AMLO’s government never managed to build an incorruptible corp of officers because it never eliminated fundamental incentives for corruption.
Stories by Sarah DeVries
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Masks are off and things feel normal again, but we’re not out of the woods
It’s tempting to feel done with COVID-19, but with kids left to vaccinate and 600,000 dead, maybe we don’t want to let down our guard yet.
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Will Mexico’s influx of foreigners wear out expats’ welcome?
What’s great for digital nomads and even mildly affluent gringo migrants isn’t always great for Mexicans. How long till we become resented?
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May good dads win the battle for men’s souls: female lives depend on it
In Mexico’s culture war against gender violence, one of the frontlines that may be seeing some progress is how fathers view childrearing.
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‘The lithium is ours,’ but can Mexico actually do anything with it?
AMLO got his wish as Congress approved the metal’s nationalization on Tuesday, but now officials must figure out how to manage the resource.
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AMLO’s great at lip service, but halfway though his term, little has changed
Antipoverty programs are up, but so are disappearances and narco impunity. And we still don’t know what happened to the Ayotzinapa 43.
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Moving the kids to Mexico? Here are some parenting differences few mention
Basic principles of childrearing are the same around the world; it’s the small things that differ: like how few children here have a bedtime.
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In a culture in love with humor, why can’t Mexico’s politicians take a joke?
Morena’s leaders seem to have little ability to handle mockery and end up going on the defensive. In what Mexico did they grow up?
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Death, taxes and online shopping: tales of woe with the customs office
It’s best when dealing with these package-nappers, it’s best to simply accept your doom and pay up if you ever want to see your order.
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Refusing that straw won’t save the ocean
In the face of a massive societal trash problem, patting ourselves on the back for small individual contributions is not enough.
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Querétaro’s violent soccer riot reminds us we’re not as evolved as we think
“This is not who we are!” people say after an event such as the fan riot last Sunday in Queretaro, but studies show it’s exactly who we are.
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If any country could understand what Ukraine’s experiencing, it’s Mexico
Right now, citizens in both nations are losing lives and homes to armed invaders. So why is Mexico’s support for Ukrainians’ plight so tepid?
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What’s your expat economic footprint and how much does it matter?
When even a modest income in your home country makes you a top earner here, you affect your local economy whether you want to or not.
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Who are the good guys to root for in Mexico’s endless, routine protests?
When protesters use threats or violence to achieve goals you would normally support, then it gets really confusing to know where you stand.
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Toll takeovers: protest against corrupt governments or just opportunism?
Mexicans have understandable motives to evade tolls or occupy plazas, but what are we to make of protesters making this a regular pastime?
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Don’t get so distracted by Mexico’s villains that you miss its heroes
If you just keep your eyes peeled, you’ll see plenty of average people around you working quietly on everyday miracles, Sarah DeVries writes.
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Toss out your lockdown junk and make room for better things to come
Suffering from pandemic fatigue? Here’s a modest guide to tuning into optimism by decluttering your house and preparing for a post-COVID era.
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Which of today’s events will be the ones Mexico can’t forget?
COVID-19 and AMLO’s presidency will probably stay in the nation’s collective consciousness for decades afterward. What else is on that list?
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Two years of evading COVID feels like an unending dodgeball game
But in this pandemic scenario, we’re all the reluctant kids at the back of the gym just hoping that the ball doesn’t hit us too hard.
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Navigating the line between speaking up and choosing not to fight
Dealing with Mexico’s hit-and-miss customer service means figuring out when to fight the good fight and when to practice Zen acquiesence.
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Beating the hornets’ nest hasn’t worked, but neither does letting them be
President Calderón’s war against crime failed spectacularly, but AMLO’s opposite strategy — leaving cartels alone — isn’t a solution either.
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The holiday gift we need right now: some optimism about Mexico
It’s easy to focus on the nation’s ills, but a local ice rink reminded the writer that there is professionalism and efficiency here too.
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Learning a language leads to something greater than the sum of its parts
Gaining a real command of Spanish gave Sarah De Vries’ life a new richness that, at times, makes her world seem to double in size.
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Here’s how I plan to celebrate the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe
The Virgin of Guadalupe is many things: a clever ploy by the church, an unrealistic feminine ideal and the embodiment of a mother’s love.
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Pesos just don’t go as far as they used to
Inflation is pushing prices up. But when will informal and contract workers see corresponding wage increases?
