Posted on 06/16/2009 12:43:47 PM PDT by wolfcreek
This year marks the 40th anniversary of President Richard Nixons start of the war on drugs, and it now appears that drugs have won.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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?
“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.
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.
(singing)
I fought the drugs and the drugs won,
I fought the drugs and the drugs won!
Just make it illegal to drink in bars.
Second-hand fumes and all that.
I wasn’t aware that was happening to such a degree.
Got any links?
....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.
Add in a repeal of all the anti-RKBA nonsense and theft/robbery victims can help thin the herd of drug addled criminals.
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.
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?
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:
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.
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.
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.
There’s been no “war on drugs.” If there were a war on drugs, all of the dopers would be dead.
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.
Ha ha, drugs aren’t the only winners, check my tagline...
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