Jackson Jambalaya

Absolutely one of the most fascinating documentaries about the 20th century. Also combined with the Carter Administration incompetence and the bonus of the Mariano Boat Lift, well it is just a precursor to what we have today.

Cocaine built modern day Miami.

Mind boggling that there was so much cash on hand at one time in the 1980's, the Miami banks had nowhere to store it. They were stacking soft money in board rooms and offices. The banks had to call Brinks in to move the currency to Midwest federal reserve storage because they had more 4b on hand (that was a lot of cash in the 80's).

Everything was being purchased in cash, including 20m properties. No one even batted an eye at any of the county clerks office.

There is more than one way to skin a cat and now I think with our boarder security in meltdown (thank you Carter, I mean Obama), it all has just shifted west.

Kilo anyone?

The only thing I agree with about your post @11:02 AM is that the documentary captures a very fascinating period in South Florida and United States history.

Being as close to a Native as one can claim, in a place where almost everyone was from somewhere else, I can personally attest that the 1980's in Miami (South Florida actually since what most people call "Miami" is made up of over 20 different municipalities and unincorporated Dade County) were ordinary in the midst of the extraordinary, for anyone who lived there.

I don't think that I completely understood your remark about the "Mariano boatlift" (It's Mariel actually, though it's easy for me to remember since my father's cousins arrived in the boat lift and my Peruvian daughter-in-law is named Mariel), except that you seem to make some vague negative comment about our Country's past and present immigration policy. So be it,those of us from South Florida are accustomed to such blather on the topic of immigration.

I know South Florida is richer and better for its waves of immigration, Cubans, Nicaraguans, Jamaicans, Haitians, Puerto Ricans, Russian Jews and Mexicans, etc. I know Mississippi is poorer because of its absence. People in need of opportunity flock to it. Regrettably nobody's really beating down the door to come here.

I've had the privilege of living in Mississippi for over twenty years and raising three sons here. There's so very much good about this State, beginning with its people, and yet so much more that holds it back. I've seen improvement over the years, but it's been needlessly slow and there's so much farther to go before Mississippi is even on a level playing field with the rest of the Country, much less Miami.

Oh, and Miami was built on a lot more than just cocaine. Though cocaine did provide a genuine "bump" (pun definitely intended) to the economy.

11 of the 100 most dangerous cities in the US are in Florida. Miami is the 4th most unequal city in the US in income, wherein the foreign nationals who come to South Florida to escape the horrific crime rate of Latin America live a wonderful life in gated communities. Yes, the shopping with narcotraficante dollars is wonderful. All that "opportunity" you speak of, I guess. So, when are you moving back, to relish the "diversity" of Dade County and its wonderful schools, night life, and family friendly environment? Being that immigration of Latinos has enriched the area so much.

1:10pm
My apologies I stand corrected it was “Mariel” boatlift.

It does not change the fact that a majority of the people who made their passage during the Mariel Boatlift were the most hardened criminals Cuba had to offer. Castro took great delight in emptying his prisons of the worst, giving a fresh supply of well-schooled thugs for the Colombian cocaine trade.

There were so many murders in Miami-Dade county, the corner had to rent freezer trucks from fast food suppliers to store bodies because no one had morgue space and an autopsy schedule 6 months behind.

I had a few privileges of my own. One was listening to a number of Federal Judges in the Florida SD who were on the bench during those days, it was mind boggling to hear them tell what was coming through the courthouse.

The problem was not just limited to south Florida, it was coming through New Orleans along with the crime wave. Miami-Dade was just the hub of the most successful commodity since the Virginia tobacco trade of the 17th century.

Before the blow started to flow, Miami was not in a good place financially or commercially. Coke pulled south Florida along for a hell of a ride.

Now I obviously hit a nerve with you regarding immigration, while it was not intended.

So there is no misunderstanding, I have no problem with immigration when it is addressed with common sense, has reasonable limits and honors those that follow the rules. The “Mariel boat lifts” were none of that.

We are now in a same like situation but far worse. The time has come to take care of our own back yard and let everyone else take care of theirs.

The tax payers of this country come first. I will go one step further, if I had my way, you do not pay income tax, even with citizenship, you should not have the right to vote. There being a few obvious exceptions (retirees and those who have served being two).

I bet all this crap would come to a screeching halt!

Illegals getting driver’s license and damn SS cards, it makes me want to ask if everyone is high on Cocaine? If you are an illegal you should be on the next mode of transportation back to where the hell you came from, not sure what is to debate about “illegal”.

I am sick and damn tired of watching people who cannot speak a word of English standing in the check out with an EBT card and a slew of other benefits, I am paying for.

I have been paying taxes since I was 15 and feel like I have earned the right like my parents, to demand this “free for all” come to a halt and the law start being upheld.

This country is the largest corporation in the world, my family has been a stockholder for 14 generations since its conception and if something does not give soon, we just might see ourselves a 1776 revolutionary redo.

Now just so you know many of us Mississippians (like me) have had the pleasure of living in quite a few metropolitan places in and out of this country, so we are familiar with the cosmopolitan living you are referencing that is Miami.

For me though the quality of life in Mississippi far outweigh anything else as far as I am concerned.

I am glad you have enjoyed the hospitality here in the Magnolia State, even if it is subpar to the amenities of Little Havana-Dade but I will take the can of worms that can be Mississippi any day, over Florida’s schizophrenic landscape.

In conclusion if you want Miami it is yours, feel free….

For the rest of you, watch Cocaine Cowboys especially if you came of age in the 80’s.

Am I on the right blog? Actually some intelligent and respectful different opinions on both sides of the discussion here. Color me surprised, but I'm enjoying it.

Prohibition works!

Victor Fleitas is one of the best attorneys to ever set foot in Mississippi and without a single doubt, one of the classiest!

"Victor Fleitas is one of the best attorneys to ever set foot in Mississippi and without a single doubt, one of the classiest!"

That statement is very debatable, especially if you know anything Mississippi lawyering history.

Wasn't Fleitas part of Mayfield's firm in Tupelo that was partnered with Scruggs?