the most important part of reciprocal altruism is not the altruism part, but the reciprocal part. what that means is that you should only be altruistic with those that are willing and able to reciprocate. being altruistic with those that will not or cannot reciprocate is the definition of stupidity - it is just a net loss of resources that will in the end harm the individual's ability to reproduce.

mexico has demonstrated time and again that it will not reciprocate. it will not allow it's workers to organize. it will not address it's issues of corruption. it takes, but it does not give back.

attempts at altruism should consequently be withdrawn, as there is no reciprocity in it. rather, outreaches towards co-operation should be exceedingly shrewd, with the attempt to coerce a shift towards a more altruistic mindset from the mexicans.

this is, after all, the root of the problem - the mexicans will not reform their institutions so that they are comparable to the ones in the united states and canada. this was the point of bringing the mexicans in - it was to create a pool of cheap labour to evade laws in canada and the united states. so, it's not like the mexicans are solely at fault, here - mexico is what it is because of american capital. but, if we are to behave in our self-interest, what that means is pushing back against this and tying our co-operation to mexican reform.