In January 2023 Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R., Texas) and Michael Waltz (R., Fla.) proposed a joint resolution giving the president authority to use the U.S. military against drug cartels in Mexico. The bill was proposed in response to the recent spike in American drug overdose deaths. Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 21,089 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017 and remained steady through 2019. This was followed by a significant increase in 2020 with 68,630 reported deaths and again in 2021 with 80,411 reported overdose deaths. A 2017 analysis, accounting for the costs of health…
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Yes
@9GNDS8V6mos6MO
the Mexican military lost to the Sinaloa cartel after the military accidently captured the leader's son.
@9FMXW5VRepublican7mos7MO
Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, and all through the Latin/Southern Americas are still crawled with cartels, their governments are failing, and the cartels are getting stronger, we need to do bigger actions to stop them.
@9FMR87D7mos7MO
This would be an endless fight. Where do we draw the line? Do we really want to be fighting a war inside another countrys borders?
@9FD4N7J7mos7MO
Drugs brought in from borders such as Fentanyl has killed over 107,000. That is ridiculous we need to close the border
@9G59LP7 7mos7MO
“That is ridiculous we need to close the border”
I agree with you about the fentanyl stats, but I'm a little iffy on the border thing. while that may help us in the US, it sort of leaves everyone else affected by mexican drug cartels in the same spot they're in now, personally I think that if we want solve the problem we need to work together and use all of our resources to fix the violence problems associated with the cartels for good. I think closing the border would be a temporary fix, then it would come back as a much worse problem later.
“I think closing the border would be a temporary fix, then it would come back as a much worse problem later.”
Historical precedents show that closing off channels for illegal activities often leads to the emergence of new, more sophisticated methods. A great example is the Prohibition era in the U.S. When alcohol was banned, it didn't stop consumption—instead, it led to the rise of underground speakeasies and empowered organized crime syndicates. Similarly, closing the border might result in cartels finding alternative routes or methods for drug trafficking, potentially exacerbating the issue.
As you've suggested, addressing the root causes of the violence and instability that allow drug cartels to thrive seems to be a more sustainable solution. What do you think those root causes might be, and how could they be effectively addressed?
@9L785CZ 4wks4W
I would fix our "healthcare" system and turn it into a lifetime educational and support system. For medical and emotional health, because the USA's current system is for profit businesses that don't care about helping people to be healthy and prevent addictions, illnesses, diseases and sickness of the over all body and mind.
But that would just be my start, the rest is not much to write.
@ISIDEWITH1yr1Y
No
@9GMPDQG6mos6MO
It's not just Hispanics who are "bringing drugs" It's also Americans who are paying for drugs. Instead of trying to harm the Hispanics the government should try and find who is buying these "drugs" and arrest them.
@9GJVBVF6mos6MO
The position is no on the use of US military force. The “War on Drugs” is the longest running most expensive war in US history and drug use hasn’t decreased. Furthermore, the US can’t just decide to send the military to a foreign nation, that would require coordination between the two governments at the highest level and Mexico has already refused American military intervention in the past. Anyone proposing this is quite frankly not well informed on international drug policy and frankly the fact that this question and the possible answers were presented as such is a little disappointing.
@9FR72HN7mos7MO
The US military is a hammer. Drug cartels are a screw. Use the right tool for the job which is federal and local law enforcement.
@9FP2QVS7mos7MO
Once the United States starts interfering more and more in political issues in Mexico they will want to have a bigger role.
@ISIDEWITH1yr1Y
Yes, but only for operations within our country’s borders
@9FVLQGX7mos7MO
Top Disagreement
My best counter argument would be that using military on Mexican drug cartels would just make the situation worse
@9G35DZN 7mos7MO
The Republicans somehow always talk about “we need to focus on America” yet want to be involved in Mexico’s business, all because they know, if they just point and say “look! At all those scary brown people” that their voter base will do whatever they say.
We need to stay outta Mexico’s business and actually focus on helping those migrates, that bravely go through barbed wire, men on horses with whips, all to give themselves and their children a better life.
We praise pilgrims from coming in on ships, illegally, and killing millions of the true original Americans, but when an innocent family of four, legally, approach the border, for citizenship, we call them drug dealers and criminals?
Sounds about white 👀
@9G3MZX8Republican7mos7MO
I am not white, but I am a strong advocate for equality. When I came to the United States of America, I had to go through the legal system and wait for years to obtain a visa. I believe it is unfair that some foreigners can enter the country illegally without going through the proper process. The issue at hand is that illegal entry is being justified by using the history of natives and white Americans to bully the system. America does not deny any foreigners their American dreams, but we all must follow the legal process, plain and simple.
@9G3MZX8Republican7mos7MO
I am not white, but I am a strong advocate for equality. When I came to the United States of America, I had to go through the legal system and wait for years to obtain a visa. I believe it is unfair that some foreigners can enter the country illegally without going through the proper process. The issue at hand is that illegal entry is being justified by using the history of natives and white Americans to bully the system. America does not deny any foreigners their American dreams, but we all must follow the legal process, plain and simple.
@9FP2QVS7mos7MO
The borders are the responsibility of both nations, so the border is also a concern of the United States.
@9FW26VC7mos7MO
Violence continues to rage more than a decade after the Mexican government launched a war against drug cartels.
@ISIDEWITH1yr1Y
No, legalize all drugs instead
@9F6TBF78mos8MO
Even if we were to legalize all drugs, that would not stop the cartels. We need to deal with them by force
While I would agree in other parts of the world, the US doesn't have the infrastructure and services to support the legalization of all drugs, as shown in Oregon. Due to the fact that we cannot support a full decriminalization, we must first improve our infrastructure before legalizing it everywhere.
@9FL54FZ7mos7MO
Several countries (most notably Portugal) have had significant reductions in drug overdoses and harms to society when responsibly decriminalizing hard drugs. By continuing our counter-productive war on drugs, we harm our own people and give huge piles of money to the worst international criminals and terrorists.
@9F8V6WH8mos8MO
legalizing drugs will allow anyone of age to use hard drugs and have their lives ruined by them. drugs are immoral and their use should NEVER be tolerated
@ISIDEWITH1yr1Y
No, we already have agencies that address these issues
@9GJBGHZRepublican 6mos6MO
Top Disagreement
Why is it taking them so long to end the cartel? Are they being paid enough or is it that they are but are doing nothing about it. Do they have access to he some equipment as the military? Do they need military assistance? What’s taking them so long? Is the Mexican government working with the cartel? If so we should just declare war on them.
@9GKSGV7Women’s Equality6mos6MO
the dea should take full force in bringing them down as they are a treat to both mexico and the usa with drug trafficing and human trafficing
@9GKQK4VRepublican6mos6MO
The Cartels are a mighty entity in the Mexican government, and although part of the Mexican government is trying to do something about the issue; Mexico does not have enough money or power to do something against them. Instead of declaring war, it would be more favorable to help the government deal with the cartels as Mexico is now responsible for most production-related needs even surpassing China.
@9GKZS59Republican6mos6MO
I don't think we should start war because it will cause more problems than we need to but I also think we could work a little harder to end the cartel.
@9GKT9RB6mos6MO
I do not think we should declare war on Mexico but the CIA is definitely letting the cartels getting away with stuff,
@9GKPVD26mos6MO
I think that it is apparent that Mexican drug cartels are still a problem and not being put completely in check.
@9FMXW5VRepublican7mos7MO
The Drug Cartels are still carrying on business just as normal, obviously these agencies have done nearly nothing.
@9GMSFHK6mos6MO
The issue persists, despite the efforts of the DEA. I just don't know what the military would do differently.
@ISIDEWITH5mos5MO
If the military action against cartels were successful, what changes do you think you might see in your community?
@9H8MD2Y5mos5MO
Perhaps less drug abuse and less crime/deaths overall.
@9H8VXHMPeace and Freedom5mos5MO
I believe people are right in believing that sending the military to deal with this situation can lead to unnecessary civilian deaths. It also won't completely solve the problem with drugs as in certain states certain drugs are legal while being illegal in other states.
I would see less teen overdoses, and less lives taken by illegal drugs
@99P5TWZ1yr1Y
no, decriminalize all drugs instead
@9B2J8JS1yr1Y
Yes, but only in cooperation with the Mexican Government
@9B4S8641yr1Y
No, decriminalize all drugs instead
@99XDJ9C1yr1Y
Yes, with Congressional approval
@9B63NJV1yr1Y
@ISIDEWITH5mos5MO
Do you believe that the potential for civilian casualties in Mexico can be justified by the aim to reduce drug-related deaths in the U.S.?
@9CJJFX410mos10MO
Yes, but only with the approval of the Mexican government.
@ISIDEWITH5mos5MO
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