Why "mafia" is a far better term than "cartel"

One recent example why the drug gangs, cartels, etc should simply be referred to as "mafia":

In Michoacán, three storage places of the Sabritas company, which makes potato chips, were burned down in three different places in the state. One does not need much imagination to see this as a case where "protection money" was likely not paid, or was deemed insufficient - one of the oldest mafia practices in the book, far predating the advent of drug trafficking. Hence, "mafia," not "drug cartels."

Source:

Se incendian tres bodegas de Sabritas en Michoacán. El Universal, May 27, 2012.

Intellectuals with Peña Nieto

Interesting array of intellectuals and other leaders who appear to have lined up with Enrique Peña Nieto, judging by those attending an even/-lauding his "responses" to 37 "questions" they had written to the PRI presidential candidate

* Fernando Gómez Mont, former Interior Secretary who resigned from his post and then his party in protest over the 2010 PAN-PRD alliances
* Héctor Aguilar Camín, historian and Televisa personality
* Cecilia Soto, former presidential candidate for PT
* Rafael Tovar y de Teresa, historian
* Alejandro Martí, businessman and anti-kidnapping movement leader
* Ángeles Mastretta, writer

It is perhaps more notable how very few of Mexico's writers and intellectuals, organic or otherwise, have lined up with the PRI candidate.

Source:

Peña presenta decálogo por "presidencia democrática. El Universal, May 22, 2012.

Priísta defiende su formación demócrata. El Universal, May 22, 2012.