I had not logged in for a long time since I was quite busy doing something which is impossible to do while you're in the SO: Being Successful. However, I was kind of lurking around today and found this thread. I am from Mexico. I spent 22 years in scn and 11 in the SO, most of the time here, and I do have some serious disagreements on what is being told here (but I also agree with other stuff being said).
For starters, Mexicans are not the type of "losers who live with their parents forever". I've seen plenty of American, British, Asian, French, Italian and what-not losers. A loser is a loser regardless of nationality. So, please, do not generalize here.
Life is not necessarily cheaper, on the contrary. Being in a country whose commodities are mainy imported products can, and does, get prices quite high. Just to give you a recent example, the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar was 10.9 pesos to a dollar only last December. Now it is 15.10 to a dollar. Imagine what that does to your wallet when you're buying an Apple computer, a Chevy Malibu (imported) or just some friggin imported cereal for breakfast.
Now, to the real meat: Orgs in Mexico DO stink. I have been out (thank whatever gods there are out there) for almost 14 years. Back in my time, management stank. It could get real rough with some of the people in there dramatizing being "good SO members" by "impinging" with their "Tone 40", which consisted of screaming their lungs out and trying hard as hell not to get caught in their own crap.
Maybe things changed in the last few years (which I doubt, since I still have relatives in the SO and they do NOT look happy), but being a cruel asshole IS/WAS commonplace in the SO. It is a bit different in CLV orgs, but I can tell you: many staffers are actually AFRAID of SO members visiting their org. That ain't pretty.
I tend to see latin people as, maybe, friendlier than in other cultures. That does not make us stupid or ignorant. "Churchies" are what they are no matter their ethnicity. I have seen real CO$ fanatics down here, no matter how Mexican, Venezuelan, Colombian, Puerto Rican, or whatever they are.
Maybe discontent is less evident because we (at least Mexicans) tend to blow out our smoke, piss around, and yell our guts out when we feel wronged. But once that's through, we try to get on to the next thing in life. We try to carry on and leave the crap behind.
As far as to why there aren't more outrageous stories about "I just left", part of the reason I explained in the paragraph above. Another reason is that many do not have a command of English to communicate in forums like these. Another one (and I bet you didn't guess it before), is, simply put, PARANOIA. We do not know who is going to come in posing as your "friend", and then turn you in as dissaffected. And this stems from the nasty type of management we had for many years. There was a culture of "how can I do you in first" in CMO Lat, CLO Lat, FOLO Lat, and networks. Sick, yes, but true.
As far as I go, I don't give a damn anymore as to who says or does not say something about me. I stopped caring a long time ago. But others are still feeling guilty they left, or maybe they think they are doomed to eternal disgrace for leaving the church.
The fact that scn is not officially a religion has nothing to do here. Anyone who has taken more than a couple of basic courses finds out that scn IS a cult (religion, if you wish). The "religious" nature of scn is everywhere to be seen in a Mexican org. It's just that, legally, they are "Cultural Associations" due to the heavy influence of the Catholic Church, and, of course, taxes. Other than that, any scientologist in Mexico considers him/herself a member of the "church". Attends Sunday services, when available, and asks for the scn marriage ceremony or funeral ceremony when applicable.
Regarding not losing public to AOs and Flag, sorry to disagree. They lose public to both (mainly because a lot of persons think that, somehow, "things will be better than here" - surprise, surprise). But the worst thing is that they lose public... period. Yes, there are new scientologists (a few), but there is a core of old-timers still hanging around. Some people take a course to never return (due to aggressive regging, bad service, or because they realized that the goals promised were not necessarily there). Orgs are smaller now than they were back in the late 70's and early 80's. And they continue to shrink.
Twin A, I think that what you said at the end of your post is very true: most people here do not have an outlet to vent off. Many are still afraid of what could happen to their eternity if they speak out. Another group may not even know that there are forums, such as this one, that provide a safe space to communicate with other people in similar situations. Others--and I like to include myself among them--just want to carry on with the happy lives we are striving to build, enjoying everything we lacked when being in; growing individually, professionally, and emotionally. Having fun living life.
Sorry if I ranted on for too long. I just felt I had to say something about this, since I have firsthand experience in the topic.
Having said the above, I wish you all a nice weekend. Enjoy!