The Aztecs arrived in Mexico Valley about 1200, built an empire, then three hundred years later, right on schedule, Hernán Cortés and his merry band of conquistadors arrived. This Hispanic state is now past maturity and is coming apart before us. Strong central control of the nation state is an aberration of our time. Human nature is to divide into tribal and family groups. We saw how this worked in the former Yugoslavia when the central iron grip failed. Now we’re watching it again in Mexico. La familia de Michoacán is a good example. The local cops and politicians know where the power lies despite Felipe Calderón’s occasional spankings. Calderón, for his part, is rapidly becoming el alcalde del Distrito Federal. The relationship between la Ciudad de México and los narcotraficantes is starting to look more and more like the relationship between Rome and Alaric, King of the Visigoths. México, unlike us, doesn’t print up the world’s reserve currency and use it to pay for a thousand garrisons in every corner of the world. But all this means, de veras, is that the bigger we are, the harder we fall.
Early signs of Yugoslavia in America? Lately California has started printing its own money. Although the banks that were happy to take taxpayer IOUs are not so forthcoming with California’s. But already a secondary market in California IOUs is developing just as a secondary market in dollars thrives throughout the world. Not worth a Continental or not worth a Californian? We already know where the lines will be drawn. San Francisco, for example, has more in common with Portland and Seattle than it does with Sacramento. The panhandle of Nebraska fits well with eastern Wyoming, not Omaha. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Tijuana all fit together. I’m thinking this province might extend all the way to Las Vegas before it runs up against the Mormons. Here in Newberry Springs we’re on the northern hinterlands of the Sonoran province and the southern hinterlands of the Great Basin. Once Washington no longer has the iron or the will to continue the farcical War on Drugs, los crimen organizados will have to find another business. Mr. Obama, tear down this wall. |
