Mexico admits military murdered American

[gunsmith]

Personally, I can not understand why people even venture into Mexico.
Its a narco-terrorist state, all you have to do is read the news to find out.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gArzGbiOwhFhAgcHZWx1MZy8h82Q?docId=f188a3da00a1427093d4332a026a9b47

[Hawkmoon]

Personally, I can not understand why people even venture into Mexico.
Its a narco-terrorist state, all you have to do is read the news to find out.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gArzGbiOwhFhAgcHZWx1MZy8h82Q?docId=f188a3da00a1427093d4332a026a9b47

Agreed completely. I know Latinos who think you must be loco to even think about visiting Mexico.

[Tallpine]

There are some that say if you get down south away from the border provinces, then it is pretty nice 

[HankB]

There are some that say if you get down south away from the border provinces, then it is pretty nice 

Then we ought to post signs along the border (in Spanish!) that say so . . . maybe we can turn some of the northbound traffic around.

[Boomhauer]

Personally, I can not understand why people even venture into Mexico.
Its a narco-terrorist state, all you have to do is read the news to find out.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gArzGbiOwhFhAgcHZWx1MZy8h82Q?docId=f188a3da00a1427093d4332a026a9b47

Way I see it, it's just like those fools who went hiking along the Iraq/Iran border and got snatched.

[Antibubba]

No one wants to say that Mexico is a Third-World country.

[kgbsquirrel]

No one wants to say that Mexico is a Third-World country.

I believe a more appropriate term would be "failed state." The government is non-functional for enforcement of it's laws, public services are subject to systemic corruption and criminal organizations (drug barons, perhaps newly titled as warlords considering the open fighting against the government,) control large swaths of the country. But I agree, no one of any significant position wants to call a duck a duck, despite it waddling up to them, quacking derogatorily, and snatching the bread roll right from their hands.

Besides, 3rd world status refers to a country that is aligned with neither the U.S. nor Soviet spheres of influence.  

[AZRedhawk44]

Talked with the family on Christmas day about Christmas next year, and we're thinking of a trip somewhere nice and warm and sunny and beachy.

Mom initially said "Mexico."  We all said "heck no."  About 10 seconds was all it took to redirect her to Hawaii, Caribbean, Belize, Costa Rica or somewhere BUT Mexico.

If Mexico wasn't a necrotic and decaying armpit of narco-crime and kidnapping, then we might consider Cabo San Lucas, Rocky Point or some other (otherwise) nice destination there.

[RoadKingLarry]

The government is non-functional for enforcement of it's laws, public services are subject to systemic corruption and criminal organizations control large swaths of the Legislature

And with a minor change we are talking about he US government

[Bob F.]

Had this been a latino drug-runner shot by an American Border Patrolman, there'd be hell to pay!

(deja vu all over again?)

Bob

[Physics]

The last time I was in Puerto Vallarta, it wasn't bad at all.  I personally wouldn't go any further north than that.  I've been there a couple times and only ever had an issue once, with time share cronies who got a little too pushy.  In Puerto Vallarta, there is a large Federal Police presence, as well as the Mexican military (who carry G3's by the way), so not too much in the way of problems.  It's the places where there is no mayor or police chief due to assassinations that you have to worry about.  I try to stay away from the nightclubs where the midnight entertainment is using tourist/local police heads as bowling balls.  I have heard of a recent incident as far south as Acapulco, short story here.  I haven't heard of much else recently.  Also, don't get me wrong, there IS violence, I just think it isn't as prevalent in the southern parts of the country; it's just that the violence in the north is so crazy that everyone freaks out. 

tl;dr version:
Mexico isn't that bad, just stay away from the border cities and always be aware of what's going on around you (duh).

[Hawkmoon]

There have been multiple incidents involving norte americano turistas in Acapulco just this year. Mexico City has been a cesspool for decades. Back when I often traveled for work, I can recall businessmen on the way to or from Mexico City telling me their companies always arranged for them to be met at the airport by ARMED security guards, driven directly to the hotel, and then transferred between the hotl and the office every day by armed guards.

My wife's cousin, from another Latin American country, is a professor in Mexico City. He recently sold his condo in a gated, guarded complex and moved into a newer, more heavily guarded and fortified condo because he didn't consider the old one safe.

I don't think even Baja California is safe for tourists any more.