So far today I have considered joining the autodefensas in Michoacan about fifteen times. A couple of them seriously, I even googled it. If it weren’t for the fact that the closest I have ever been to a gun was playing gotcha with my friends at age sixteen and therefore consider I would be more of a danger, than help within their ranks, I would be out the door heading east.

One of the most difficult parts of moving back home has been resigning myself to live in a fake democracy. While I am no advocate of the current shape the democratic system has taken in established democracies, I have to admit they stand a step ahead in terms of justice and equality, if only just. This becomes painfully obvious when living in Mexico, as the little perks that come with surrendering all power to authority in exchange of a ballot and a pen are virtually inexistent. Basic services such as a correctly paved street or decent public transportation are luxuries a thirty percent tax on your salary can apparently not afford; fair access to health care services or decent educational curriculum are leagues which no Mexican believes this Government could ever aspire too.

Disillusionment in my country has hence become a way of life; it is engrained in our culture and exploited by our government. It is the feeling that represents what we are unable to change about ourselves and our country. It is the impotency we face every morning as we attempt to make our way to work on a road that looks as if the day after tomorrow happened yesterday. It is the bottled-up anger towards the immense corruption in our system. It is the constant lies the government feeds through the radio and television, twenty-four-seven, non-stop, nonsensical propaganda, announcing the latest name change to the same poverty reduction programme that holds a seventy-year track record of failure.

Disillusionment is what we are and that is what we eat. One of the richest countries in gastronomical terms choses instead to stuff itself with donitas-Bimbo and a two litter bottle of Coca-Cola. Oh yes, eating your feelings out just got political.

Bimbo provides the perfect example, an allegedly 100% Mexican company which bases its publicity around its proud origin. Yet fails to pay taxes and holds the market hostage buying any competitors off, while saturating the market with poor and unhealthy products at best. This modus operandi is sadly the standard norm for companies in Mexico, a country where monopolies and politics are not only married, they are first cousins.

It is a common stereotype then, to portray Mexicans as lazy, apathetic and fat. Yet behind these harmful-hateful tags lays a population that has been abused and repressed for years. It only takes one look at the history of protest in this country to realize that the Mexican population is nothing but politically active. The rate of social protest can only be rivaled by the rate the government defames and placates them. Which has become surprisingly easy due to their constant growth in economic power and a monopoly over every major telecommunication and services company.

An almost century-old, tried, tested and perfected formula has kept not only Mexicans, but the world under the fantastic illusion of progress. For over forty years, Mexico has been an-up-and-coming-star featuring every so often in the top political and economic magazines of the world. Just a few weeks ago Time Magazine proudly informed the world Peña Nieto is Saving Mexico; an illiterate, abusive and corrupt, transitional dictator who´s legitimate authority as President of Mexico is more than questionable, as are the policies he is praised for, internationally proclaimed our saviour.

—Hurra!

In a similar fashion ‘The Mexican Miracle(s)’ have been no more than a series of farces, carefully orchestrated plays where the Mexican oligarchy sells, buys, and trades the territory and resources according to its interest and profit. Meanwhile carefully legislating their every step, keeping up with the show.

Fervently disguising their transactions in the name of love and country.

Police and military at the service of the government add to the equation in the most effective way. A clear sign of a failing democracy should be seen in the relationship between the citizenry and the armed forces. In Mexico the police have become the bastard children of business and politics, protecting the rich, exterminating opposition, adding their bill to our taxes and their tips to our fines.

The military as always is a faceless soldier, fighting a lost battle against itself. Guided as always by misinformation and colossal interest. And to add the cherry on top, make sure you smile, because Washington is always watching.

But as always, there is hope, or is it hope dies last?

There is hope; social media is proving an important platform of communication. Mexico is having a revolution, or at least several of them. Hot spots of armed civilians are taking upon themselves to clean their streets and towns from organized violence groups; denouncing the government for years of inaction and complicity. Online support for these groups is evident.

Not unlike the Zapatistas once did, vigilante groups are using social media to communicate and gather the support of millions of social media users that log-in daily to inform themselves, vent and comment on the state of the country. Information and debate of what is happening in other states is reaching the capital without having to pass through Los Pinos and Televisa first.

Already a group of artists and academics have made a call to form popular congress in order to revoke the unconstitutional reforms Peña Nieto et al, recently passed through congress. If allowed, these reforms will open the Mexican oil industry, the fifth largest in the world, to foreign investment. This would give the government unprecedented power over a national resource that has since its expropriation been constitutionally guarded against this very action. Our beaches are also in danger, the proposed reform to article 27 will allow non-Mexicans to buy costal land. A reform allowing the privatisation of water has also been proposed.

These set of reforms amongst others will effectively privatize what had previously, although maybe only mythically, belonged to all Mexicans.

Heading down from Contadero towards Santa Fe on a clear day, the city slowly appears into view. Surrounded by volcanoes and mountains, stubbornly blushed in green by a fauna that refuses to abandon. Its beauty is undeniable. I am suddenly furious. According to Forbes magazine, Mexico will surpass BRIC countries in number of millionaires this year. The cost is evident, even in the financial district of Santa Fe, no governmental or corporate responsibility means the city, as the country, survive of the remnants of greed.

Yet hope dies last.