I live in La Paz, Baja California Sur, playground for the super rich, and I can tell you firsthand that the wealthy of this world do absolutely nothing to benefit anyone but themselves, and that any notion that spending of money by the wealthy benefits anyone is at best a false notion and at worst, deliberate self-deception.

I share my home with some of the wealthiest people on the planet. One of the Walmart family lives here and I just walked by her house a few days ago. Carlos Slim, still the richest Mexican, moors his yacht here in La Paz; though he is by no means the richest person to moor his yacht here.

A regular visitor to La Paz is the “Big Lift” vessel, a cargo ship with large cranes to lift the large and expensive yachts, all custom-made, onto a larger vessel so that the super rich can have the appearance of sailing around the world without the inconvenience of actually having to do so.

I don't read the local news, but in talking to my lawyer, he suggests that the economy is improving here in La Paz. And this then becomes the most important aspect of this essay: that the numbers show that there is economic improvement while reality is far different, because the truth of the matter is, things are actually getting worse from a financial perspective here in La Paz, despite what the number say: vacancies are increasing, infrastructure is languishing, and actual tourism, the core source of income, is falling off in trade for illicit tourism in the form of charters.

So why is it that the numbers suggest that things are getting better when in reality they are getting worse?

It's a matter of perspective. It's all about who those numbers are written for. And any notion that anything any government does is for your benefit is pure folly dear readers, for governments obviously serve only the wealthy.

So yes, if you are wealthy, in La Paz, things look really good for you. And if you run a business that benefits from the illicit tourism and charter trade, then of course things look good for you: for lawyers, real estate agents, charter booking agents who live on the mainland, and let's not forget all the people who drive the boats, clean them, and attend to the guests – all migrant workers who come from the mainland and send the money they don't blow on beer and drugs right back to their families on the mainland.

Worse is the impact on the local environment and economy, the “informal” economy as it is known here in Mexico. Aside from all the illegal operators of tours and charters and the potential disasters awaiting unsuspecting tourists there is the illegal fishing trade which drives species to extinction, harms the environment, and creates secondary hazards such as fouling anchors; all to satisfy the tastes of guests who fly in, cruise, and fly back home; leaving behind meager tips and lots of trash, much of it deposited directly into the ocean.

So if you can afford to ignore the crumbling infrastructure, the vacancies, the increased homelessness, the increased theft and other social strife, the environmental pollution, and the complete and utter lack of safety regulation; then yes, things do look better here in La Paz. But the poor, the environment, the tourist destinations, the mainland, the ocean, even Mexico's own future are paying the price of the wealthy enjoying their playground here in La Paz.

No, I'm afraid the wealthy bring nothing good to the table.

After all, they didn't get to be wealthy by being generous, kind, caring, environmentally conscious, or in any way concerned about anything other than themselves.

Think about that when you realize what kind of people are rewarded by the society you depend upon.

Comments are not available for this entry.