I disagreeThat’s a really good, comprehensive article.
I find it interesting that the Le Barons have made their way into Mexican political office. They’re usually insular and far outside any government involvement. However, the Mexican government is close to 75% Anglo. So that part makes some sense.
Their prosperity doesn’t as much.
They’re farmers. Just a few decades ago these were people in Mexico on that same land living in absolute, abject poverty.
They’re not smarter than other farmers. And they still practice polygamy which means that while there are a lot of farm hands to go around, there are also a ton of mouths to feed. One man can easily have 25-50 kids and most of the kids live deprived lives. Including historically, the kids of Colonia Le Baron. How did they get so wealthy? How are they making all their money today?
Regardless, I don’t think the cartel made a mistake and we know they knew they were targeting children. They are indeed terrorists. It will be interesting to see if the Le Baron clan leaves en masse or doubles down and continues to reside in their country. Most don’t know anything else than Mexico but it’s not much of a life when you can’t ever leave the compound for fear of being slaughtered by roving cartels.
They ARE more educated, more industrious, and more ruthless than other local farmers.
They send their make childen to BYU in Utah, to study agriculture and business.
They make educated and calculated choices about farming. For example, planting pecans instead of soft or stone fruits. Pecans are a more valuable crop, far less trouble in storage and bringing to market, so the land yields more $$$.
However, tree nuts require a lot of water, actually more than leafy vegetables. So they needed to aquire more water and this family group made recent changes to some “walls” that decreased the water other ranches received from the local stream. And hence, the antagonism of other farmers.
Their work ethic and financial success makes them conspicuous and engenders envy. And then their apparent financial success makes them the target of cartel (orgainized crime) extortion attempts. Which has been going on for more than a decade. A stateside relative said the cartel cut their phone lines so they’ve had to go to cell phones and Whatsapp to communicate.
They are truly surrounded by entrenched terrorism