I can always rely on Sam to look on the bright side of things.
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Dave, Dave, Dave.... You can always rely on the facts from me rather than I was told, I think, I supose, I heard, I believe, I hope ...
This year, 2008, My wife and I have traveled to Alcalpulco (on the mainland,) Cabo San Lucas (at the very tip of Baja) and just returned less than a week ago from a two week driving trip pulling a small trailer 700 miles below the border deep into Baja to almost Mulege. It is certainly not a trip for every one, especially the casual visitor, the unseasoned traveler...
Most of Mexico is devoid of American and Canadian tourists and I can understand why; Mexico is in the mist of a war, a war against drugs. President Calderon has sent 30,000 troops into northern Baja -- Mexican military presence is every where, yet they seem to be ineffective...recall the four Americans executed at the side of the new road near Rosarito about three-four weeks ago?
But there is also a bright side for the surface traveler ~~Gas Prices...~~ Just a little over $2.00 US vs about $4.50 in US...
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Once again the facts:
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -
A $19 billion fuel subsidy, meant to shield Mexicans from spiraling world oil prices, could swallow a chunk of Mexico's precious crude oil export windfall revenue this year, and may only delay an inflation spike.
The subsidy, which means Mexicans are paying $1.40 less for a gallon of gasoline than U.S. motorists, was trumpeted by President Felipe Calderon this week as one of a package of measures to curb surging inflation.
The Mexican government has long subsidized gasoline, along with diesel and cooking gas, but this year the program could cost four times as much as in 2007, after a leap in the cost of the gasoline Mexico imports to cover a refining shortfall.
Mexico, via state monopoly Pemex, is the world's No. 6 oil producer and a top supplier of crude oil to the United States.
But critics say the government is squandering profits from high crude prices just when it should be spending them on projects like roads, schools, refineries and oil platforms -- all things that would boost economic growth.
The money earmarked for fuel subsidies this year is more than what Mexico spends annually on education.
Wall Street analysts would also like to see Mexico reinvest more of its oil profits in exploration to reverse a decline in oil reserves and bolster sagging production. A dip in Mexico's oil exports is already putting pressure on the federal budget.
"The consumer's happiness today will come at the extraordinary price of lower proven oil reserves and lower oil production and fiscal income in the future," Goldman Sachs economist Paulo Leme wrote in a report this week.
I will eagerly await your response of I was told, I think, I supose, I heard, I believe, I hope.....
sdm
