The haves, the middle class and the have nots

I guess most communities are divided by economics, everyone pretty much knows where the rich folks are in their towns and where the poor folks are. America and the world now have tons of not just millionaires but billionaires. The Forbes ranking of billionaires each spring sort of seems like a competition...who will beat out who? Who'll be number one?

Mexico certainly has those economic differences and in fact local media are now reporting that the guy who was #3 on the last Forbes billionaire list is now #1 bypassing both Bill Gates and Warren Buffet! He is Carlos Slim. This guy owns Telmex, Mexico's national telephone company, a chain of restaurants, bars and stores called Sanborns, all the Sears stores in Mexico, a cell phone company and a bunch more. He's definitely a "have" and yet he doesn't have the philanthropic side that the other two big US billionaire guys have and his attitude is that it's more important to make jobs than to give things to people. Plus there's pretty much no incentive to give under Mexican tax law. I don't know, maybe giving from the heart hasn't occurred to him yet. Perhaps it will someday. I find myself praying for Carlos Slim sometimes. He is definitely among the "haves" in Mexico.

Mazatlan is known world wide as a resort city. It's also home to many wealthy Mexican families. But it's also a working city. An extremely active port, fishing fleets, commercial canning, coffee roasting (the bus downtown goes right by the coffee plant, the aroma is great even though I can't stand to drink the stuff!), a brewery and tons more. Lots of jobs here, therefore lots of houses being built to accommodate those families coming here for jobs. And of course those houses being built make even more jobs. The folks who work in these jobs are mostly among the middle class. They live in neighborhoods similar to ours. Sometimes a little nicer, sometimes a little less nice, but usually good homes in good neighborhoods.

Some of the nicer homes here, there are many more that are much bigger and nicer, but those communities are gated and guarded and you can't get in there!!







If you come here and only stay at your posh resort you'll probably never get see the other side of Mazatlan. It's tempting to stay at the resort, it's quiet, green, clean and serene. Not to mention beach front. You'll miss the trash and graffiti, the people on the street corners risking life and limb in traffic trying to beg a few pesos or dollars from folks. You'll miss the folks who live in pallet houses and those who have no homes at all. You'll miss the "have nots".







I know there are probably extremes like this pretty much everywhere, but in a town with this much money floating around you'd think it would be better. Lots to pray about here every day!

Blessings,

Ralph & Chris