Losing the Drug War

[icemann427]

Interesting article - "Losing The Drug War" by Tucson Weekly reporter interviewing two newly retired Arizona border experts.


Losing the Drug War | Feature | Tucson Weekly

[lane912]

Originally Posted by georgeinhere

There was never a drug war...it's always been a class war, a social war...they just got the name wrong.

true-
who can say no to that-

[slakjaw]

Please explain.

There was never a drug war...it's always been a class war, a social war...they just got the name wrong.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by slakjaw

Please explain.

An extension of the jim crow laws ...

[slakjaw]

I cannot explain it because I don't get it. I remember as a very young kid back in the 80s seeing drug busts on tv News and they would show large quantities of cocaine, guns, and money. As a kid, it kind of romanticized it to me. I wanted the yachts money, women. All of that. I thought it was about getting dugs off the street. I remember in school when D.A.R.E started. They would have police come talk about how bad drugs were. I wouldn't have known what marajuana was back then. I was like 7

Perhaps I have it wrong...but, in the meantime.



Please explain how the "war on drugs" works...or better yet, Why is it the "war on drugs"?



BTW, I grew up in the center of this so called "war on drugs".

Quote de slakjaw

Please explain.

[futuresoptions]

money....

[HardDrive]

I wonder how American would look today if we hadn't spent 40 years and $1 trillion on a failed policy?

[futuresoptions]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I wonder how American would look today if we hadn't spent 40 years and $1 trillion on a failed policy?

I think most of the problems that we do see in society today are mostly the result of that failed policy. At some point you have to ask yourself if trying to save someone from heroin addiction is worth the loss of your country.

[azasadny]

We're not losing the war, it was lost a long time ago and the politicians just pretend we're still fighting.

[vas930]

Originally Posted by azasadny

we're not losing the war, it was lost a long time ago and the politicians just pretend we're still fighting.

+1

[campbellcj]

And the amount of money we spend on the judicial system and prisons due to this nonsense is just staggering. Plus certainly among the thousands of dirtbags in prison there are probably hundreds of thousands of fairly decent people if not more whose only 'crime' was being caught with a little coke in their glovebox or whatnot. Yet we pay $50K+ a year to keep them locked-up and unproductive instead of putting them back with their jobs and families.

[porwolf]

We are losing the drug war? It does not make any difference! It will go on! Too much money being made. Too many law enforcement people being employed. Too many bureaucrats being employed. Too many prison guards being employed! Too many for-profit prisons making money! Too much money changing hands to authorities. And last, but not least, Too much money being made by the hugh enterprise systems bringing the drugs into the country! CAPITALISM RULES!

[rsNINESOOPER]

Interesting article and sad our country fights against what it will never win against.

This same war is raging within our own border and I see it first hand in east Oakland where my shop space is located. The warehouse directly next door to me has been busted about once a year for the last three years as a grow operation. The latest bust was all over the local news a week or so ago and was paraded around as the largest and most sophisticated grow operation to be busted in Oakland to date.

2 million dollars every 6 weeks is what they were making and just like the 2 previous busts they will set up their operation again, in the same building. What a waste of tax dollars and resources. Effing moron police stood around in front of the building while guys on BMX bikes rolled across our roof transporting product to trucks waiting on the other side of the block. Arms crossed, weapons drawn, congratulating themselves on showing up. Then they left and it was a free for all. Imagine 15 cars parked on the street and random turd people running in and out of the 10,000sqf building grabbing whatever they could.

the "War on Drugs" is just an excuse to funnel money to law enforcement and make the politicians look good on the 10oclock news.

Besides, what would possibly happen if marijuana was legalized. Who cares if this were to happen. Anyone against legalization just doesn't get the big picture and has let either their ignorance or warped beliefs get in the way. Legal / illegal wont change the numbers of people who use it. Lets put the money toward schools and infrastructure so our society can move forward.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by porwolf

We are losing the drug war? It does not make any difference! It will go on! Too much money being made. Too many law enforcement people being employed. Too many bureaucrats being employed. Too many prison guards being employed! Too many for-profit prisons making money! Too much money changing hands to authorities. And last, but not least, Too much money being made by the hugh enterprise systems bringing the drugs into the country! CAPITALISM RULES!

ding ding ding....winner!

[slakjaw]

Well. Capitalism does rule. That's true.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by azasadny

We're not losing the war, it was lost a long time ago and the politicians just pretend we're still fighting.

Bingo!

We are winning "the war on drugs" just like we won the prohibition on booze back in the 1920's. We are putting good people in prison for getting happy when others are sitting at home doing the same thing with Jack Daniels and not being arrested.

Eventually it will be legalized and we can then clean out our legal system and prisons and move on...