Drug-Cartel Links Haunt An Election South of Border

Police agents in Mexico City stand guard in May after a group of top officials from Michoacán were detained due to their alleged ties to 'La Familia' drug cartel. Ten mayors and 17 other officials were detained. Associated Press

From The Wall Street Journal:

COLIMA, Mexico -- The candidacy of Mario Anguiano, running for governor in a state election here Sunday, says a lot about Mexican politics amid the rise of the drug cartels.

A brother of the candidate is serving a 10-year prison sentence in Mexico for peddling methamphetamine. Another Anguiano is serving 27 years in a Texas prison for running a huge meth ring. A few weeks ago, a hand-painted banner hung on a highway overpass cited the Zetas, the bloodthirsty executioners for the Gulf Cartel drug gang, praising the candidate: "The Zetas support you, and we are with you to the death."

Read more ....

Update: Mexico: High stakes and rampant voter apathy in upcoming elections -- L.A. Times

My Comment: Even with long prison sentences and harsh penalties, Mexico's drug war is getting worse. I can now only presume that Mexico's numerous drug gangs are in all branches of Government, the Police, and in the Courts. The only way to break the drug cartels will be to deny them the revenues that they earn from drugs .... and the only way to do this will be to legalize it and to have the governments run it.

I am well aware that drug legalization in the U.S. and in Mexico will create long lasting social problems that will make alcohol addiction insignificant in comparison .... but these problems are already here, and present day solutions are not working.