Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A safer society? Legalize drugs
The Boston Globe ^ | June 6, 2006 | Bill Fried

Posted on 06/06/2006 4:32:38 AM PDT by LowCountryJoe

Meanwhile, politicians puff sanctimoniously about ``cleaning the streets" and ``ridding the projects of drug dealers

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


TOPICS: Gardening
KEYWORDS: drugskilledbelushi; govwatch; knowyourleroy; leroyknowshisrights; libertarians; longlivemrleroy; longtokemrleroy; mrleroybait; nokingbutmrleroy; warondrugs; wheresmrleroy; which1ofuismrleroy; wod; woddiecrushonleroy; wodlist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240 ... 321 next last
To: ClearCase_guy
You posted; "Violent crime rates remain at the lowest levels in the history of the Bureau of Justice Statistics' survey (which started in 1973). We are experiencing the sharpest decline in teen crime in modern history. "

It has been suggested that the decline in crime is directly connected to the availability of abortion to the low income unwed mothers.

I agree with the analysis.

The main reason to legalize drugs is to take the profit out of selling them. The next good reason is to reduce the crimes committed by users trying to get enough money for a fix. The biggest benefit will be derived from taking the whipping post away from law enforcement.

:)Easy Does It:)

201 posted on 06/06/2006 10:14:03 PM PDT by eazdzit (Register Independent CROSS OVER IN THE PRIMARIES!!! VOTE AGAINST CFR, NWO, GLOBALIST RepuboCrats !!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Badray
But for some people, one drink is enough to put them over the legal limit and make them subject to arrest even if getting drunk was not their intent. Claiming that wasn't their intent will not work as a defense.

IMHO, what defines 'legally intoxicated' anymore has become rather rediculous. Much like what constitutes a 'viscious dog'.
202 posted on 06/06/2006 10:27:55 PM PDT by proud_yank (Vegetables are what food eats.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 184 | View Replies]

To: fatnotlazy
Here in the Pittsburgh area, the media for the past few days has been innudated with stories of a supposed epidemic of heroin

LMAO!
The media loves drug epidemics!
Some of my favorites:
1960 Heroin Epidemic
1966 LSD Epidemic
1971 Heroin Epidemic #2
1972 Methamphetamine Epidemic
1981 Marijuana Epidemic
1990 Cocaine Epidemic
1994 Heroin Epidemic #3
There were more but these were the most entertaining. Have we won the drug war yet?
.
203 posted on 06/06/2006 10:28:36 PM PDT by mugs99 (Don't take life too seriously, you won't get out alive.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: proud_yank

Agreed, and if you are 'legally intoxicated', how can they charge you with a crime? ;-)


204 posted on 06/07/2006 1:17:03 AM PDT by Badray (CFR my ass. There's not too much money in politics. There's too much money in government hands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 202 | View Replies]

To: fatnotlazy

After seeing today's news coverage, I am dumbfounded.

Why all the pity for these people? Some, after being 'sescued' by the EMTs once, went out and bought and injected more. WTF?!?!?!

Let 'em go. Why save them so they can just perpetuate their habit and repeat their crimes while we/society pick up the tab and wait to be victimized again?


205 posted on 06/07/2006 1:21:46 AM PDT by Badray (CFR my ass. There's not too much money in politics. There's too much money in government hands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Badray

Sescued is the new spelling for Rescued. ;-)


206 posted on 06/07/2006 1:23:02 AM PDT by Badray (CFR my ass. There's not too much money in politics. There's too much money in government hands.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 205 | View Replies]

To: Badray
"the intent is to affect your mood and / or perception of reality."

This country goes way back with alcohol. It's part of our culture -- drugs are not. Actually, drugs became part of the counterculture in the 1950's and 60's.

There is no "intent to affect your mood and / or perception of reality" in the person who drinks alcohol as part of a religious ceremony, or drinks a "toast" to the newlyweds, or has a glass of wine to enhance a meal, or a cold beer to cool off on a hot day, or have a cocktail at a dinner party. There are hundreds of examples just like that.

Yes, some abuse alcohol. Some drink to get drunk or get high. And I place them in the same category as drug users.

On the statement that people take drugs just "to relax" or "mellow out", my response is this. If that is indeed the reason, then recreational drug users are risking their jobs, their freedom, possibly their family and home, their standing in the community, financial losses ... just "to relax"? I find that hard to believe. That they would risk so much for so little.

207 posted on 06/07/2006 4:56:49 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 198 | View Replies]

To: Recovering Ex-hippie
"they would not have the money and power that illegal drug trafficking gives them now."

They would continue to sell every drug not legalized, and would continue to sell pot and cocaine to the underaged. They are not going to go out and get real jobs. You're dreamin'.

208 posted on 06/07/2006 5:00:32 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 199 | View Replies]

To: LowCountryJoe
"What percentage of people in America spend time on Free Republic kicking around the political and social issues of the day? Is this "normal" behavior?"

You're equating FReepers with drug users? That's a stretch.

Well, I think you're confusing behavior that is "normal" with behavior that "is the norm". Doing drugs is not the norm. Those who do drugs are in the minority. That was the point being made.

If you want to say that FReepers are also in the minority of all internet users, fine.

209 posted on 06/07/2006 5:08:31 AM PDT by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 200 | View Replies]

To: Badray

It's the continuing agenda of the media shills for the liberal left -- pointing out these problems, situations and atrocities and trying to guilt us all into feeling sorry for the supposed "victims." Of course, in between it all, the message is that it's "Bush's fault." And we are all to blame too because we don't do enough. Sorry, I'll save my sympathies and what little extra money I may have for those who truly deserve it. Bad enough that my tax dollars are being wasted to subsidize the incompetent, ungrateful, lazybut slobs who continue to practice bad behavior and then, when things go bad, look to the rest of us for help again and again and again.

One of my co-workers has a small cousin, age 6, who needs a bone marrow transplant. Insurance only covers a small amount of the expense and the parents' savings have been wiped out. Under the circumstances, if I can give something to help that small child and her family, I will. But I will not keep throwing money at some bum who will then shoot it up his arm.


210 posted on 06/07/2006 5:08:40 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 205 | View Replies]

To: LowCountryJoe
A safer society? Legalize drugs

Good idea, then all the druggies can overdose. Then we would need fewer police and the hospital emergency rooms would not be so crowded. Of course the money that the dealers spend on large ticket items would put a hurt to many companies. /sarc

211 posted on 06/07/2006 5:14:52 AM PDT by Dustbunny (Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fatnotlazy
Check out this post:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1644823/posts

it is a John Stossel article about the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).....what caught my eye and is pertinent to this post was this:

I can't ask about past drug addiction -- or even about current addiction, if the drugs are legal. "You can't ask me if I'm addicted to Valium," said Janofsky, "because if I'm addicted to Valium now, I'm protected under the ADA."

yikes!
212 posted on 06/07/2006 5:37:21 AM PDT by socialismisinsidious ( The socialist income tax system turns US citizens into beggars or quitters!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Dustbunny

Then we would need fewer police and the hospital emergency rooms would not be so crowded.

****

Or if nothing else, the police and emergency people could help those truly in need. The whole time this local story about the overdoses aired, I kept thinking, what a waste of manpower and resources. Certainly, the emergency personnel could have been helping people truly in need, instead of spending their valuable time scraping these lowlifes off the sidewalk.


213 posted on 06/07/2006 5:39:00 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 211 | View Replies]

To: fatnotlazy
Why do you think that the amount of overdoses would be less if drugs were legalized? Look at all the police manpower that goes toward road blocks and sobriety checks, cleaning up alcohol related accidents etc.....people would still overdose and probably more so b/c of all the idiots that would try the drugs b/c after all 'they are legal'

And lawsuits...now that is a waste of manpower but that is what would increase the most (think of bartenders and bars and those lawsuits when some idiot goes out and does something stupid after drinking) and let's not forget all the government bureaucracies that would be needed to aid all of those poor 'disabled' addicts in the name of their "rights" (see post #212).
214 posted on 06/07/2006 5:59:26 AM PDT by socialismisinsidious ( The socialist income tax system turns US citizens into beggars or quitters!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 213 | View Replies]

To: socialismisinsidious

I don't know that I said we would reduce the number of overdoses. What I was envisioning, however, was cutting the cord between these lazy scumbags and the rest of us. In fighting this so-called war on drugs, we have spent bazillions of taxpayer dollars and have seen no benefit whatsoever. The irresponsible continue to drain the responsible. But as was pointed out to me, we would probably wind up doing as other countries have done. By legalizing drugs, we would still be spending money on the lowlifes by giving them clean needles, setting up clinics where they could get free drugs safely and all that. So we probably wouldn't see much in the way of savings for the taxpayers. Resources would continue to be wasted on these deadbeats one way or the other. That's too bad.


215 posted on 06/07/2006 6:27:03 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 214 | View Replies]

To: fatnotlazy
I agree.

What we need is a Leper-type island and we can put the druggies there. They sign on and we drop them there...they grow any food that they want and we drop them some drugs monthly...would be cheaper and get them off the street. OK I'm kidding; well, half kidding.

Do you listen to Quinn?...just heard on a news break on 104.7 that the motto out there on the street with these heroin druggies is "get high or die trying" guess a few of them have done just that.
216 posted on 06/07/2006 6:38:15 AM PDT by socialismisinsidious ( The socialist income tax system turns US citizens into beggars or quitters!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 215 | View Replies]

To: Bryan24

You are totally clueless.


217 posted on 06/07/2006 7:07:19 AM PDT by Protagoras ("A real decision is measured by the fact that you have taken a new action"... Tony Robbins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: Protagoras

Howdy, shipmate.


218 posted on 06/07/2006 7:30:22 AM PDT by Bryan24 (When in doubt, move to the right....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 217 | View Replies]

To: socialismisinsidious

Do you listen to Quinn?...just heard on a news break on 104.7 that the motto out there on the street with these heroin druggies is "get high or die trying" guess a few of them have done just that.

***

I didn't get to catch him this morning, although I usually do get to hear at least the first half hour. Slogan just about says it all. :(


219 posted on 06/07/2006 7:45:37 AM PDT by fatnotlazy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 216 | View Replies]

To: Bryan24
bryan trolls:

We, as a government "of the people", have a right to impose a level of control in our society. It is done through the democratic process.

I know the druggies don't like that, but that's just tough.

We who support a free republic "don't like that" bold 'democratic' bit much either..

The majority does not rule in a constitutional republic.

Indirectly, the majority does rule. It's a representative republic.

The point is; representative 'rule-making' is limited by our Constitution.
The tyranny of majority rule is not compatible with due process of law.

The representatives "represent" a certain view of the people, who "hopefully" voted for a person who best respresents their views.

Both the people, and their representatives, are bound to support & defend our Constitution as the supreme law.

Don't know what you are inferring but I didn't "bold" the word democratic.

Of course you didn't. - I did, - as an example of how 'democratic' drug warrior principles are replacing those of our republic.

220 posted on 06/07/2006 9:00:28 AM PDT by tpaine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 170 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240 ... 321 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
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

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