Oh well yeah, because those who make it to the top are bought and paid for before even getting there. Who funds them from day one? Cartel. Mexico has traditionally been enmeshed in corruption when it comes to politics. The people at the lower levels like city mayor's are also paid off by the cartel but just not in such a glorious amount. If you ever find it on YT, there was a Vine documentary about an old man who was just a town person who made a anti Cartel and Anti gun group. They were small and would do local protests but eventually a few thousand people joined and they successfully pushed the Cartel out of their town which raised huge issue with people higher up on the cartel heirarchy. They eventually paid off the old man and the group disbanded. In Mexico it's just so easy to scare people or pay them off into being complicit. Take not just rival gang members or drug traffickers they chop up and leave on the side of the road. ANYONE who causes the cartel grief by cutting off a drug highway, informing the locals that supporting the cartel does more harm than good, or attempting to pass any political bill that would endanger the Cartel's business are targets. Cartel does a lot for their local communities which gives people fear and guilt to want to agree with anyone who wants to put an end to them. Also as Catholics we have a sort of different belief system that is entwined into the Mexican culture and society. We are taught at young age ( especially us women) not to question and to know our place. Education system in Mexico is also very different to Western countries. It's just easier all around for everyone to keep the peace with the Cartel, which wouldn't even exist in the first place if the USA didn't have so many addicts and rich politicians who are themselves corrupt. Sad state of affairs all around. But yes in the caste system it is mostly lower end of society that turn to cartel or work for cartel so are more likely to be victims. TV stars, news reporters, politicians all come from rich upper class Spaniard families where they just deal with it because if it wasn't for the Cartel chances are they wouldn't have the cushy lifestyles they have or be where they are. It's not the case for all, but the majority.