Policy Enforcement

 Intensive Production Yields Devaluation

Hunger is not solely caused by a physiological response, but rather a power struggle based on policy reform. The authors highlighted several policies that invoked irritation upon further review, mainly in part because how can one not question the motives of our leaders when the evidence seems to point to exploitation? We see exploitation manifest throughout policy agreements between Mexico and the U.S.; it’s easy to fall into the assumption that both parties were in accord with these decisions being that the laws were set in place. However, let me remind you of the time period in which this all began. In the 1980s Mexico was just coming off of a long-time economic downturn due to dictator regimes and war. Before this in the 1940s Mexico was already facing devastating environmental effects of the over 30 yearlong Dirty War. Fighting an uphill battle, tourism was used as a marketing technique that objectified Mexican women and tried to take advantage of U.S. dollars see Darthmouth's article on Mexican tourism. Taking advantage of the global political and economic situation of the U.S. after WWII, Mexico began to rethink their investment strategies and began changing their own laws to allow for more privatization of land, specifically an agrarian law commonly referred to as the ejido system. This was the first of many to spark big changes, this system was being reformed so that it eliminated staple prices and subsidies in the agricultural sector. Following in suit was NAFTA. Primarily enacted and accepted in order to “liberalize the economy,” after tight communist restrictions in Mexico, served as an ideal that translated to reform for many people. Little did many know at the time NAFTA reduced stability for the farm workers in their ability to earn livable wages mainly due to large changes in tariff policies. I believe this highlights the degree that when a system is abruptly changed it can cause devastating effects. Following NAFTA not even a decade later, Operation Gatekeeper was put into effect in response to increasing migration rates. One question stands out in my mind out of the many that have arisen due to evaluating American trade policies. Do we care enough about our own security to stand up for other’s when we see their security is being stripped away for our own gain?