My stolen car radio... Or Drug Legalisation: would it work? (1890 hits)
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Submitted by matnotharry <mattreallysmells.at.hotmail.com> (View user info) at 2006-07-09 19:56:01 EDT
Today my car radio was stolen.
Surprisingly, this did not bother me. My day at work had been sufficiently tedious to rob me of all the concern and energy required to react in the typically explosive manner one might normally greet such a situation. Indeed they only response I could muster, when I found my nervous Fiat with its sorrowful shard-edged socket, was a cynical eyebrow raising to the heavens and a weary 'oh'.
It did not bother me that I spent ten minutes brushing pretty little green cubes of glass off my seat, only to find a few minutes into my journey that I had missed a few. It did not bother me that I had to listen to the roar of passing traffic and previously unheard problems of my car for the duration of my journey. I was not even bothered by the inexplicably horizontal sheet of rain that I endured, resulting in me entering my house looking like the yin and yang of saturation.
No my friends, I was still unfazed after all this. And was still calm as a Hindu cow the next day at work, until I went for lunch.
What did bother me, you ask, what really got my goat?
It was the homeless scrawny fucking scaghead that offered me a car radio as I left the supermarket. Not just any car radio however, but (did you guess?) MY car radio. I did not move or speak for a good fifteen seconds, causing his hollow dead eyes to slowly move off the change in my hand and up to my face. I gave him a look that could have peeled paint and he turned and galloped into the distance on skinny emaciated legs.
The road on which he retreated led to a known hot spot of drug use in my area. Even town seems to have one now; a road, street or estate that conveniently defrags the dregs of society into one area, keeping them out of the way of us law abiding citizens. They are free to steal and shoot and kill and deal and smoke and pimp and give hand-jobs for cash without bothering the rest of us. But that's just a suburban town; in the favelas of Brazil entire communities are brutally ruled by tyrannical drug lords, leading to countless cycles of death and corruption. Drug-related crime has turned our inner cities into war zones (there were around 1500 drive-by shootings in 1995 in Los Angeles alone), young children are being brought into criminal lifestyles by drug dealers since they will be punished less severely when caught - pathguy.com/lectures/env-23.htm)
I appreciate I am only giving fleeting and generic examples of such terrorised communities, but I'm sure you all have seen such societies countless times and have sufficient knowledge to understand what I am trying to portray
I cannot speak for anyone else, but drug use is rapidly on the rise in my area, I've seen it begin to pervade the lives of so many around me. The wild-child of my class when I was 16 is now a jobless pothead, the young dancing student who used to work at the store I now only see plodding the streets trying to attract kerb crawlers. Not to mention the immense drug-busts, drug-smugglers and drug related crime that we see virtually daily on the news
My brother tells me of his school's Zero Tolerance Policy, a scheme designed to reduce drug use by removing the offending students permanently from education - resulting in a law-abiding environment for our children, and one 14 year old with very few options. Our prisons are overflowing with pimps, pushers and petty criminals, whose choices led to them having to steal and exploit to satisfy a terrible craving.
Now, I want you to think about this. I am not a great one for spotting critical flaws or weaknesses in schemes and would appreciate your input on the following.
Consider that drugs will probably always be a part of our society. People have been using them for thousands of years in one form or another and I personally can't see it stopping any time soon.
Consider that it is not always hippies, the homeless or celebrities who we refer to as drug users/abusers; our communities contain many who are fully law-abiding citizens apart from their choice of chemicals they put into their bodies. Perhaps you have no time for drug users, but you might find you will if one day you see your family on the wrong side of the law and society; your sister on a street corner or your brother pushing drugs or your child in a lifeless foetal position, needle in arm and a glazed eyes sunk into waxy skin
Consider that the only source of drugs in society is criminal activity. Drug dealers make millions through selling hazardous cocktails that put their user's lives on the line every time they inject, snort or inhale. What if the government were to control the sale of such substances? Full legalisation, not just decriminalisation. A user would know exactly what they are taking and, furthermore, a major criminal economy could be killed overnight.
Consider that though thousands of people are killed every year through drug abuse and trafficking, millions are damaged through alcohol abuse. Yet it is the law that is killing these users by leaving the responsibility of controlling such lethal chemicals in the hands of criminals. It is insane.
With drugs legalised they could be sold over the counter at a chemist or an off licence, taxed up the arse in the same way cigarettes are (a fag costs two cents or just over a penny to make) allowing users to 'safely' do to themselves as they please whilst giving huge amounts of money that can be poured into rehabilitation schemes to help those in less fortunate positions.
Would the number of users spiral out of control? Cigarettes and alcohol are perfectly capable of controlling and destroying lives yet are still legal with many people are able to kick them or avoid them completely
Would you even care if the number of users in your community doubled or even tripled if it meant you and your children could walk the streets without the constant fear of being mugged?
No-one plans to be a junkie, no-one plans to die of cancer.
I have written this as eloquently and as powerfully as I can to persuade you to think about this issue, I genuinely want to know what you think could happen.
User Reviews
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2006-08-20 20:23:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
It would work if every part of it was state run and moderated by the feds.
Submitted by Darth_Famine (user info) at 2006-07-12 02:48:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
i'd vote for them
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2006-07-11 14:06:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-07-11 05:45:55 (#)
Ranking: 1
Because the voters would crucify them?
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I think that is what will stop drug legalisation ever happening, putting a career before doing what they think is right.
I guess that's understandable though
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-07-11 05:45:55 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Because the voters would crucify them?
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2006-07-11 05:18:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Darth_Famine (user info) at 2006-07-11 00:28:32 (#)
Ranking: 2
were we to legalize drugs it would emiminate the black market in such. Since in a black market there is no law there is only one way to settle any problem...Violence.
By eleminating the black market, we would eliminate the drug cartels, by practically destroying thier profits. Voilence would no longer be the only solution and as a result crime would drop.
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It staggers me that noone polititian has raised this point, society is crying out for it
Submitted by Darth_Famine (user info) at 2006-07-11 00:28:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
were we to legalize drugs it would emiminate the black market in such. Since in a black market there is no law there is only one way to settle any problem...Violence.
By eleminating the black market, we would eliminate the drug cartels, by practically destroying thier profits. Voilence would no longer be the only solution and as a result crime would drop.
Furtermore, if we truly lived in a free society then we should be able to put whatever we want into our bodies.
Why you ask? Most drugs are by definition "Mind Altering" Our constitution is based on freedom and self determination.
We the people have at least on paper the RIGHT to control the contents of OUR minds.
By outlawing drugs the government is attempting to impede that basic human right.
Lets talk about the war on drugs for a moment
back in the 60's if you liked heroin, you could get a bag for 30 dollars, that was about 4-5% pure
Today you can get a bag of the same weight for 4-5 dollars thats 90% pure
The war on drugs is a total failure and a waste of our tax dollars.
If none of you have ever watched Penn and Teller's Bullshit I highly recomend it.
most of my facts here (and yes everything I have said IS fact.) came from thier show about
you guessed it
the war on drugs
so to quote the
The war on drugs... IS BULLSHIT!
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2006-07-10 18:27:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-07-10 17:03:26 (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 for being a wuss and not taking your radio back - what's he going to do, call the police?
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Thank you for your valuble insight.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-07-10 17:03:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
-2 for being a wuss and not taking your radio back - what's he going to do, call the police?
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2006-07-10 13:01:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2006-07-10 10:30:31 (#)
Ranking: 2
The gov should say FUCK IT we aren't getting anywhere this way.
Legalize it.... all the people who want to will kill themselves and we can go on and spend our tax money on $40,000 toilets like god intended.
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....yes....
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2006-07-10 10:30:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The gov should say FUCK IT we aren't getting anywhere this way.
Legalize it.... all the people who want to will kill themselves and we can go on and spend our tax money on $40,000 toilets like god intended.
Submitted by Adamdidit2u (user info) at 2006-07-10 10:17:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
All recreational drugs should be legalized in a manner such as alcohol and cigarettes. It's called personal choice and responsability, if you're too dumb to let these drugs fuck up your life....well fuck you then.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-07-10 10:10:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Shit, I could go out now and buy a nine bar, make 120% proift in a few days. Legal economies don't work like that.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-07-10 10:09:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yep. You think macdonalds couldn't supply weed cheaper than some guy who smuggles it from afghanistan (or grows it in his bath or whatever)?
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2006-07-10 09:52:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-07-10 09:44:03 (#)
Ranking: 2
The price would almost certainly fall unless the govt made a decision to tax it until it hit current levels.
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eh?
The price of drugs would fall unless the government decided to tax them until they hit street prices?
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-07-10 09:44:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The price would almost certainly fall unless the govt made a decision to tax it until it hit current levels.
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2006-07-10 09:35:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by sexualchocolate1984 (user info) at 2006-07-10 07:52:44 (#)
Ranking: 2
... The government would put so much tax on the drugs sold legally that current users would refuse to pay 100% - 150% more for our drugs, and would continue buying cheap, dirty, illegally imported / produced drugs from the street dealers and the problem would only become clouded.
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Would they refuse though? A pack of cigarettes in Britain sets you back about £5 and only costs around 50p to produce (based on 20 x 1.5p cigarettes plus some cheap cardboard packaging). Yet there is no major underground cigarette market because it is not worth establishing.
Similarly drinkers rarely distil their own spirits to avoid taxation because it's simply easier to purchase the safe stuff
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2006-07-10 07:54:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.csun.edu/CommunicationStudies/ben/news/cia/index.html
Submitted by sexualchocolate1984 (user info) at 2006-07-10 07:52:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Superb thought. One I have been pondering for years. The only problem with this solution is the point you make on Tax. The government would put so much tax on the drugs sold legally that current users would refuse to pay 100% - 150% more for our drugs, and would continue buying cheap, dirty, illegally imported / produced drugs from the street dealers and the problem would only become clouded. Instead of the dealers going out of business they would thrive as their "wares" became legal, not only legal but much better value than they were before. People would still use them and steal to afford them, they just wouldn't be arrested for having drugs on them as it would be too hard to determine which drugs were legal and which were illegal.
Shame, would be nice to buy crack from the chemist.
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2006-07-10 07:30:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-07-10 05:35:17 (#)
Ranking: 2
I will say I am for decriminalization of minor drugs.
I am not in any way for legalization of any drugs.
Sorry, just because someone could get it from a doctor doesn't mean the street wouldn't sell it.
Take pain killers like Vicodin/OxyContin/etc Sure, they're legally prescribed, but what junkie can afford the cost without insurance? They'll still go to the street dealer who bought them from some cartel that robbed a hospital of everything I had in Mexico.
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But decriminalisation just gives dealers more room to manoeuvre, it won't solve the problem in the same way that government licensing will. Those who can affored the drugs will be paying for the rehabilitation, or simply the needs, of those who can't.
Submitted by DCWoody (user info) at 2006-07-10 05:46:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
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Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2006-07-10 04:26:24 (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by mono_blanco (user info) at 2006-07-09 21:48:39 (#)
Ranking: 2
I can't even see the other side of the debate. Not only would I not to want to fight the war on drugs even if we had a chance, but we have proven quite clearly that we can't even slow down the flow of drugs by pouring billions of dollars into the losing war.
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I agree. It seems to make so much perfect sense that it feels like there is a major catch being missed
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The catch: avaerage British voter is in their late 40s, prejudiced, block headed and thick as shit.
Thats the problem with democracy; people are stupid.
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-07-10 05:35:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I will say I am for decriminalization of minor drugs.
I am not in any way for legalization of any drugs.
Sorry, just because someone could get it from a doctor doesn't mean the street wouldn't sell it.
Take pain killers like Vicodin/OxyContin/etc Sure, they're legally prescribed, but what junkie can afford the cost without insurance? They'll still go to the street dealer who bought them from some cartel that robbed a hospital of everything I had in Mexico.
Submitted by HurtByTheSun (user info) at 2006-07-10 05:17:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I completely agree with the legalisation of everything. In Britain drugs were only made illegal in 1916, before that just about anything went. Shit, you could buy laudanum tonics in the chemist for fuck sake.
In several studies it has been found that intoxication is an integral part of human make up, denying it is to deny our very essence. A lot of early practicers of intoxication, Greeks, Thracians, Romans, worshippers of Dionysos etc. did it for religious reasons. Ironic then that it is often the Church that rails so hard against drugs.
Read 'Out of It' for some awesome facts and arguments.
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2006-07-10 04:26:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by mono_blanco (user info) at 2006-07-09 21:48:39 (#)
Ranking: 2
I can't even see the other side of the debate. Not only would I not to want to fight the war on drugs even if we had a chance, but we have proven quite clearly that we can't even slow down the flow of drugs by pouring billions of dollars into the losing war.
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I agree. It seems to make so much perfect sense that it feels like there is a major catch being missed
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-07-10 04:17:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You have a nice idea but it can never happen. Not while you can still grow your own.
Submitted by earjacking-the-net (user info) at 2006-07-10 00:57:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You can theorize all you like, but the reality of it is that the "Drug War" will never cease.
It's a pipe dream.
I hope I am proven wrong in the future.
Someday students of American history will ponder the question of how today's elected officials could readily admit to the mistaken policy of alcohol prohibition in the 1920s but continue the policy of drug prohibition. Indeed, the only historical lesson that recent presidents and Congresses seem to have drawn from the period of alcohol prohibition is that government should not try to outlaw the sale of alcohol.
But what if......
a) Besides all the usual, everybody knows stuff: lower prices/less crime/tax revenue etc. etc.
b) Foreign aid to many countries {based on thier drug policies alone} would cease since there would be no agreement with the U.S.
c) Close to 800,000 people could have their drug possesion/trafficking related offences overturned.And with that all the legalities/expenses incured, would put huge strains on the judicial system.But they could use some of the 30 plus BILLION they currently use in fighting the "Drug War".
These Billions of $$ could also serve better purpose elsewhere.I dunno' maybe health & Education or if you swing another way military use. Maybe catch Osama YO MOMMA Bin Laden
d)Reform would also free police to concentrate on robbery, burglary, and violent crime(rape !)
e)Repealing prohibition would take the astronomical profits out of the drug business and destroy the drug kingpins that terrorize parts of our cities.
f)This is getting tooo looong but I could go on, you get the point.
g) I could now go to the store for another baggie of my favorite strain and get rid of my head-ache.
Contact someone who is suppose to care.
http://www.firstgov.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
http://ornorml.org/contact/federal.php
http://www.hightimes.com/ht/Activism/
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2006-07-10 00:32:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I know people who look worse than the after picture.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-07-10 00:17:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
What happened to the bum?
Submitted by mono_blanco (user info) at 2006-07-09 21:48:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I can't even see the other side of the debate. Not only would I not to want to fight the war on drugs even if we had a chance, but we have proven quite clearly that we can't even slow down the flow of drugs by pouring billions of dollars into the losing war.
Like you said, the only result is insane amounts of violence, and a gigantic, underground economy.
I also totally agree. Even though every sociologist, police officer, and social worker I've ever talked to believes that legalizing drugs would NOT increase use, I wouldn't care if it did. The possibility of more drug users for the HUGE reduction in violence to uninvolved people? Like I said, I don't even see the other side.
PS I'm glad the story didn't just turn into how you went and beat the guy who stole your radio, or what color his skin was. I've been robbed a ton also, and it sucks. But it seems that you get quite clearly that these people aren't evil villains, just pretty fucked up in their lives.
Submitted by Sockster (user info) at 2006-07-09 21:03:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
*Shrug*
*Shoots up*
Submitted by forthewin (user info) at 2006-07-09 20:37:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 because I didn't read the whole thing... But you stopped talking about the bum. Why did you stop talking about the bum??
Submitted by matnotharry (user info) at 2006-07-09 20:12:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
*cough* I want some attention bitches