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Legalized pot is making America’s lower class poorer and less responsible
New York Post ^ | 8-20-16 | Naomi Schaefer Riley

Posted on 08/21/2016 10:34:48 AM PDT by DeweyCA

(Snip)

The middle and upper classes have been the ones out there pushing for decriminalization and legalization measures, and they have also tried to demolish the cultural taboo against smoking pot. But they themselves have chosen not to partake very much. Which is not surprising. Middle-class men and women who have jobs and families know that this is not a habit they want to take up with any regularity because it will interfere with their ability to do their jobs and take care of their families.

But the poor, who already have a hard time holding down jobs and taking care of their families, are more frequently using a drug that makes it harder for them to focus, to remember things and to behave responsibly.

(Snip)

In fact, the typical user is much more likely to be someone at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, whose daily life is driven, at least in part, by the question of how and where to get more marijuana. Just consider the cost. Almost a third of users are spending a tenth of their income on marijuana. And 15 percent of users spend nearly a quarter of their income to purchase the drug. The poor have not only become the heaviest users, but their use is making them poorer.

To all the middle-class professionals out there reading this: Do you know anyone who spends a quarter of their income on pot? Of course not. But these are the people our policies and attitudes are affecting.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: brainwashing; cannabis; control; crime; goodintentions; liberalism; marijuana; pot; potheads; poverty; slavery
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To: DeweyCA

I’ve always maintained that the elites want the masses smoking heavily and often so that when the communists come knocking at the door, there will be no resistance.

The same is true for heroin.


21 posted on 08/21/2016 10:46:30 AM PDT by Paulie (America without Christ is like a Chemistry book without the periodic table.)
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To: DeweyCA

I’ve always said the order of events is vital:

1) End government charity. Make all people responsible. If you don’t work, you don’t eat. If you make bad choices, you suffer. If you screw up your life, perhaps a church will help you, but “society” owes you nothing.

Now you’re ready for Step 2.

2) Go ahead and legalize pot or whatever else you consider a good idea.

If you reverse the order of these steps (as the US has largely done) then you get a lot of people who have messed up their lives and who expect “society” to take care of them.

My big beef with Libertarians is that they want LIMITED government (which is good) and they want legalized drugs. And they push for the drugs first, which TOTALLY works against the concept that government charity should be reduced. Legal drugs magnifies the problem and drives us toward Big Government.

You have to be stoned not to see this.


22 posted on 08/21/2016 10:46:52 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (“Islam has nothing to do with this.”)
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To: Snickering Hound

A little known Prohibition did work in that alcohol related diseases declined during the period in question. Alcohol related accidents also declined.The lifting of Prohibition was the result of a massive propaganda effort. The rich (Kennedy’s) got richer.


23 posted on 08/21/2016 10:47:21 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: ifinnegan

“Certain “appetites” are easier to control than others.”

Yes, I would agree with that.

How about you and I learn about a legal appetite in particular.

Go ahead and watch this, the whole thing, and then tell me why this substance is legal.

This young man was consumed utterly by his appetite. Literally. And it’s legal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrTlI6seM0A


24 posted on 08/21/2016 10:47:55 AM PDT by chris37 (How do you make Republicans turn on their own candidate? Sneak up behind them and say "Boo".)
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To: DeweyCA

Budweiser started advertisements with "Holidays were made for Michelob back in the 70's.

It soon became "Weekends were made for Michelob" then "Put a little weekend in your week".

It then became "The night was made for Michelob". If you wanna be poor keep going to work hung over on a Wednesday.

For every pothead slacker, there are 10 that are hanging out at a Happy Hour getting sloshed on a work/school night.

25 posted on 08/21/2016 10:47:56 AM PDT by Snickering Hound
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To: DeweyCA
This is akin to the logic of the old factory barons who worked adult and child alike long hours so those poor rabble would not have spare time to sin.

In truth, the real motive is keeping our legal lawyer-jail-rinse-repeat revolving doors working. How do you think 75% of black males between 18 and 35 get caught up in the legal system? We keep the courts full and the jails brimming.

Did it ever dawn on anybody that we could save billions by taking the profit out of illegal drugs and end 80% of the associated violent crime. Then, we could easily afford treatment centers (even if we have to scoop folks off the street), and get businesses wanting to return to the cities.

26 posted on 08/21/2016 10:49:12 AM PDT by Lagmeister ( false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders Mark 13:22)
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

Making a behavior illegal does not, never has and never will stopped that behavior from occurring.


27 posted on 08/21/2016 10:50:46 AM PDT by chris37 (How do you make Republicans turn on their own candidate? Sneak up behind them and say "Boo".)
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To: chris37

“How about you and I learn about a legal appetite in particular.”

How about we laugh at your smarminess?


28 posted on 08/21/2016 10:50:47 AM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
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To: DeweyCA
The poor were poor and irresponsible long before pot came around.

Of course, I suppose one argument of the Drug Warriors is valid: Many of these people would be better off in jail or prison.

29 posted on 08/21/2016 10:51:06 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

“A little known Prohibition did work in that alcohol related diseases”
I also heard if all cars were outlawed traffic deaths would plummet


30 posted on 08/21/2016 10:51:36 AM PDT by Donglalinger
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS

Also, per capita consumption of alcohol didn’t reach pre-prohibition levels until 1970.


31 posted on 08/21/2016 10:51:48 AM PDT by MuttTheHoople (Yes, Liberals, I question your patriotism)
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To: DeweyCA

Pot taxes, cigarette taxes, and lotteries all tax the poor the most, to pay for toys like bicycle trails predominantly used by, or programs administered by, the rich. This is how the lilly white gentry class operates. No longer getting rent from peasant farmers, they get their "rent" from guaranteed funding sources from the government.

32 posted on 08/21/2016 10:51:53 AM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: chris37

So that means we do not try? For example murder has never stopped since Cain slew Abel. Does that mean we repeal laws and stop prosecution of murders? Genius!


33 posted on 08/21/2016 10:55:01 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: DeweyCA

I have a place in southern Colorado where pot is legal. Speaking to a man who is a probation officer says that heroin has taken its toll here. Very bad situation.


34 posted on 08/21/2016 10:55:36 AM PDT by lilypad
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To: Donglalinger

That is true except cars have value Pot does not.


35 posted on 08/21/2016 10:55:47 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: Roger Kaputnik

I was just talking to someone that lives in Colorado and she was telling me the “unforeseen” problems associated with legal pot. 1. The bike paths in Denver have become the new homeless habitat. People came for the legal drugs not realizing how expensive it was to live in Denver and wound up homeless. 2. The illegal pot sellers are renting houses in middle class neighborhoods, diverting the electricity and plumbing to establish an indoor pot farm totally destroying the house. 3. Other drug dealers will try to rob these pot houses because they usually have large amounts of cash at the house. Unfortunately they have sometimes broken into the wrong house guns blazing. 4. A significant number of children being rushed to emergency room because they have found their parents stash of pot laced cookies or brownies.


36 posted on 08/21/2016 10:57:42 AM PDT by heylady
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To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
"A little known Prohibition did work in that alcohol related diseases declined during the period in question. "

Prohibition WORKED for it's stated purpose. All of the effects of excess consumption were significantly reduced, both the personal effects and social.

It also brought in a whole new set of ills. Organized crime being the most well known. And disdain for Law Enforcement.

37 posted on 08/21/2016 10:58:37 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Mariner
Mainly Chicago was, and is, a problem area. In addition alcohol is not pot chemically and behaviorally so attempted analogies are probably false.
38 posted on 08/21/2016 11:02:13 AM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS
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To: DeweyCA

They’re trying to compete with the millions of government bureaucrats/politicians who are 100% irresponsible and 1000 times more of a problem.


39 posted on 08/21/2016 11:03:01 AM PDT by dragnet2
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To: dragnet2

what are they all too lazy to just grow it themselves?


40 posted on 08/21/2016 11:06:18 AM PDT by orionrising
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