It is a wall that is being built. And these are the bricks…
““It is a wall that is being built. And these are the bricks in the wall: the drug gangs, the police of Mexico and of America, MIGRA, the DEA, the governments and politicians of these two countries. Then there are the biggest bricks of all. Companies; these giant corporations that are more powerful than anything, more powerful even than the countries where they operate. The maquiladoras here; they pay no taxes. None. They pay wages so low that even a job still means living on the poverty line. ¿And why does this happen? Our leaders; they tell us that this capitalism of theirs will save the world; that it will create jobs so that everyone will get richer. ¡It’s a lie! ¿How can there be a consumer society when its workers do not earn enough to consume anything?””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote critiques how corporations, governments, and law enforcement create a wall of exploitation that traps workers in poverty, despite promises of capitalism’s benefits.
In simple terms: Corporate and governmental power trap workers in poverty.
Recognize systemic exploitation and demand change.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- labor rights activism
- policy reform
- community organizing
- consumer awareness
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can workers gain real economic power?
- What reforms can break the cycle of exploitation?
Change requires coordinated action across sectors.