NAFTA Argumentative Essay

Whenever there is a problem in other countries the United States is always willing to help, but at the same time reassure the world that the United States is a friendly country which cares about the well-being of other individuals who are not American citizens. The message sent to troubled nations in times of difficulty is always the same; the U.S is always providing a helping hand with “no strings attached” or at least that is what they try to make individuals believe. However, in reality the United States helps other countries because by doing so the U.S will gain certain benefits and rights. Take for example the aid that the U.S sends over to Mexico in order to help Mexico combat the drug industry, at first sight this seems like a good deed from a friendly neighbor; however, there are several reasons why politicians here in the United States authorize that aid. As described in “The Media-Entertainment Industry and the “War on Drugs” in Mexico” the

United States helps Mexico because they are aware of the natural resources, such as petroleum, available in the neighboring country. According to Julien Mercille the United States also helps Mexico in order to prevent “a surge of millions of refugees crossing the U.S. border to escape the domestic misery of violence” (113). By helping Mexico the U.S prevents an immigrant invasion but also ensures that Mexico will help the U.S when they are in need of natural resources.
The United States claims to help other countries, but in reality it aggravates violence and crime.

During 1994 the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was put into play as an agreement that would solve many problems associated with narcotics; however, instead of solving any problems NAFTA actually increased the numbers of individuals involved in drug related activity. The reason why NAFTA had such a negative effect in Mexico was because it favored high-class individuals and dismissed/ignored the lower classes. Agreements made between politicians in different countries are viewed as investments, investments which favor only a few and damage the vast majority. For the United States it is easy to say that something failed, yet for Mexico seeing failure is difficult because violence, deaths, and an increase in criminal activity tags along with the failing results. These failing results anger and sadden individuals but at the same time make individuals realize that there are always hidden motives to certain

things.
The United States blames Mexico’s current situation on the corruption seen within politicians and cartels, yet the U.S never sees itself as part of the problem because they are not Mexican or in Mexico. In the U.S media industry corruption within foreign countries is largely talked about; however, corruption within the United States is rarely mentioned or hinted at. The U.S is viewed as a very decent and rational place, a country which does everything by the rules laid out in books. However, the influence that the U.S has on other countries, such as Mexico, plays an important role in Mexico’s violent state. Many individuals could say that Mexico tries to combat crime with violence because that is a typical American thing; here in the United States violence is always used to “solve” issues. Mexico tries to mimic the U.S; however, instead of solving any issues it just generates more problems and makes the country look like a failure in which corruption and violence dominate. A failed country is what many individuals view Mexico as; however, nobody ever talks about what drove Mexico to a failing state. U.S involvement is rarely talked about; the media rarely mentions that the United States is a primary consumer of the drugs made in Mexico; the media rarely mentions that there is a lot of weapon smuggling from U.S territory to Mexico. These important details which are excluded play an important role in understanding the violence and corruption but also in generating a solution to the problem, as well as prevention programs that will make Mexico a beautiful place that is able to control what occurs within its boundaries.