South/Central America went through a variety of social changes throughout the Cold War period. For example, more than 35,000 people have been killed since President Felipe Calderon, elected in 2006, ordered a military response against the country's drug gangs. Also, Mexican drug cartels are influencing the young generation in terrible ways. For example, these drug cartels rely upon young people of Central America, who are poor and unemployed. These teenagers are willing to transport drugs, watch kidnap victims, and perform other low-level tasks.