Are you suggesting we just give up? Let me put this another way. When you (this pertains to all of us-not NEW directly) do any work on your bow, do you just take out a hammer? Then say, oh well, that's not working.... No, we have some specialized tools in our "tool box". Isn't it time we start to add some new tools to our tool box to continue the "war on drugs"??
so long as the cause is noble, the fight should be fought. Don't blame the soldiers for general's decisions.
Not saying give up but maybe analyze our approach. Is it really a war? Were/are there different ways to approach this topic. I truly believe there is no easy answer and I can't say that I even have any good suggestions right this second, but with the kind of results we've seen over the past 30 years I'd say some questions should be asked and maybe some different angles looked at.
The real reason for the "war on drugs" is that it means big business for the prison industry as well as additional gov jobs. Americas prisons are bloated with inmates who are low level dealers who committed non-violent crimes. The laws are also skewed to punish low income people (ussually a black man) who may have a very small amount of crack more harshly than someone who has a larger amount of powder cocaine (ussually a white guy). It's all a big joke really. It's about $$$
1) Libertarian (and except for drugs, I count myself as one) nonsense. Simply put, if the G were to legalize and then tax drugs, they would need far more "revenuers" and "administrators" than currently employed in order to even somewhat effectively regulate a legal drug industry. The problem would self-perpetuate, and the "need" for more red tape and government oversight would self-propagate. 2) That's absolutely false. America's prisons are "bloated" with people who commit crimes, including property crimes and violent thefts, to support their drug habit; which would still be the case if drugs were legal (if not exacerbated with easy access to drugs and increased usage.) If you know someone who is in "prison" for first-time simple possession of narcotics please let me know. Prosecutors turn down possession charges as a matter of routine; it takes a serious amount of weight intended for distribution before the G wastes their resources to prosecute drug cases. 3) As of 2010, that is factually and statutorily incorrect. The sentencing guidelines were changed in 2010. However, if you can show me a drug which is more addictive, causes more social harm, and has a more disparate impact on a specific segment of the population (blacks) than crack; again please tell me.
First of all I didn't state anywhere in my post that drugs should be legalized? You mentioned a few things about government (which I don't believe could be substantiated) but nothing regarding the private for-profit prison industry which has been lining their pockets with the high prison populations. Obviously, there are people in prison for many different reasons. But, non-violent drug offenses make up a sizable portion and certainly contribute to the fact the USA incarcerates people at much higher rate than any other country in the world. My point is the war on drugs is not just about the greater good. It's about $ and jobs too. Say whatever you want. I'm done with this one.
Interesting read related to this subject http://learnaboutsam.com/the-issues/marijuana-and-whos-in-prison/ Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
I've spoken with parents of addicted persons while at work. They track down their kids at crack and heroin houses. Their lives are never the same after crack and heroin, never.
thank you so much for posting. Thoroughly debunks the long-standing mantra that the prison system is overloaded with non-violent drug offenders. I despise the concept of a police state. If you believe that the G should not be allowed to regulate what an individual person puts into their body as a matter of libertine philosophy; fine, that is a position that stands on its own and is to be respected without animus. But start spouting all these BS "stats" to back up your position, and be prepared to get blown out of the water with real economic law and social cost figures. This is a world to which I am exposed every single day, and have put thousands of hours of research and labor into on both a paid and scholarly manner. The fact is that it does not matter if drugs are legalized or not; without effective border control the problem will never, ever be mitigated. As I stated many pages ago, the discussion starts and ends with Border Control.
I think we need to think about a couple of things. 1- Are we talking about legalizing ALL drugs or just weed? 2- Would people who now refrain from using because it's illegal start using if that changed? 3- You can't make use/possession legal unless you also make production/sale legal. Who gets to do it? 4- We're already paying for rehab/jail/prison. 5- Would Hooker's posts be probable cause for a search warrant?
Please explain how anything in my post would have to do with Obama...a guy I didn't even vote for. You clearly don't have a clue but that doesn't surprise me. According to dnoodles's post laws were changed in 2010 regarding crack and cocaine sentencing. I will assume he is correct and knows what he is talking about.
If you believe the war on drugs is simply about the greater good and not also linked to special interests then you are quite Nieve. There are many private investers getting rich off the prison population. You don't think they have any pull with congress?
Anybody know any alcoholics? I know more of them than I do drug addicts and they do plenty of damage to themselves and others. Is it really that different? How about all the drug addicts who don't think their drug addicts because they get their drugs at the pharmacy. Prescription drug abuse/addiction is at an all time high? Thoughts? I mean realistically there are so many decriminalized drugs already would a few more make that much difference?
So if you build a structure to house criminals you should not be allowed to make a profit? Just a twisted excuse to say its hopeless so why bother fighting the criminals. Everyone wants to save the world but nobody want to help wash the dishes. Convenient.
