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2005-06-09 Caribbean-Latin America

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Posted by Steve 2005-06-09 08:27|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I'm sick of this stupid drug war. It's time to end the prohibition on drugs. Why do we care if people want to ruin their own lives. Time to make the drugs available in a sane manner and stop the illegal trade.

Even in societies where they will kill you for drug use, people continue to use them. The demand exists, time to create a supply system that harms only those who choose to harm themselves.

Posted by 2b 2005-06-09 08:40|| 2005-06-09 08:40|| Front Page Top

#2 The 2 June 2005 incident is worst of all -- MS-13?? I need a link ...

Posted by Edward Yee">Edward Yee 2005-06-09 09:06|| http://edwardyee.fanworks.net]">[http://edwardyee.fanworks.net] 2005-06-09 09:06|| Front Page Top

#3 The problem here is not solved by legalizing drugs. The entire Mexican government is corrupt from top to bottom. Just about everyone from dog catcher to President is on the take in some way. This case points out why we have so much illegal immigration. If we want to stop the flow of illegals across the border, we have to deal with the inherent corruption in Mexico's society and political system.

Yes our government could do a much better job defending the border and enforcing immigration laws, but we could build a moat filled wth fire and a 100' high fence of razor wire and there would still be a flood of illegal immigration as long as Mexico is corrupt.

We should take a hard line with the political leaders of Mexico - especially Vincente Fox. Instead of letting him set the agenda, demanding that the US do this or that, we should make a few demands of our own. Mexico needs to guard the border too. They need to reform their polical system and thereby, their economy. We can play an integral role in their reform, but it shoudn't be in the form of handouts. With the current political climate, spending money on Mexico is throwing it down a rathole.

It never ceases to amaze me that we are the world's one remaining true "superpower" and yet we don't have the guts to wield the power.

Posted by Theretch Cloluting3605 2005-06-09 09:08|| 2005-06-09 09:08|| Front Page Top

#4 2b - not enough citizen killed annually on the highway with just alcohol?

Posted by Jert Flinert7749 2005-06-09 09:32|| 2005-06-09 09:32|| Front Page Top

#5 The 2 June 2005 incident is worst of all -- MS-13??
More likely just a mugging, or attempted kidnapping. They grab a lot of people of Mexican decent visiting from the US. Their families will pay to have them released. I figure they decided they couldn't get anything for him, so they let him go.

Posted by Steve ">Steve 2005-06-09 09:44|| 2005-06-09 09:44|| Front Page Top

#6 not enough killed with alcohol...

that's a red flag and you know it. 40,000 people are killed on our highways annually and alcohol deaths are just a part of it. By your logic, no more cell phones, no more fast food, no more teen drivers, no more old drivers, no more truck drivers.

But wait, instead, let's look at the number of people killed world wide by the drug trade. Let's look at how many governments are corrupted by the money gained through it. Let's look at the money we waste. Heck, if you are so worried about traffic deaths, we could take all of that money we spend on the drug war and all of the taxes that we would get from making it legal in a sane and reasonable manner (no I don't mean crack machines on the corner) and we could do much better than limit the number of people killed by stoned drivers.

Posted by 2b 2005-06-09 09:44|| 2005-06-09 09:44|| Front Page Top

#7 Time to make the drugs available in a sane manner and stop the illegal trade.

Just give me enough advance warning so I can buy stock in Nabisco.

Posted by BH 2005-06-09 09:45|| 2005-06-09 09:45|| Front Page Top

#8 and besides, right now there is nothing to stop them from getting the drugs and driving stoned anyway.

I know nothing about getting drugs. But I feel quite certain, that if I wanted to, I could drive downtown and have whatever my little heart desired in less than 1/2 hour.

Posted by 2b 2005-06-09 09:46|| 2005-06-09 09:46|| Front Page Top

#9 ok..you got me started...

I don't mean legal in the sense that you can buy heroin a the local market. I mean legal in the sense of perscription drugs. Legal in the sense that we don't allow advertising. Legal in the sense that we allow people who are already addicted to get it through a doctor or program. And yes, it is possible to determine who is already addicted.

Would there be corruption - yes, in the same way that there is with legal pain killers. But that is much easier to regulate and manage than the present situation with cartels and corrupt governments providing the supply.

Posted by 2b 2005-06-09 09:55|| 2005-06-09 09:55|| Front Page Top

#10 Or driving while stupid? Let's make stupidity illegal, setup a war on nitwittery, make prolonged driving in the left interstate lane at 68 MPH a Class 1 felony. We can do it. We have the means.

Posted by Shipman 2005-06-09 09:57|| 2005-06-09 09:57|| Front Page Top

#11 lol! Shipman - thanks for breaking me out my rant!

Posted by 2b 2005-06-09 09:59|| 2005-06-09 09:59|| Front Page Top

#12 Now why did they go and do that? That new police chief might have been the greatest ally drug/people smugglers could ever have had.....

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-06-09 10:09|| 2005-06-09 10:09|| Front Page Top

#13 Shipman, if you make driving in the left lane at 68 mph a death penalty-eligible offense, I second that motion! ;)

Posted by Desert Blondie 2005-06-09 10:28|| http://azjetsetchick.blogspot.com]">[http://azjetsetchick.blogspot.com] 2005-06-09 10:28|| Front Page Top

#14 prohibition vs. decriminalizing vs. legalizing.
The three choices all have there pros and cons.

another slant/ Do you want to raise your kids in a permissive drug culture? Kids make mistakes(as well as adults), some kids are risk takers by nature.

Posted by Red Dog 2005-06-09 10:37|| 2005-06-09 10:37|| Front Page Top

#15 I'm sick of this stupid drug war. It's time to end the prohibition on drugs. Why do we care if people want to ruin their own lives. Time to make the drugs available in a sane manner and stop the illegal trade.

Arguments about the drug war aside, my cynicism says the traffickers will just move onto something else that's illegal and in high demand.

Posted by Pappy 2005-06-09 10:47|| 2005-06-09 10:47|| Front Page Top

#16 Shipman, if they ever make driving while stupid illegal, I'll be housebound for sure!

Posted by trailing wife 2005-06-09 10:48|| 2005-06-09 10:48|| Front Page Top

#17 We have a choice, either have a societal problem with drug abuse, or have a societal problem with drug abuse and a black market. I don't believe in solutions only tradeoffs.

Bad drugs drive out safer (or less unsafe) drugs in a black market. Heroin is more profitable than pot, prisoners go blind from drinking methanol,and
Merck is prohibited from making safer drugs that make you feel good.

Posted by Eric 2005-06-09 11:02|| 2005-06-09 11:02|| Front Page Top

#18 10, 13, 16

Bobby's One Bullet a Month Solution©

Everyone gets a free gun and one free bullet a month. Second bullet is $100, third is $1,000. After a while, only courteous folks would be left!

But eventually, sales would fall off and taxes would have to go up ....

Posted by Bobby 2005-06-09 13:57|| 2005-06-09 13:57|| Front Page Top

#19 I like that first sentance Eric. We can maybe solve half the problem.

We already live in a permissive drug culture.

Posted by Shipman 2005-06-09 16:07|| 2005-06-09 16:07|| Front Page Top

#20 Prohibition causes artifical shortages, creating higher prices, and coupled with the attendant lawbreaking, the violence associated with such items.

Should cocaine be legalized (something I am not in favor of), it would be no more expensive than caffeine. Anybody killed over a cup of coffee lately? When was the last person killed over liquor distribution issues in the US? The day before prohibition ended would be my guess. But of course, the abuse problem would have to be addressed.... Marijuana has less of an abuse problem than harder drugs...

Posted by Mark E. 2005-06-09 19:21|| 2005-06-09 19:21|| Front Page Top

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