Please forgive: This submission has been assaulted by unknown
computer responses and unpredictable computer actions.
We shall have it corrected by this time to-morrow.
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_____________________________
computer responses and unpredictable computer actions.
We shall have it corrected by this time to-morrow.
______________________________
S0 THAT ALL WILL UNDERSTAND….
_____________________________
The past few weeks have been…shall we say…interesting. Being set in my ways, and having a large cadre of people who seem to take pleasure in waiting on me and tolerating my uselessness, I had been balancing an international theatre of performance for the past twenty years or so. My main business, one could say, has been directly or indirectly related to doing things in and around the Republic of Mexico for nearly the past fifty years…or so.
Travelling around in Mexico actually began, for me, when I was about five years ago, when my mother and father went looking for men to work in our grove care business…back in 1952. That is a whole 'nuther trip into Fantasyland…one as good or better than Mr. Disney had. But here, and at this moment our attention is turned to some of the various experiences and contributions I enjoyed during those times past.
The times continue, on a constant thread, and on similar topics, more or less…mostly more…but sometimes less. Presently, for instance, we are mired in a great War that has drug ten or twelve more or less democratic and liberal (in the broadest of definitions) nations facing an assembly of decrepit and very totalitarian nations. The theatre of this world-wide confrontation is mainly passive, depending upon the manoeuvres made by our side and their side, and depending upon who thinks whom can control the industry and a commerce in such a way so as to determine who will set the clocks and who will establish the rules of order as well as the rules of engagement.
The abovementioned situation is one reality.
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Then we have the situation wherein we established, somewhat as an extension of our days in the "Grand Touring" company that we owned and successfully operated for many years. My compulsiveness brought us to the point of building a little adobe cottage in the middle of NoWhere Mexico. The setting was idyllic and we had a thin layer of "friends" who had been ever-willing to assist me during various times back in the Excursion days.
The geography and climate and closeness to Gringolandia seemed to justify the effort to build, maintain, and finally employ our little adobe place. Spates of sometimes violent confrontations between this group and that group, or this snow storm or that thunder and lightning storm seemed to steadily wind down. We advanced two steps forward and one step back, even as the agricultural operations of our zone began to really launch into full scale citrus (and certain other seasonal crops) on first-world quality and terms. The citrus production of the Santa Engracia area most highly regarded by the market.
Now, we are dealing with a Presidential term whose last two years of Pena-Nieto's term and the first year and a half of Lopez Obrador's term that have steadily moved into a quagmire…for want of a better word. While Mexico has…finally…gained prestige among the Top Fifteen economic powerhouses in the world, the people (and yes I shall place this a the feet of the citizen populace) have slid back into the notion that 'The Government' can provide free this and that, lots of money, and generally defective direction from the Presidency, especially at these moments.
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) gathered around himself a peculiar cadre of National Action Party (PAN - Mexico's 'conservative' party), some mossbacks from the old Revolutionary Institutional (centrist) party, the PRI. He won the nation-wide General Elections by a majority of the vote…a first Mexico for several elections…six or seven. He heads the "Partido Movemiento de la Renovacion Nacional" also known as MORENA ).
Almost all the nuts and bolts of the party is ultra-leftist, unapologetically. At the beginning of his term "AMLO" had about twenty non-MORENA high-power, well-positioned political leaders from several parties, including the conservative PAN party (the largest contingent)…and all thought that Mexico was going to continue its maturation as a first-world nation.
Before six months were out however, the Ship of State had hit a fairly large iceberg. People were muttering about how AMLO spoke like a mentally retarded drunk (he really does have a halting and at time seemingly incoherent assembly of his words and phrases). The old-timers remember that after the Revolucion de 1910 - 1917 Mexico essentially ran its government as a one-party state. It was corrupt and cumbersome, but the successions were, in great majority…in the great totality…in such a position in power that from the end of the "Revolucion" to the ascension to the Presidency by a non-government candidate, over 70 years elapsed. It was quite a run for the old Partido de la Revolucion Institutional.
But now, after two relatively successful terms by the conservative PAN, a ''Pretty boy" Pena-Nieto brought the presidential trophy back to the nominally centrist PRI. After that lacklustre episode, "The People" clamoured for "change" and actually voted AMLO into the presidency, late in 2018 for his six year term. Now they are saying, "Who voted for that guy anyway? ...certainly not me."
There is some jolly talk about how Mr. AMLO and "Uncle Joe" Biden took their declamation training from the same instructor. Both would give the impression to any reasonable observer that they were either sharing a table at the Cantina Tres Botellas or suffering from nuerological speech disorder (or both).
In any regard, while the situation where we have our little adobe house has become quite pacified during the past two or three years, we can point to various areas in Mexico that have much better social environments than most folks from the United States might ever imagine. Such is our little jidey-hole.
I always pointed out to potential clients who wanted a bird-watching, do-nothing respite along with an excellent scenery and setting, that our place made and continues to make a positive impression. All who have come…either for a day in the country…or several days and nights with the nearby mountains, forests, noble crops, and the air of a century past (really good grub, too) have been ebullient in their praise for our little adobe place and its setting.
Normally, during these past many months, we entertain and have "parrilladas" (outdoor grilling among friends and friends of friends). Then suddenly, we began to hear that the United States was going to have to consider closing down the border bridge crossings either totally or substantially "in the near future".
Please be assured that we were aware that the border was being violated terribly by people coming up, especially from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. The present President of the United States has committed to controlling the border in a realistic way, although some people think there will be an aesthetic cost. There are others who choose to present themselves as though they are pure and therefore superior to "everyone else" because they think people should be allowed to come into the United States with or without permits and other compliance requirements.
These people of supposed higher values oppose such permits and permissions they "feel" it is "racist" and unfair. They are mainly pseudo - religious members and groups who are quite active in the business of "legitimising" people who arrive "indocumentado" (without papers or permits). Almost all are semi-skilled at best or unskilled in much beyond human propagation and mediocre day labour, which is normally far below the quality of work done by Mexicans and Texians.
The objective of at very least 85% of those who arrive at the Texas frontier is to whelp a baby on American soil…because our laws still suggest that a baby born on American soil is an American baby, and so the mother gets to stay with the baby and pick up the AFDC, housing, free medical, etc. etc. It has gone on for years…especially worsening again in the early 1990's up until the present time.
But we digress. We do in fact have a "multi-cultural swirl" here in South Texas. The demographic swirl, mix, conditions, and complexity is easy to explain if a person wants to listen to a three hour lecture on the "History of Settlement of Nuevo Santander and the Lands Associated with Coahuila and Texas". It can be done in two or three weeks. That there is sanity and insanity associated with any and/or all of it is certain. The Spanish failed here and there, but in the main their works were marvels not only of surviving but also establishing estates and business ventures of great import and success.
But now, because of the White House's idea that the border must be under some kind of reasonable control, we are being subjected to a new reality. That reality is that the international crossings and immigration normalisation papers for Americans trying to go to Mexico, and for those same Americans attempting to return to the United States has become fraught with unantici-patable scenarios.
For a Texian who is a native of Texas, the passing from Texas into interior of Mexico has been and still remains a fairly innocuous event…twenty minutes…a huge deposit for secure return of one's auto back to Texas (always refunded in full), a valid passport, and evidence of a valid Certificate of Title of the motorcar being taken to Mexico. The papers are en force for 6 months, and the Gringo must turn in those papers (the temporary vehicular entry permit and tourist / proprietor entry permit) on or before the date indicated.
The Mexican goes through quite a bit more, and the cost is higher, and he has to show liability insurance for his auto, but the Mexican with his papers drawn on the American Embassy or one of the many places now where there is a functional Mexican Consular facility. One plus, however, the term of validity is longer for the Mexican. Similar rules, with variations, apply to Central Americans.
But starting about 6 weeks ago, steadily and then more quickly, the White House declared a closure to all terrestrial crossing points in Texas with Mexico…with certain provisos for certain people. My problem, for instance, would be to try to come back into the United States. Normally we have had to wait in line for 30 minutes on up to two hours, mired in lines that would total 250 or so on up to a total of 2,500 in various wait lines. Now, there are little or no lines…crossing can require as little as though we were in a small town with one traffic light.
Almost all the nuts and bolts of the party is ultra-leftist, unapologetically. At the beginning of his term "AMLO" had about twenty non-MORENA high-power, well-positioned political leaders from several parties, including the conservative PAN party (the largest contingent)…and all thought that Mexico was going to continue its maturation as a first-world nation.
Before six months were out however, the Ship of State had hit a fairly large iceberg. People were muttering about how AMLO spoke like a mentally retarded drunk (he really does have a halting and at time seemingly incoherent assembly of his words and phrases). The old-timers remember that after the Revolucion de 1910 - 1917 Mexico essentially ran its government as a one-party state. It was corrupt and cumbersome, but the successions were, in great majority…in the great totality…in such a position in power that from the end of the "Revolucion" to the ascension to the Presidency by a non-government candidate, over 70 years elapsed. It was quite a run for the old Partido de la Revolucion Institutional.
But now, after two relatively successful terms by the conservative PAN, a ''Pretty boy" Pena-Nieto brought the presidential trophy back to the nominally centrist PRI. After that lacklustre episode, "The People" clamoured for "change" and actually voted AMLO into the presidency, late in 2018 for his six year term. Now they are saying, "Who voted for that guy anyway? ...certainly not me."
There is some jolly talk about how Mr. AMLO and "Uncle Joe" Biden took their declamation training from the same instructor. Both would give the impression to any reasonable observer that they were either sharing a table at the Cantina Tres Botellas or suffering from nuerological speech disorder (or both).
In any regard, while the situation where we have our little adobe house has become quite pacified during the past two or three years, we can point to various areas in Mexico that have much better social environments than most folks from the United States might ever imagine. Such is our little jidey-hole.
I always pointed out to potential clients who wanted a bird-watching, do-nothing respite along with an excellent scenery and setting, that our place made and continues to make a positive impression. All who have come…either for a day in the country…or several days and nights with the nearby mountains, forests, noble crops, and the air of a century past (really good grub, too) have been ebullient in their praise for our little adobe place and its setting.
Normally, during these past many months, we entertain and have "parrilladas" (outdoor grilling among friends and friends of friends). Then suddenly, we began to hear that the United States was going to have to consider closing down the border bridge crossings either totally or substantially "in the near future".
Please be assured that we were aware that the border was being violated terribly by people coming up, especially from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. The present President of the United States has committed to controlling the border in a realistic way, although some people think there will be an aesthetic cost. There are others who choose to present themselves as though they are pure and therefore superior to "everyone else" because they think people should be allowed to come into the United States with or without permits and other compliance requirements.
These people of supposed higher values oppose such permits and permissions they "feel" it is "racist" and unfair. They are mainly pseudo - religious members and groups who are quite active in the business of "legitimising" people who arrive "indocumentado" (without papers or permits). Almost all are semi-skilled at best or unskilled in much beyond human propagation and mediocre day labour, which is normally far below the quality of work done by Mexicans and Texians.
The objective of at very least 85% of those who arrive at the Texas frontier is to whelp a baby on American soil…because our laws still suggest that a baby born on American soil is an American baby, and so the mother gets to stay with the baby and pick up the AFDC, housing, free medical, etc. etc. It has gone on for years…especially worsening again in the early 1990's up until the present time.
But we digress. We do in fact have a "multi-cultural swirl" here in South Texas. The demographic swirl, mix, conditions, and complexity is easy to explain if a person wants to listen to a three hour lecture on the "History of Settlement of Nuevo Santander and the Lands Associated with Coahuila and Texas". It can be done in two or three weeks. That there is sanity and insanity associated with any and/or all of it is certain. The Spanish failed here and there, but in the main their works were marvels not only of surviving but also establishing estates and business ventures of great import and success.
But now, because of the White House's idea that the border must be under some kind of reasonable control, we are being subjected to a new reality. That reality is that the international crossings and immigration normalisation papers for Americans trying to go to Mexico, and for those same Americans attempting to return to the United States has become fraught with unantici-patable scenarios.
For a Texian who is a native of Texas, the passing from Texas into interior of Mexico has been and still remains a fairly innocuous event…twenty minutes…a huge deposit for secure return of one's auto back to Texas (always refunded in full), a valid passport, and evidence of a valid Certificate of Title of the motorcar being taken to Mexico. The papers are en force for 6 months, and the Gringo must turn in those papers (the temporary vehicular entry permit and tourist / proprietor entry permit) on or before the date indicated.
The Mexican goes through quite a bit more, and the cost is higher, and he has to show liability insurance for his auto, but the Mexican with his papers drawn on the American Embassy or one of the many places now where there is a functional Mexican Consular facility. One plus, however, the term of validity is longer for the Mexican. Similar rules, with variations, apply to Central Americans.
But starting about 6 weeks ago, steadily and then more quickly, the White House declared a closure to all terrestrial crossing points in Texas with Mexico…with certain provisos for certain people. My problem, for instance, would be to try to come back into the United States. Normally we have had to wait in line for 30 minutes on up to two hours, mired in lines that would total 250 or so on up to a total of 2,500 in various wait lines. Now, there are little or no lines…crossing can require as little as though we were in a small town with one traffic light.
There are twelve crossings including:
Laredo / Nuevo Laredo (3 bridges)
Falcon Dam / Presa Falcon
Roma / Miguel Aleman,
Rio Grande City / Camargo,
Los Ebanos Ferry / Feria de Gustavo Diaz Ordaz
Anzalduas / Reynosa (west),
McAllen-Hidalgo / Reynosa (central),
Pharr International / Reynosa (east),
Donna International / Rio Bravo
Weslaco / Progresso
Weslaco / Progresso
Los Indios International / Valle Hermosa
Gateway Brownsville / Gateway Matamoros
Brownsville / Matamoros
These bridge connections have had literally thousands of autos going both ways and scores of thousands each day as pedestrians who have their "documents" in order, etc. This is both ways. I, for instance, guard my Mexican promissory papers zealously, as do the Mexicans with their American promissory paperwork.
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These folks are not, in their broad, broad majority, "immigrants" looking for opportunity in America. Usually 30 to 40 percent of the males are fleeing judicial process or are members of cartels. It is the human variation of a locust invasion. ____________________ |
During the past two weeks, the only bridge declaring crossing time in excess of 15 minutes was Gateway Brownsville. The remainder were crossing mainly after waiting for five (5) minutes up to (10) minutes. It is the nature of things on the Frontier at this time. I have never dealt with such a phenomena going and/or coming twixt Mexico and Texas…or Arizona and Mexico…etc. We have just learned that…during these moments…that an extension to the border crossing closure (with certain exceptions) between Canada and the United States has been put in place, for another 30 days. It is almost dead level certain that Mexico and the United States will put another extension in place as well…wishin the next few hours or days.
It is all a miserable mess. We have worked fairly well with the Mexicans over the past century, not perfectly, but fairly well, both ways…South to north, and north to South. We warn anyone who is "kinder and gentler" to please research this matter carefully. The "caravanas" that come up to the American frontier are sham-shows…organised carefully by communist agitators with considerable training in Cuba, Venezuela, and certain places in Europe. Pseudo religious persons, lamentably posing as Roman Catholic nuns and priests and assistants of such persons help in the charade, but make no mistake, they are wild-eyed marxist 5th Column types.
In the above picture, the reader can see people, especially very young males trooping northward…by my estimation...in the above photo, 70 percent are males ages 13 to 20. The females are about the same age and frequently have two or three babies and/or a two to six year old child to lug along.
It was, and it remains, common for these women to present children to authorities with two or three different colourations, who speak in different accents, and who have been "loaned" to those heading north to be traded out, or perhaps even delivered to a waiting Mexican or even American who is buying little ones to sell elsewhere. Very, very few have "papers" of any kind.
Immediately after the posting of this amended and updated and repaired submission, we shall be finishing the "brother" of this one. We fully intend to have the "brother" posted before sunrise to-morrow.
EL GRINGO VIEJO
It is all a miserable mess. We have worked fairly well with the Mexicans over the past century, not perfectly, but fairly well, both ways…South to north, and north to South. We warn anyone who is "kinder and gentler" to please research this matter carefully. The "caravanas" that come up to the American frontier are sham-shows…organised carefully by communist agitators with considerable training in Cuba, Venezuela, and certain places in Europe. Pseudo religious persons, lamentably posing as Roman Catholic nuns and priests and assistants of such persons help in the charade, but make no mistake, they are wild-eyed marxist 5th Column types.
In the above picture, the reader can see people, especially very young males trooping northward…by my estimation...in the above photo, 70 percent are males ages 13 to 20. The females are about the same age and frequently have two or three babies and/or a two to six year old child to lug along.
It was, and it remains, common for these women to present children to authorities with two or three different colourations, who speak in different accents, and who have been "loaned" to those heading north to be traded out, or perhaps even delivered to a waiting Mexican or even American who is buying little ones to sell elsewhere. Very, very few have "papers" of any kind.
Immediately after the posting of this amended and updated and repaired submission, we shall be finishing the "brother" of this one. We fully intend to have the "brother" posted before sunrise to-morrow.
EL GRINGO VIEJO
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