http://cosmicrat.multiply.com/links/item/222/U.S._Drug-War_Policy_Planting_the_Seeds_of_Civil-Society_Destruction_the_narcosphere
The history of US treatment of our Latin American neighbors contains a long list of shameful and brutal actions and policies. Just in case anyone thinks we've reformed and everything is all right now, there are still the drug wars and all those leftover guns.
Are there really people who think that "everything is alright" regarding the "drug war"? I don't see how anyone could get that idea...ever. As long as the raw materials for "drugs" can be grown, the only way the "drug war" is ever going to end is if the DEA confiscates all the dirt and water on Earth.
AntwortenLöschenOr, they could save a pile of money and just buy the drugs.
AntwortenLöschenLOL...Not a chance...the pharmaceutical companies are not going to allow competition in their anti-anxiety drug market. ;)
AntwortenLöschenI said buy the drugs....not buy them and re-sell them.
AntwortenLöschenIf you buy the drugs and take them off the street, that would actually improve the pharmaceutical companies' position....No?
...and the position of the drug barons allover the world. Then they can sell their stuff legally.
AntwortenLöschenCorrect, and the largest segment of the world's black market would be eliminated at 60+% of what it is costing us to do next to nothing about it now.
AntwortenLöschenWant to make an omelet? You have to break some eggs.
DEA
FY 2010 Enacted: $2,019.7 million (8,399 positions; 4,146 agents)
Current Services Adjustments: +$53.0 million (2.6% above FY 2010 Enacted)
Program Changes: +$57.4 million
FY 2011 Budget Request: $2,130.1 million (8,399 positions; 4,146 agents)
Change from FY 2010 Enacted: +$110.4 million (+5.5%) (+0 positions)
ATF
FY 2010 Enacted: $1,120.8 million (5,101 positions; 2,485 agents)
Current Services Adjustments: +$30.1 million (2.7% above FY 2010 Enacted)
Program Changes: +$12.1 million
FY 2011 Budget Request: $1,163.0 million (5,145 positions; 2,513 agents)
Change from FY 2010 Enacted: +$42.2 million (+3.8%) (+44 positions; +28 agents)
FBI
FY 2011 CR: $7,848.5 million (32,998 positions; 12,781 agents)
Current Services Adjustments: +$165.8 million
Program Changes:+$61.6 million
FY 2012 Budget Request: $8,076.0 million (33,469 positions; 12,993 agents)
Change From FY 2011 CR:
+$227.4 million (+2.9%) (+471 positions; +212 agents)
This does not include all the local drug, gang intervention, remediation and enforcement costs.
Federal Law enforcement assistance act: $1,884,000,000
Ahh...I see your point...yes it would.
AntwortenLöschenGeneral Lei Yutian used to, and I think still does, control and enforce commerce in the golden triangle.
AntwortenLöschenHe made this very offer to the US many moons ago.
The plan was soundly rejected but, the arithmetic was undeniable.
He really never wanted to be in the heroin business.
He was even willing to compromise his own position in the deal by using the income to eventually turn the golden triangle into a tourist destination.
As far as I know, he's still trying.
The problem with this approach is that if it did succeed in eliminating a large portion of supply, the demand still exists, and the price would go up. The government would have to pay increasing amounts, or the suppliers would sell elsewhere. The higher prices would encourage even more suppliers, increase the misuse of pharmaceutical alternatives, and create an enormous potential for corruption.
AntwortenLöschenDecriminalization makes a lot more sense.
The point here is not so much the wisdom of drug laws but the cumulative effect of decades of covertly or directly creating coups, revolutions, counter-revolutions and arming them, contributing to the poverty, inequality, and instability-- all adding up to current drug wars inflicting maximum damage on human life and society south of our border.
No, that's not what would happen.
AntwortenLöschenGeneral Lei was up-front about the whole thing. Yes the price would go up but the net government outlay would not.
In other words, the same money with some COLA and inflation adustments would be laid out for an ever decreasing amount of product while the Generals work force and overhead also diminishes. Once the population that supports the trade in Coca and Heroin moves off to other more civilized pursuits in the tourist industry, it's very difficult to lure them back to the toil in the fields and the risk. They never really wanted to do it in the first place and they were never compensated other than that they didn't starve.
The General knows what the budget is and is not going to push the envelope beyond what would be a deal breaker. He's a businessman.
The model can be repeated incrementally from theater to theater.
We just have to pick up the slack socially. We have to go after recreational drug users like we do smokers. Vilify them, embarass them, segregate them, charge them more for everything, make fun of them.
Like cigarettes the demand will go down.
This is the only answer.
Decriminalization is just a surrender.