You are right rationality is their strongest character trait.

542354234235 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

How are they not rational? Violence is a tool. They operate an illegal business so they can’t sue other parties for breach of contract. They can't call the police if they are robbed or file an insurance claim for what was taken. Even the over-the-top violence has a rationale. They aren't punishing the victims as much as they are attempting to broadcast that there is a higher price to be paid than any gain from giving information, to reduce their future losses and enforcement efforts. It isn’t moral or ethical, but I wouldn’t say it is irrational.

▲

mikkupikku 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Lots of organized crime around the world manages to operate without cutting all the limbs off somebody then arranging them like flowers in a "vase" made out of the poor soul's ribcage. The cartels take violence far beyond what is pragmatically necessary. Their system of crime breeds excessive violence and insanity.

	▲	AlotOfReading an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		This stuff mostly followed after the zetas. It was a very deliberate strategy to compete in a hostile landscape that others eventually copied to survive.
	▲	xkcd-sucks an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Marketing, if you don't know the answer it's always marketing

▲

coolhand2120 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> How are they not rational?

It's the meth.

▲

the_sleaze_ 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The cartels are incredibly rational - what they lack are morals and ethics

▲

colechristensen 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It's a business not an ideology.

▲

KPGv2 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Do you have much evidence of them behaving irrationally?

▲

mmh0000 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I would recommend reading the Freakinomics book or listen to their podcasts on drugs.

TL;DR: drug cartels are run like businesses. They are very rational. But, unlike your boss, their boss can also shoot you in the face if you annoy them too much