Check the digital edition and exclusive content.Be part of The Economist Club and the Leader Summaries virtual library.Enjoy our promotions.With great concern we face a wave of violence in our country that covers practically the entire national territory: 123,000 murders in this six-year term alone, lynchings, chicken farms—yes, you read that right, chicken farms—attacked with bullets (where a a 14-year-old girl and five workers), 20 containers of 30 tons each quietly stolen without lifting a finger to prevent it, hanging, decapitated, riddled with bullets, corpses dumped on roads and, a few days ago, in the height of horror, a beautiful city, San Cristóbal de las Casas, ravaged by hit men who shoot, assault and attack before (in this and in all the aforementioned cases) the total paralysis of the authorities.Do we live in a rule of law?Worse yet, the authority explains to the public that the states of the republic where there is less violence —where there are no homicides, says the president— are those where there are no disputes between various drug cartels and only one criminal organization dominates the the rest.To put it bluntly, apparently the pacification of the country depends, according to those who govern us, on a single cartel triumphing and being owner and lord of our nation.I repeat the question: do we live in a rule of law?And notice that I am going to come out with the story that the law is the law.The rule of law occurs when people, rulers and institutions are subject to laws agreed upon by all and that are enforced equally as they are compatible with respect for human rights.As much is said and little is done in our country: no one can be above the law, absolutely no one.Claudication in the face of crime does not fit into a democratic form of human organization.This must be said loud and clear.The State, says Max Weber, is the only entity that should exercise authority and therefore the one that has a monopoly on the legitimate use of force.Organized or disorganized crime, irregular militias or drug traffickers have to be fought with the law in hand and with the resources and tools that the State has to effectively enforce the law.Violence is not fought with violence, okay, it is fought with the law in hand.So that we have certainty and security as citizens.This, let's not give it more thought, is not being achieved.What is equally or more worrying to me than the above is the generalized indifference of a disregarded citizenry to what is happening with criminal groups in our country.There is no serious concern about impunity, deaths, the lousy administration of justice or the lack of respect for the law in which we are living.Few claims, few demands, passivity and at times even the glimpse of a self-destructive society that walks hypnotized towards the precipice.We are coming to no man's land and we can't afford it.Psychologist, driver, writer, commentator for Grupo Formula.Hit me, kill me... but don't leave me!Andres Manuel Lopez ObradorReceive our daily newsletter with the most outstanding contents of the print and digital editions of El EconomistaOn social networks we publish breaking news, exclusive content and promotions.They are a way for you to be in direct contact with our newsroom.By Maria del Pilar MartinezBy Maria del Pilar MartinezGuillermo Jr. Cardenas Salgado*Copyright © 1988-2015 Newspaper El Economista SA de CV All Rights Reserved.All rights reservedCopyright Title Reservation Number 04-2010-062510353600-203By visiting this page, you agree to the terms of serviceThrough this form you can share the note you are reading.All fields are required.You must complete all fields.Your note was sent successfully.