Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rethinking The Drug War (John Stossel Hits Home Run In Argument Against Futile WOD Alert)
Townhall.com ^ | 03/29/06 | John Stossel

Posted on 03/28/2006 10:51:21 PM PST by goldstategop

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 501-503 next last
To: liberty2004

Close the border. Stop most Cocaine and Heroin from coming in. Meth and pot will still be produced locally.

Plus we get great buys at police auctions from druggies who like big houses, bid cars, boats, planes all at rock bottom prices!!!!


101 posted on 03/29/2006 2:35:12 AM PST by truemiester (If the U.S. should fail, a veil of darkness will come over the Earth for a thousand years)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: gleeaikin
It is like trying to cure a broken leg by perscribing jumping rope.

Well put! And OUCH! That's a painful mental exercise, considering my left leg.


This is a ch__ch. What's missing?

102 posted on 03/29/2006 2:37:14 AM PST by rdb3 (What it is is what it was.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies]

To: Rembrandt_fan
re :'strengthen the nuclear family.

I have nothing against that, i.e tax breaks would be a good idea.

I have nothing against the carrot approach in developing a better society.

Its the stick part I have problems with.

I see nothing wrong with encouraging people to engage with society in a productive healthy way.

And while I agree there is a common good, and a need to enforce that, I believe we have to be careful where we draw the lines and enforcing laws to regulate people morals such as self drug abuse , using prostitution gambling I don't agree with.

Although I see nothing wrong with Church getting involved to help those who are weak.

I don't see it as the responsibility of the government

103 posted on 03/29/2006 2:49:29 AM PST by tonycavanagh (We got plenty of doomsayers where are the truth sayers)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 100 | View Replies]

To: truemiester

Plus we get great buys at police auctions from druggies who like big houses, bid cars, boats, planes all at rock bottom prices!!!!

Except that with 80% of the property seized no person is ever charged or convicted of a crime. It's called theft. Except when it's done in the name of the WOD it's legal theft.


104 posted on 03/29/2006 2:53:45 AM PST by Zon (Honesty outlives the lie, spin and deception -- It always has -- It always will.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 101 | View Replies]

To: SunnyD1182
Here's what I don't get: everyone I know- liberal or conservative- thinks the War on Drugs is a disaster, a waste of time, and a horrible idea that must be put to an end. It's probably the one issue everyone agrees on. My question is this: who are the people that are actually supporting this nonsense?

You'll find plenty of 'do gooders' who prefer the nanny-state over individual freedom. And you'll find some of them in this very forum...curiously though, not many will have the courage to post to this thread.

105 posted on 03/29/2006 3:33:43 AM PST by LowCountryJoe (I'm a Paleo-liberal: I believe in freedom; am socially independent and a borderline fiscal anarchist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
So, if we make drugs legal, do we have LESS drug use? Do we have FEWER impaired drivers on the highways next to us? Do those who work in dangerous occupations, construction, for example, have FEWER fellow workers working carelessly around them? Do we have FEWER parents who cannot supervise or raise children because they are strung out on dope? Do we have FEWER emergency room admissions for overdoses? Do we have FEWER school children using drugs?

Why don't we just make Demerol and morphine an over-the-counter choice like cough medicine?

Who are WE to tell anyone else how stoned they can get or to limit their intake of powerful narcotics, the excessive use of which can kill someone very quickly?

There is a cost to drug use and there are real physical threats to all of us because of the drug impairment of others.

The habitual use of drugs is NOT a victimless crime and it imposes huge social and economic burdens on society.

The tired arguments against the war on drugs IMPLY NO DOWNSIDE to removing all barriers to drug use. THAT IS A BIG LIE!

106 posted on 03/29/2006 3:46:44 AM PST by NoControllingLegalAuthority
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NoControllingLegalAuthority

So, if we make drugs legal, do we have LESS drug use? Do we have FEWER impaired drivers on the highways next to us? Do those who work in dangerous occupations, construction, for example, have FEWER fellow workers working carelessly around them? Do we have FEWER parents who cannot supervise or raise children because they are strung out on dope? Do we have FEWER emergency room admissions for overdoses? Do we have FEWER school children using drugs?

So, if we make drugs alcohol legal, do we have LESS drugs alcohol use? Do we have FEWER impaired drivers on the highways next to us? Do those who work in dangerous occupations, construction, for example, have FEWER fellow workers working carelessly around them? Do we have FEWER parents who cannot supervise or raise children because they are strung out on dope alcohol ? Do we have FEWER emergency room admissions for overdoses? Do we have FEWER school children using drugs alcohol?

There is a cost to drug use and there are real physical threats to all of us because of the drug impairment of others.

There is a cost to drugs alcohol use and there are real physical threats to all of us because of the drugs alcohol impairment of others.

The habitual use of drugs is NOT a victimless crime and it imposes huge social and economic burdens on society.

The habitual use of drugs alcohol is NOT a victimless crime and it imposes huge social and economic burdens on society.

The tired arguments against the war on drugs IMPLY NO DOWNSIDE to removing all barriers to drug use. THAT IS A BIG LIE!

The tired arguments against the war on drugs alcohol IMPLY NO DOWNSIDE to removing all barriers to drugs alcohol use. THAT IS A BIG LIE!

Almost everything has a down side and an upside. What imbecile would argue otherwise? The down side of alcohol prohibition was worse than the down side of ending alcohol prohibition. The downside of the WOD is worse than the down side of ending the WOD.

107 posted on 03/29/2006 4:01:12 AM PST by Zon (Honesty outlives the lie, spin and deception -- It always has -- It always will.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: NoControllingLegalAuthority
It's hard to say whether they'd be more or less usage. There would probably be more usage but it's ambiguous. Many kids try and continue to use drugs precisely because they are illegal and because bucking the system is considered cool amongst the peer pressure groups. Don't even tell me that peer pressure is bunk and that a child with good parents is immune: the desire to fit in and belong fulfills a microeconomic need and can be a very strong motive for irrational behavior even in the best of kids.

The money spend on fighting the WOD, keeping users incarcerated, and their legal defenses could be reallocated to prevention and rehab programs; it is a large chunk of change.

The crime alone that is perpetrated when rival gangs fight over selling territory is worth reducing by eliminating the risk/reward ratios that head dealers (and their underlings who try and impress them with loyalty through random killings) that they prosper from. There is a very good reason why there had to be the 21st amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

108 posted on 03/29/2006 4:01:36 AM PST by LowCountryJoe (I'm a Paleo-liberal: I believe in freedom; am socially independent and a borderline fiscal anarchist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 106 | View Replies]

To: Carry_Okie

Because, culturally, they are way different. Now, if you want to go live in an authoritarian semi-dictatorship - go ahead. Don't turn THIS country into one.


109 posted on 03/29/2006 4:04:54 AM PST by KeepUSfree (WOSD = fascism pure and simple.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SunnyD1182
"My question is this: who are the people that are actually supporting this nonsense?"
They are the ATF and it's employees, the DEA and it's employees, the FBI and it's employees, and so on and so on.........once a government agency is created, getting rid of it is impossible. My idea is to stop the war on drugs, eliminate the ATF, take all ATF field agents adn turn them over to the FBI and Border patrol. Do the same with the DEA.
110 posted on 03/29/2006 4:25:01 AM PST by joe fonebone (Vote YES! on Lake Iran......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Carry_Okie

Amsterdams drug use is about the same as the USA.


111 posted on 03/29/2006 4:48:24 AM PST by KeepUSfree (WOSD = fascism pure and simple.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 38 | View Replies]

To: DuckFan4ever
Nice that YOU decide what those activities are. I think skiing is a "public health problem". Do you have any idea the cost and drain on the health care system of folks who injure themselves skiing?? No NEED to ski....just recreation - and dangerous... ban it.

Driving...now THERE is a REAL public health problem...pollution, cancerous by-products of gas production. Hundreds of thousands of deaths and life-changing injuries from accidents- ban the automobiles!!

See...you can make that claim for ANYTHING. EVERYTHING is a public health problem IF IT IS ABUSED. Not all drug use is "drug abuse" any more than all drinking is alchoholism. SOME people are able to use drugs responsibly. Who in THE HELL are you to tell them they can't...ie who died and appointed YOU Elvis. That is why your "personal crusade" is stupid and could only be supported by someone with ABSOLUTELY no logic functions - working on pure emotion you are....

112 posted on 03/29/2006 4:55:04 AM PST by KeepUSfree (WOSD = fascism pure and simple.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop

There's always hope. Bush is embracing legalization on the immigration front. Maybe drugs are next.


113 posted on 03/29/2006 5:00:01 AM PST by Wolfie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DuckFan4ever

Today the British newspaper did a story on Whitney Houston.
She has money, fame and talent. She is a mess. She is a crackhead. Addiction is killing her. She has drugs readly available to her and failed attempts at rahabilitation. Drugs are a scourge but the crimes committed by users to get them would not be there is there was a way to cut out the middle man dealer. I was 100% for the drug war. I am now convinced it is a waste of time. How it should be handled is up to experts. The drug enforcement folks cannot stop the flow. The streets of Philadelphia are running with blood because of the drugs. I hope they find a solution soon.


114 posted on 03/29/2006 5:15:34 AM PST by oldironsides
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
We're not winning the war on highway deaths: let's get rid of traffic laws and traffic cops! Waste of money.

We're not winning the war on murder: let's get rid of police homicide units, and stop persecuting people with a homicidal lifestyle! Waste of money.

We're not winning the war on property crimes. Let's get rid of police property crimes units, and abolish private property! Power to the people!

115 posted on 03/29/2006 5:18:09 AM PST by pawdoggie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
We tried this once before, back in the 30's. IT was called the Volstead act, commonly referred to as Prohibition. It was a miserable failure as we all know.

What needs to be done is decriminalize (like cigarettes and alcohol)regulate and control. THEN - the government can TAX the sale of these products and realize a REVENUE leading to a POSITIVE CASH FLOW instead of SPENDING to no effect.

This also cuts into the profits of the drug lords as the lowering of restrictions will ultimately lead to a price collapse.

Once again, simple economics. However, not so simple for the babbling boobs in DC.
116 posted on 03/29/2006 5:26:35 AM PST by roaddog727 (P=3/8 A. or, P=plenty...............)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pawdoggie
Your rhetoric is imbecilic at best. 

"It is better to sit in silence and be thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt." -- Mark Twain

117 posted on 03/29/2006 5:35:31 AM PST by Zon (Honesty outlives the lie, spin and deception -- It always has -- It always will.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]

To: joe fonebone

I'm thinking the FBI wouldn't have many of them.

But yes, generally agree with the thinking.


118 posted on 03/29/2006 5:40:42 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Guns themselves are fairly robust; their chief enemies are rust and politicians) (NRA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 110 | View Replies]

To: Brad from Tennessee
"Today 75 cents goes to enforcement/interdiction and 25 cents goes to treatment/education."

At the federal level, it's about 50-50.

119 posted on 03/29/2006 5:44:31 AM PST by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
"Nearly 4,000 people are arrested every day for mere possession of drugs."

Nearly 4,000 people are arrested every day for drunk driving. And alcohol is legal.

120 posted on 03/29/2006 5:49:34 AM PST by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 501-503 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson