Such a broad coalition of actors would be able to design and develop capacities on multiple fronts. Recovering and rehabilitated ex offenders (distribution/possession) need to be situated at center and periphery to shed light on the key variables that vary among locales fueling the adaptive elements of the drug trade industry. On this point we must be clear, we can not afford the time it takes to use traditional methods only scaled up. To transform the problem we need a tranformed approach from the inside out.

At last, albeit a radical notion, and not likely one that would be politically popular I would propose crafting a blanket amnesty agreement that is coarticulated by both states to allow for long term residential treatment and a concurrent monitoring of the individual's progressive recovery for 10 years. This opportunity would have to be granted citizens from the U.S. and Mexico in equal measure to those admitting participation in the trade.

Any potential consequence would be stayed on the understanding that be they dealer or addict, treatment would be no less than 18 months followed by a more individualized reentry program which may include, vocational training, literacy training, parent education etc. To ensure fidelty of principles to practice the policy's regulatory body and related "places of business" should literally be straddling the border from one end to the other.

I applaud the progressive and integral view that Secretary Clinton and her peers have articulated. I am only concerned that the solution will be framed too narrowly; that is militaristic, and ultimately perceived as punitive for some citizens and greater benefits acrruing to others. These are my humble thoughts.

In service,
I remain,
Elizabeth]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/u.s._mexico_share_continent_future/ Thu Mar 26, 2009
I find it quite ironic how Mexico makes no qualms about its resentment towards the U.S. at times but when they need the U.S. help they come crawling on their knees like cowards for a handout. Mexico needs to learn to take care of itself. That's why so many Mexicans come here looking for a handout. Stop encouraging lazy and selfish behavior America.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/u.s._mexico_share_continent_future/ Thu Mar 26, 2009
I agree with Hillary Clinton that it's our fault concerning the 'Drug Wars' in Mexico. It's our fault in the sense we allow millions of illegals to enter this country each year because we refuse to protect the borders. It's our fault that when the Mexican president can't handle its own people that we allow him to throw them off on the American tax-payer, which drains us with them receiving free healthcare, housing, medicaid, welfare, financial aid for school, and social security. It's our fault that we allow many Americans to lose their jobs just before retirement to low wage illegals. So yes, I agree with Hillary Clinton, it's America's fault for allowing this to go one for so many years.]]> http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/u.s._mexico_share_continent_future/ Thu Mar 26, 2009