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You base your argument on one "friend" who alleges he has to pay bribes to "every" officer on the way to his home. I will not address this portion of your post because it is opinion and ethnocentricity, nothing more.

No, please re-read I based that on my personal experience when I went down with my friends. Are my other friends whom I have not gone down with lying also? No they are not liars they are good people. My friends by the way are Mexican Nationals

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As for corrupt governments... The U.S. has the finest politicians that money can buy. Every American president since FDR, republican or democrat, has lined their pockets and the pockets of their friends to some degree. I have personally had to turn in fellow officers for improper conduct such as soliciting bribes. Every person on this planet has red blood flowing through their veins, unless their dead, EVERYONE.

You are absolutly correct! The US Government is corrupt, there would be little need for websites such as this if they were not. BUT it is not even debatable that prisoners have many more rights here then in Mexico. The conditions of the two is like comparing apples and oranges.
And since I am not wealthy I have never experinenced getting out of anything here in the US. But I do believe the same holds true in Mexico's Legal System except I believe it is much easier to make pay offs down there if one has the money.

Quote>As for the people of Mexico "running" at the sign of trouble, you should check your facts. The largest Hispanic increase for new enlistment in the military was after 9/11. Here is a site that explores pre 9/11 for all branches of the military and their respective demographics (check DoD for current

Last I heard a person had to be either a US citizen or a legal satus of some kind to join the Military here I was referring to illegal aliens.
If I had recorded the Houston TV Station report about this when it happened I would have been more then happy to forward it to you.

Quote> PS. My wife's cousin, a first generation American who's parents immigrated from Mexico and a U.S. Marine PFC, fought and was injured in the desert's of Iraq defending your right to speak freely, try not to dishonor his gift to you. Not to mention the fact that 95% of Texas was Mexican soil until the U.S. military took it at gunpoint.

You keep speaking of US citizens when I am speaking of the Mexican Government and IT'S citizens. The US took Texas with the blood of many just as it took America from the English who started the taking of it from the American Indians.

Quote> I don't object to having philosophical debates with anyone, but don't put down an entire race of people without checking your facts. Being a gringo myself, I don't want to be lumped into your group.

I don't object having intelligent discussions myself but it is hard to keep up you as you keep jumping from one subject to another and then go back a hundred years. I know my History, and Law. I also have 3 beautiful Son's who are half Mexican and I'd like to know where in any of my writing that I put down an entire race I put down their Government.

I also have a very good friend who is a Long Time US Customs Agent in Houston is he also lying when he tells me things? He's half Mexican yet is willing to be honest.
As someone else said we are all decendants from people who imigrated here from somewhere, some of those places worse than others and Mexico does happen to be on the worse side.

And do not speak to me of one family member in the US Service!.
My Father was awarded 10 bronze stars, 2 purple hearts a many other medals for his brave service in WWII, my brother served 3 terms in Vietnam. My 3 Uncles and one Aunt also fought bravely in WWII. I can also go back to family who fought in WWI, Spanish American War, heck even the civil war.

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