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Aaron Ventresca
Mr. Sebestyen
Honors World Regional Geography
3/31/17
Creating Mexico’s Future
Numerous nations in the modern world suffer from pervasive hardship, conflict, and
strife. The mere thought of creating a better future appears a daunting challenge for legislators.
Mexico demands that its future terminate the complete ignorance toward corruption and
instability. Mexico’s trade platforms, electoral process, and monetary allocation are in dire need
of reformation to ensure that Mexico grows to adopt 21st century ideals. Economic, political, and
social reforms are necessary for Mexico. Through effective legislation, Mexico should strive to
embrace its future via global trade, free, democratic elections, and a reallocation of social
government funds to allow the Mexican people to prosper.
In order to provide a prosperous economic future, it proves essential that Mexico
welcome external and global trade. Throughout its history, Mexico has thrived based on its
export of goods to the greater global economy. During the Mexican Revolution in the early
1900s, foreign investors flocked to Mexican markets to invest in its bolstering economy. Mexico
succeeds when its economy thrives off exports. Under the rule of Porfirio Diaz during the
Mexican Revolution, “Exports increased by a factor of six, averaging a growth rate of more than
6 percent per year” (International Socialist Review). It can be clearly noted how Mexico’s most
successful future consists of a large dependence on exports. Having foreign investors contribute
to the Mexican economy increases the demand for goods; jobs are created to produce agricultural
and industrial goods to be exported across the globe. In addition to foreign investment, NAFTA
must be embraced to ensure a bright future for Mexico.
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To increase trade to an even greater extent, NAFTA can be renegotiated and accepted to
better assist the Mexican people. By renegotiating and embracing NAFTA, trade is even easier,
promoting an even greater success because of trade. Option 3: Embrace the Future details how
economic trade would greatly help Mexico in the long term; this idea must be adopted. “Mexico
should lower trade barriers and reform its legal system to promote the growth of export
industries and encourage foreign investment” (Choices). The usage of Option 3 leads to a
renegotiation of NAFTA to promote well-being amongst other powerful nations such as the
United States and Canada. By renegotiating NAFTA and lowering trade barriers, Mexico feeds
off the successes of other nations, jump-starting its stagnant economy. Mexico should strive for a
future revolving around foreign trade and NAFTA; democratic elections will also augment
Mexico’s bright, embraceable future.
The establishment of a democratic political system in Mexico is essential to the political
prosperity of the future. Political history from across the globe leads to one main conclusion:
democracy is the most effective and prosperous political governing system. In recent times,
Mexico’s political election of 2000 was the first free election in 71 years. The Industrial
Revolutionary Party (PRI) had dominated the Mexican legislature for decades, taking on the role
of a dictatorship. “[…] the notion that millions of Mexicans, however poor, would have sold
their votes for as little as $10 and as much as $50 […]” (NewPolitics). It can be clearly noted
how the PRI regime led Mexicans to fear their legislature, causing vote selling to become a
common practice. The PRI has run Mexico’s political system into the ground, losing the trust of
investors across the globe. Mexico’s democratic process must be augmented to ensure that
investment and trust remains in the Mexican government. Promoting democratic elections
through organized rallies and effective lawmaking would ensure that the Mexican political
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system supports economic growth and values the opinions of its people. The implementation of
free, democratic election will also contribute to capitalistic and empowering ideals for the
Mexican people.
Democracy is an essential part of Mexico’s future, as demonstrated by Option 3: Embrace
the Future. Government is at the center of a nation’s strength; increasing national strength
through democracy will provide for a greater all-around future for Mexico. “Mexico should
strive to establish a stable political system based on the rule of law. Democratic reforms should
be gradually introduced to guarantee fair, multi-party elections” (Choices). The creation of freemulti party elections ensures that the voices of the Mexican people are heard, creating stronger
national policy and lawmaking. Democracy would also promote capitalism, which would
increase the motivation to work, educate, and contribute to Mexico’s great future. Democracy
and trade will ensure a prosperous future, alongside the reallocation of government funds.
The reallocation of social funds will prove to provide a socially sustainable future for
Mexico. It is crucial to note that the Mexican government should not necessarily add or subtract
from its budget, but rather wisely reallocate the money that it already has. The economic crashes
of the 1980s and 1995 severely weakened the lower and middle classes, adding to Mexico’s
already existent poverty. In 2006, 42.9% of Mexicans were living below the poverty line. The
government must seek to fund education by allocating funds directly for schools. “Mexico’s
education budget is funneled through depraved unions and very little actually seeps through to
the schools” (Americas Quarterly). By educating future Mexicans, the poverty rate will decrease
due to an increase of skilled, intelligent laborers. Mexican authorities must reallocate funds by
investing in Mexican education. Policy makers must implement legislation that ensures that
Mexico’s education budget is actually provided in full to schools; government funds could be
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altered if the money provided is subject to passing through unions and other obstacles. In the
past, the Mexican government has failed as a result of monetary corruption. During a new era of
democracy, the government must strive to lessen corruption through social policy and the useful
distribution of government funds toward education for the future.
Government funds must be used to create a stronger police force, ending drug cartels and
street violence. Legislators must create a movement to end crime via funds, providing better
social wellness for Mexicans. “The National Crime Prevention Program will take roughly a
$35.6 million cut. The Interior ministry, which runs that program and almost all federal security
programs, will see its investment budget slashed by 77%” (Business Insider). The Mexican
government must reallocate funds to ensure that the Mexican police force receives an adequate,
untampered budget to decrease crime. As crime decreases, morale and social wellness increases
throughout Mexico. The Mexican government must strive to abolish corruption in current
programs to create a stable future.
The reallocation of government priorities and funds provides for a great future via Option
3: Embrace the Future. By eradicating the loss of funds through unions and corruption, Mexico
will use its current wealth for the better. “Mexico should hold down government spending by
rooting out waste and corruption in existing programs” (Choices). It proves essential that the
Mexican government act to provide a sustainable future. The reallocation of government funds
coupled with democratic elections and increased trade will provide a bright, embraceable future
for Mexico.
In sum, Mexico must strive to create a strong future based on foreign trade through a
renegotiation and acceptance of NAFTA, democracy, and a reallocation of government funds
toward social policy. If Mexico chooses to follow through with creating jobs via strong economy,
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the Mexican people can overcome poverty and hardship. Democracy will bring a new light to
Mexico, just as it has done to other nations. The United States has prospered as a result of
democracy; if Mexico chooses to embrace democracy, its economy and social policies will
blossom, creating a great, embraceable future.
Works Cited
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Easterling, Stuart. "Mexico's Revolution 1910-1920." International Socialist Review, Center for
Economic Research and Social Change, isreview.org/issue/74/mexicos-revolution-19101920. Accessed 29 Mar. 2017.
La Botz, Dan. "Mexico: The PRI Is Back, the Left in Disarray." NewPolitics, 16 Sept. 2012,
newpol.org/content/mexico-pri-back-left-disarray. Accessed 29 Mar. 2017.
"Mexico at the Crossroads." The Choices Program, Choices. Accessed 30 Mar. 2017.
Shahani, Arjan. "Mexico Is Flunking in Education." Americas Quarterly, Council of the
Americas, 24 July 2012, www.americasquarterly.org/mexico-is-flunking-in-education.
Accessed 29 Mar. 2017.
"10 Facts About Poverty in Mexico." The Borgen Project, Borgen Project, 8 Aug. 2015,
borgenproject.org/poverty-in-mexico-2/. Accessed 29 Mar. 2017.
Woody, Christopher. "There’s Something Conspicuously Absent from Mexico’s 2016 National
Budget." Business Insider, 16 Sept. 2015, www.businessinsider.com/mexico-2016national-budget-security-cuts-2015-9. Accessed 29 Mar. 2017.