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The best comparison is not some sort of socialized experiment in Norway but the U.S. before 1914 where all drugs were legal. I don't think that anyone would argue that the drug problem (clogged prisons, turf wars, high use among students, etc) was worse then that it is now.

As to the taxpayers, you are right, they pay through the nose *right now* to maintain the largest prison population in the world. They also pay through the nose to pay the medical costs caused by the adulterated illegal drugs (much like they did for Bathtub gin in the 1920s). Drug prohibition is as a disaster both in terms of "helping" users and in saving money for the taxpayers.

Drug prohibition is as a disaster both in terms of "helping" users and in saving money for the taxpayers.

But it does provide jobs and power for the bureaucrats, and votes and power for the politicians.

Drug prohibition is as a disaster both in terms of "helping" users and in saving money for the taxpayers.

It isn't about the taxpayers silly, it's about the unions..

The best comparison is not some sort of socialized experiment in Norway but the U.S. before 1914 where all drugs were legal. I don't think that anyone would argue that the drug problem (clogged prisons, turf wars, high use among students, etc) was worse then that it is now.

Comparing the US now with the US before 1914 is idiotic. We have a completely different culture now than we did back then. Our moral standards are lower today. We did not have a mass media back then that glamorized getting high. We did not have a whole generation of kids being raised in single-parent homes. Methods of drug distribution were far less sophisticated back then, etc, etc, etc.

The best comparison is the US before and after 1914, and the fact is that cocain and opium use declined dramatically after 1914. DRUG PROHIBITION WORKED, unlike alcohol prohibition. That's why it was never repealed, unlike alcohol prohibition. Drug use continued at minimal levels until our culture went to hell the late 1960's and 1970's.

"As to the taxpayers, you are right, they pay through the nose *right now* to maintain the largest prison population in the world."

Yes - and crime is down. Do you think that if drugs were legal that all drug crime would go away? The answer is that it would not. Most people are not in jail because they were convicted because they were busted with drugs, but becuse they were busted doing something to GET MORE DRUGS, ie: mug someone to get $$, steal something to sell it, etc.. - all to get more drugs.

I hope this works out and Rush is cleared - but so far no denial about drug use from him - and if the situation was reversed, and Bill Clinton was busted by the Enquirer like this, Rush would be all over him.

But one thing is certain- Rush's comments about McNabb were just plain dumb. For as smart a guy as Rush is, he should have known not to make the comment he made. Not just because it involved race, but because it was a stupid comment. There are lots of African-American quarterbacks in the NFL and college football. Some are really good most of the time, some are good some of the time, just like white quarterbacks. His comments were just dumb, dumb, dumb!