Editor’s Note: The following by regular correspondent Mark Alvarez pinpoints a recent Deseret News editorial concerning the Mexican efforts in combating the drug cartels. Alvarez recently returned to Salt Lake City after spending two years in Mexico. The editorial is yet one more example of the generally shoddy quality of many mainstream editorials today in newspapers throughout the nation. Newspaper editorialists appear to be relying more upon demagoguery than upon sober, empirically-driven investigation.

Last week the Deseret News called for the U.S. to help Mexico crush the drug cartels. The editorial suggested money and weaponry would help laser out the cartels.

It is fashionable and wise to praise Mexican President Felipe Calderon for his courage in taking on drug cartels. It is unwise to encourage the continuation of flawed strategy.

In December 2006, Calderon braved opposition protests including barricades to become president of Mexico. In his first official speech, President Calderon emphasized restoring public safety, reducing poverty and creating jobs.

Calderon aspired to be the jobs president. From 2006 to early this year, Calderon repeatedly asserted that the Mexican economy was strong and resilient. The error became clear as global weakness crushed the Mexican economy into contraction. Last month, Calderon’s National Action Party suffered decisive defeat in Mexico’s midterm elections.

Anecdotal and statistical evidence from Mexico indicate that poverty is increasing and jobs disappearing. The unemployment rate has risen more than 1.5 percent during the last year.

The war on drugs endures. The body count from Calderon’s war exceeds 10,000. The societal cost is enormous. Though the war on drugs has exacted costs on the drug cartels, the cartels continue to profit and attract partners and recruits. In addition, the drug cartels have diversified into many businesses and markets.

Language has adapted to the diversification of the cartels. There are narcostores, narcomarkets, narcomansions, narcotowns, narcoaccountants, narcoattorneys, narcopoliticians and potentially narcopresidents.

While guns and force appeal to many politicians and pundits in the U.S. and Mexico, the people already have realized that the military and weaponry, no matter how powerful and sophisticated, cannot effectively obliterate narcowords from increasingly common and popular usage.

Extended and imprecise drugs wars like those the U.S. and Mexico have fought turn into countries at war with themselves. Governments claim victories, yet the cost is excessive in lives and resources better used on other matters.

Drug cartels will not be beaten by force. Each narco killed or imprisoned represents a job opportunity. Sure the Mexican government recruits for the military, but the drug cartels offer higher pay and narcobenefits, even narcoromance. Indeed, the cartels historically have recruited from among the ranks of the military.

Wise strategy to reduce the influence, allure and corrupting force of drug cartels lies in providing alternatives. The Mexican government should improve schools and economic efficiency. Reducing the influence of monopolies and oligopolies could open up opportunities. Streamlining bureaucracy remains another unaddressed task.

The drug war has distracted Mexico from restoring public safety, reducing poverty and creating jobs. The Mexican government should return to those initial priorities. In time, that focus would reduce the power of the cartels and give hope to people. This requires brains, not brawn.