One of my junior Marines has family in Mexico. He was almost kidnapped there when he was 17. He also told me a story of his Aunt's friend, who had a restaurant in central Mexico. One day she was complaining about the cartel to a customer, a middle-aged man. The man said "Hey aren't you having a banquet next Saturday? I'll provide the meat. Don't worry, consider it a gift."

The next Saturday a black trashbag was deposited on her doorstep.....with the chopped up body of her son inside it, and a message to "be careful who you speak bad about".

It's terrifying to think of how people try to navigate such savagery just trying to go about their lives.