Notes from Texas

The lower Rio Grande Valley is a world apart from other places in Texas.   The business of the drug corridor can be illustrated by events that occurred in the Valley in early December. It was then that law enforcement seized over $500,000 in currency, 7,868 pounds of marijuana, 359 pounds of cocaine, 16 pounds of heroin, 385 pounds of methamphetamines—and 4,128 illegal aliens. No other part of Texas even comes close. While there’s no denying that the local economy does see some benefit from drug-trafficking money, the negative consequences far outweigh the good. The drug market contributes significantly to drug crimes, kidnappings, and homicides. Estimates tie five to 10 percent of the Valley’s economy to illegal activity, primarily drugs. As the Rio Grande Valley thrives from the illegal trade, much money is readily available to corrupt public officials. “Partnerships” between drug traffickers and law enforcement officials to conduct illegal activities are amicably referred to as the compadre system: You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours.    In 2013, more public officials were convicted of federal crimes in South Texas than in any other place in the nation: 83 such convictions stemmed from drug smuggling, vote stealing, courthouse bribery, and the like. Corruption devours South Texas public officials.

It is the 385 pounds of methamphetamines that bother me.  That concentrated speed turns users into the 'Living Dead" and they become a nightmare to deal with.  The issue is here is whether one can turns one's body into a public nuisance, like you can't be a bull in a China shop.  Meth does that, it simply disconnects the persona from reality, they look nice but everything they do is deceptive, even things which shouldn't be hidden has to be coded.  Their brain, is constantly looking for the next  tweek, and what they show is simply facade.