So, why?
Why is the practice of morditas so common in Mexico?
At first glance, it would seem that the police take morditas simply because they can. Because they want to make some extra money. Once you take a deeper look, it becomes apparent that it is done out of necessity.
The average education of a Mexican is equivalent to a fourth grade education. Police officers undergo very little training, and the majority do not even have a high school degree. Lack of education is definately a factor.
The other thing to consider is salary. A Mexican police officer is usually paid the equivalent to about 5$ Canadian per day. This salary can not sustain the large families that most Mexicans have. Morditas are usually done out of necessity to get money to support their families. One must also consider the dangers that the police officers face on a daily basis.
Another important issue is the fact that corruption exists in Mexico on many levels. Every year there are new political scandals and allegations of corruption. Some degree of corruption exists in practically every business. It serves to speed up bureaucratic processes or to get special priviledges. With corruption being a part of everyday life, the police officers feel less guilt when turning to corruption themselves.
Once the factors are considered, morditas seem much more reasonable.
posted by Jenna @ 9:04 p.m.
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