The War On (Some) Drugs -IS- a Big Issue!!

[Taylor Mason Powell]

On another thread here discussing Kerry's stance on pot, a number of people chimed in to say things along the lines of, "why are you concerned with this minor minor issue when our troops are dying, etc. etc."

Well, I just want to retort to those people that the War on Some Drugs IS a HUGE issue! Right now we have something on the order of TWO MILLION PEOPLE in prison, many of them on non-violent drug charges.

Many of you are familiar with the horror stories - the mandatory minimums that tie the hands of judges, the low-level people consigned to ridiculously long sentences because they couldn't name people higher up in the chain.

Look, the goings on in Iraq are indeed incredibly tragic. I would never want to suggest otherwise. But hundreds of thousands, even millions of people in prison for years and years? That is ALSO a great and grave tragedy, and a stain on this nation for the last 30-40 years at least. In fact, I feel just as bad for someone in prison for a minor drug offense as I do for our troops in Iraq.

In fact, I would say that IMO, the War on (Some) Drugs is just as much an unnecessary waste of lives, money, time, and credibility, as the War on (Some) Arabs, if not more so, if only because it's gone on for so long...

Just my opinion.

[freetobegay]

1. The only real issue right now is dethorning Bush!

All else can wait till after the election. Just my 2 cents.

[Taylor Mason Powell]

2. I Agree 100 Percent. (n/t)

[Rooktoven]

3. Well said...

Non-violent drug crimes are victimless and more importantly, POLITICAL crimes.

[sandnsea]

4. He voted against mandatories

He's repeatedly said he's for a treatment/prevention approach. He's for a moratorium on medical marijuana prosecutions. He's not for going after users. Short of legalizing it altogether, which no state has done, I don't know what more he could possibly do to satisfy people on this issue.

[Taylor Mason Powell]

5. Don't get me wrong here.

I'm not saying anything pro or con about Kerry's stance on the Drug War. Clearly he MUST win in November, the fate of the entire planet depends on it. I am perfectly willing to believe that Kerry may be inclined to push for sensible reforms. Certainly much more so than Bush*!

My point was simply that I disagree with those who say that this issue is unimportant or somehow unworthy of discussion, in the face of the Iraq Debacle.

[TheFarseer]

6. I agree our drug policy isn't working, but

what SHOULD we do? Maybe legalizing pot would be OK but what about other drugs? Drugs cause crime whether people want to believe that or not.

[Taylor Mason Powell]

7. Well, that is the question, isn't it?

But I challenge your presumption that "drugs cause crime." Drugs generally only cause crime because people need $ to buy drugs, because the drugs are so expensive. And the drugs are so expensive because they're illegal. That's a gross oversimplification, I know, but the general point is that the criminalization of drugs causes more crime than the drugs themselves.

That being said, the most important thing to do is stop jailing people for non-violent, victimless drug offenses! Impose fines, okay. Mandatory drug treatment, okay. But prison? That's just an abuse of human rights.

[noiretextatique]

9. isn't treatment less expensive than criminalization?

but of course private companies are making big bucks in the prison system. people really need to wake up on this issue. thanks for your post...it IS a very important issue.

[TheFarseer]

14. OK thats a good point on crime

I guess I wasn't thinking it all the way through. I have to admit I don't know much about the effects of heavy drugs but I still don't want lots of guys on crack etc running around. That doesn't seem safe.

[noiretextatique]

8. actually, repressing drugs causes crime

e.g., gang turf wars. also addicts commit crimes to get drugs. the WOD has just created more criminals.

[arcos]

10. right...

and most of them are minorities who tend to vote democratic.

Imagine only half of them voting democratic... that's a million votes!

Of course it is a very important issue!!

[Melsky]

11. Thank you

I was thinking the same thing when I read that other post.

P.S. I love your user name, I knew right away what city you are in!

[Taylor Mason Powell]

12. Thanks!

The bestest city in America, yessirree! :hi:

[tomorrowsashes]

13. End the war on drugs!

The war on drugs is a sham. Those in power no that if they simply ended it, abuse of harder drugs would go down. It's possible that use of pot could go up, but, honestly, as long as a person doesn't become dependent on it, it's of no more danger than many other health risks that are part of our society. The only reason they keep it going is because it is pollitically profitable, and there has been a business formed around profiting from prisons, a business that has a lot of lobbying power. It creates an entire class of criminals, a class without rights, or freedom.

War on Drugs
by warsawpack

The war on drugs is just a pretence
for the violation of civil rights and freedom.
Cops beat seize and detain
thos without proper representation.
Face it - the herb poses no danger,
but a big portion of the prison population.
Dollar wasted - cheap to rehabilitate,
but the lock them down in high concentration.
Incarcerate and indoctrinate in crime
got - full blown crook by the time that you do the time.
Circle of life for law enforcement.
From suits to the brute force that endorse it.
Of course it's - formed by the dollar's clout,
senates congresses and the white house.
And the lobby's got a lot of clout.
Have a beer and a smoke and don't open your mouth.

CHORUS-
Someday justice will bust down your door,
Invade your space - your fucking face on the floor.
The law's in place, the state could take more.
Seems that justice is just out to fuck the poor.
We are at war.

Oh - You want a war on drugs?
Then aim guns at the narco-traffic
of tobacco internationally.
Talk casualties - they got bodies coming in numbers.
Leaves on stunned - under wonder - under sanctions.
World Bank backs it - tax it.
Now they're coughing and hacking,
backs broken - over coca leaf and opium,
drug substances just as potent.
And of course it's - formed by the dollar's clout,
senates congresses and the white house.
And the jail cells will stay stocked.
The drug war's no got a pay off drop.

CHORUS

[nonkultur]

15. Thank You

There is much more to this issue than
"Being worried about our drug habits."

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/