The title is for those on the right, who need to be shown a dollars and cents reason for making changes.
While the economy is circling the drain, we are told that the stopper is now found, and the hand of government will get it into the drain before the entire nation is hypnotized by the Coriolis effect.
In Portugal, five years after decriminalization of drugs, major reductions in problems with new use, HIV infection, and secondary problems are found. Drug overdose deaths are down over 25%, HIV infection from shared needles is down over two-thirds, and only the Portuguese government knows how much money is being saved, able to be focused elsewhere in their economy.
So shows an article released in the April Scientific American.
With the troubles found here, and especially in my state, California, does it not appear to be a very unenlightened position to take that fighting a make believe war of drugs is a good idea?
In the last months we hear of the deficit in California, 24 billion dollars, at last count. At the same time, during the full undertaking of this war on drugs, we hear that marijuana is the largest cash crop in the Golden State. With the apparent level of ease at which these figures are obtained, it begins to boggle the mind when trying to reconcile the crop size that must be, and the level of utter stupidity that says we are doing any good wasting our dollars on any police interdiction.
Why not save dollars, lives, and the economy by decriminalizing drugs?
As far as I am able to tell, it comes from the long held paternalistic function of law; the idea that those in jeopardy from something self-directed, need to be protected from the harm they might cause themselves.
A very nice thought, but does it not clash with our idea of freedom? Do we not have the right to direct our own destiny? (even if that destiny is harm or death?)
Lining it up in short form, let’s see what can be accomplished by decriminalizing drugs –
• Drugs can be made legal (difficult for many to think of, because of that long held paternalistic thought, but let’s go there for just a moment). Marijuana, being legal, can now be taxed, which no matter how high the tax, growers, suppliers, and dealers all won’t complain, as there lives are made easier, with no worries of legal problems, payoffs, or violence gone away. The government benefits from the taxes, and also greatly benefits by not having to assign enforcement of laws no longer in place, as well as not having to prosecute, then house, criminals in the system.
• Legal or decriminalized drugs are made much easier to obtain, which at first seems bad, but upon scrutiny shows that lowered, or no, penalties means that violence goes down, and much of the smuggling stops. Fewer illegal border crossings, with fewer border patrols needed, means taxpayer savings, as less government is needed.
• On a human level, money not spent on these other things can be spent on intelligent programs, where children are given the facts, and possible consequences, and, by removing the scare tactics, the knowledge is absorbed, instead of being dismissed as blatherings by those in power. Those already using drugs can be free to seek help, without fear of prosecution, and in so doing, become the very best advertisements for the disuse of drugs.
Again, for the Republican crowd, remember that one of your modern icons for that way of thought, William F. Buckley, Jr., was for the complete removal of penalties for drugs. If you can’t get your head around the idea of letting loose of the paternalistic entanglements, remember that personal freedom is (ostensibly) a core tenet of that party.
If it must be a dollars and cents thing, think of the money saved on useless wars on drugs, proven to not work, and therefore, logically, a waste of money.
§
•
Today in History
Historical Moments for Jul 02
July 2nd 0311 St Militiades begins his reign as Catholic Pope
July 2nd 1140 Hartbert becomes bishop of Utrecht
July 2nd 1214 Battle of La Roche-aux-Moines (Angers)
July 2nd 1214 English king John begins siege around Lille France
July 2nd 1298 Battle on Hasenbauhl (Gâellheim) between German kings Adolf & Albrecht I
July 2nd 1576 Muitende Spanish soldiers conquer Zierik Sea
July 2nd 1600 Battle at Newport: Earl Mauritius van Nassau beats Spanish Army
July 2nd 1644 Battle of Marston Moor: Parliamentary forces defeat royalists
July 2nd 1681 Earl of Shaftesbury arrested for high-treason
July 2nd 1687 King James II disbands English parliament
