DRUGS WON THE WAR!

NYTimes ^ | 6.13.2009 | NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

[wolfcreek]

This year marks the 40th anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s start of the war on drugs, and it now appears that drugs have won.

[wolfcreek]

I think Soros is using the *legalization* thing as a prop to gather support for his Socialist plans.

I'm not for total *legalization* but, like another FReeper said, “All these *wars* created by the government are nothing more than plots to take OUR rights away”.

You guys have any ideas?

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“After 40+ years we still have about the same proportion of the population grappling with poverty.”

What’s your definition of “poverty”?

If you are referring to “relative poverty” (e.g. “% of population making less than X% of the average income”) then you are probably correct.

If you are referring to “absolute poverty” (e.g. “% of population unable to afford necessities of life”), then you’re probably incorrect.

By some measures, the “poverty line” today begins where the middle of the middle class was a few decades ago.

[Big Red Clay]

One of the best and most direct posts I have seen in a while. You hit that one out of the park and onto Waveland Ave.

[wolfcreek]

Don't care to guess. One thing for sure, they're not doing it by sitting in prison while learning the ropes of criminality.

[JimRed]

(singing)
I fought the drugs and the drugs won,
I fought the drugs and the drugs won!

[HIDEK6]

OTOH, alcohol is legal and it continues to be a problem, and abuse of it appears to me to be even a growing problem among young adults. I don’t know what the answer is.

Just make it illegal to drink in bars.

Second-hand fumes and all that.

[wolfcreek]

I wasn’t aware that was happening to such a degree.

Got any links?

[STONEWALLS]

....every day 60,000 addicts wake up in Baltimore hustling to get the money for their next fix....make it legal and they’ll still be robbing, stealing and turning tricks to come up with the money.

[Dead Corpse]

Make it legal and it'll cost a fraction of what it does now. Cops could also focus on real crime.

Add in a repeal of all the anti-RKBA nonsense and theft/robbery victims can help thin the herd of drug addled criminals.

[SJSAMPLE]

So, basically, NO CHANGE.
Except that we won’t be;
1. Spending billions to fight this stupid war.
2. Attacking the civil rights of our citizenry in an attempt to win this stupid war.

Sounds good to me.

[wolfcreek]

Those are the ones who need to be locked up or in treatment not, some guy who got caught smoking a joint.

I’ve tried to figure how it might be if all drugs were legal but, there would be many a pitfall.

Would there still be a supply of heroin it it was legal?

Would there still be dealers?

Would it save the Border patrol a lot of time and money not looking for drugs and smugglers?

[Ken H]

The WOD was given cabinet level status just over 20 years ago.

Remarks Following the Swearing-in Ceremony for William J. Bennett as Director of National Drug Control Policy

1989-03-13

-snip-

But those here and across the country who join me today in our just war against drugs may take some renewed confidence in our prospects for success because the President of the United States has placed this struggle at the top of his administration's agenda, at the top of our common national agenda where it needs to be.

-snip-

My office is already conducting an exhaustive review of our national fight against drugs on both supply and demand sides. Where past strategy has succeeded, we will see to it that it's continued. Where past strategy has failed, we will see that it's replaced or modified.

-snip-

http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/public_papers.php?id=160&year=1989&month=3

______________________________________

You can see for yourself how Dr. Bennett's brainchild has failed on both the supply and demand side:

http://www.briancbennett.com/quick-look.htm

[GunRunner]

It would put the smugglers out of business and prices would fall.

Heroin is nasty stuff, but the amount of people who have actually used heroin in their lifetime is somewhere south of 1% of the populace, and regular uses are less than that.

[cripplecreek]

I’m not strictly opposed to legalization of marijuana. I just think libertarians and conservatives should stay away from Soros money and push for small measures.

For instance, instead of outright legalization, push for decriminalization. A ticket is a lot better than jail time any day of the week. It should also be pointed out that few people are in prison for drug use or possession alone. There are usually other associated crimes. That said shorter sentences given to those who successfully complete real drug treatment.

[truthguy]

So, basically, NO CHANGE. Except that we won’t be; 1. Spending billions to fight this stupid war. 2. Attacking the civil rights of our citizenry in an attempt to win this stupid war. Sounds good to me.

It was inevitable that we would lose the "Drug War". In a sense it wasn't a war with drugs but a war about ourselves and personnel freedom. Many people when given freedom will screw up. In fact a large percentage of people will screw up. This is human nature and there are no social policies that will correct this. It's part of our makeup. In in our DNA. The only sure way to stop Drugs 100% is to take away people's personal freedom. Do we wish to do this? I don't think so.

So what can we do to minimize the effects of drugs? Well we can legalize them. At least that would put the drug dealers out of business. A tremendous amount of violence and peripheral damage can be averted. The chic appeal of drugs will go down when they are legalized. The people who still use drugs can be more readily identified. It will be a win-win situation. A tremendous amount of suffering will be averted. Will it happen? It will one day but not very soon and not as long as so many profit from the illegal drug trade.

[wolfcreek]

I'm assuming you noticed the medical marijuana mess on the west coast. The FEDGov doesn't want to budge on that issue for reasons we can only guess. (wink) If they see it as future revenue, that could change.

I'm thinking this, like many other issues, this needs to go to the states and let them decide what's best.

Unfortunately, we seem to be headed in the other direction.

[wolfcreek]

Addict aren't just addicted to *illegal* drugs either. No body wants to address the issue of *legal* pharmaceutical drug abuse which, IS a far worse problem.

[familyop]

There’s been no “war on drugs.” If there were a war on drugs, all of the dopers would be dead.

[Steel Wolf]

Addict aren't just addicted to *illegal* drugs either. No body wants to address the issue of *legal* pharmaceutical drug abuse which, IS a far worse problem.

Not from the standpoint of a loss of rights for the general populace.

If you take too many painkillers because you're sad, that's a problem. For you. You're your own victim.

If a door gets kicked in by a SWAT team and Grandma gets shot because some anonymous informant tells tall tales, that's a problem. For anyone who wakes up unlucky that day.

Freedom means being able to f@#$^ up your own life, and you deal with the consequences. Tyranny means other people can f@#$^ up your life, and leave you with the consequences.

I'll take my chances with freedom.

[To Hell With Poverty]

Ha ha, drugs aren’t the only winners, check my tagline...