War On Drugs

[JOEBIALEK]

According to the State Department's annual drug-trafficking report, a federal law took effect in 1985 authorizing the United States to penalize countries that do not control illicit narcotics production. Today, these same countries are now producing larger quantities of heroin, cocaine, marijuana and other drugs, Furthermore, three years after installing a pro-U.S. government, Afghanistan has been unable to contain opium poppy production and is on the verge of becoming a narcotics state. Opium poppy is the raw material for heroin. Colombia is the source of more than 90 percent of the cocaine and 50 percent of the heroin entering the United States. The report also listed Mexico as a major producer of heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana destined for U.S. markets. Source: New York Times and Associated Press.

Some would argue that the only solution would be the legalization of drugs. By removing the criminality of drug sales, possession and usage, the United States government could devote more of its law enforcement resources on other crimes such as murder, rape, assault etc. Furthermore, they argue that regulation of such drugs could create a revenue enhancement for federal, state and local governments. The counter argument suggests that by legalizing drugs, the government grants an implicit consent that drug consumption is morally acceptable. Others argue that the U.S. should focus more on the demand side of the problem by increasing funds for psychiatric and psychological counseling. Their argument is based on the idea that if the individual is properly counseled and medicated, the demand for illegal narcotics would drop significantly. The counter argument is that this solution is cost prohibitive and will only result in replacing one problem with another. Still others offer a more hard-line approach when it comes to dealing with foreign countries such as setting a deadline for the removal of narcotics production. If the deadline passes, the U.S. should utilize various crop-field-burning methods so as to totally obliterate any type of crop production. This would effectively eliminate the central piece of drug production across the planet. The counter argument, however, is that this policy would prevent farmers from switching to other crops in order to earn a legitimate living. I believe that the problem of illegal narcotics in the United States poses a greater threat to the average citizen than any terrorist and/or nuclear threat in existence today. Perhaps a balanced integration of all three of these solutions is our only answer.

[piece-it pete]

Joe,

Interesting post.

I don't know what the answer is, but heroin in my neck of the woods is becoming a HUGE problem.

Pure, at $7-8 bucks a hit, anyone who's lived the life knows what it's capable of, no relatively harmless stuff like pot. It's in the schools!

I catch some jerk selling this stuff to kids and I'd have a hard time not killing him.

Pete

[JOEBIALEK]

illegal narcotics are a symptom of our country imploding (addiction) compared to exploding (terrorists)...

[JSE]

Joe,

The biggest problem our nation has is it's open borders. Eliminate that problem and drug trafficing will drop. Securing our borders won't eliminate it but it would probably make it more defensible. Drugs will always exist and there will always be a demand for them. No one can change that. But, we can sure as hell cut the supply down significantly by securing our borders so we can better fight the "Wars" on drugs and terrorism. We just need a leader with the balls to do it. Unfortunately, that person will not come for some time, if ever, and by then it might be too late.

So there you go Joe. I bit.

JSE

[jamison]

just put a border patrolman every 50 yards and have them shoot everyone that trys to cross that will get the signal across really quick.

[MomurdA]

just put a border patrolman every 50 yards and have them shoot everyone that trys to cross that will get the signal across really quick.

Who is going to pay for that?

[JSE]

Who is going to pay for that?

It's not about the money, it's about the will. The money can be found. Hell we have spent billions in Iraq so I think we can come up with a little for "Border Defense". Plus, securing the border would pay for itself in time. Illegal immigrants cost us billions of dollars each year. They ain't getting free medical care, food, shelter, etc. They just are not the ones paying for it. That would be you and me.

I'm not saying we should shoot everyone trying to cross our borders, but there are many other ways to stop the flood. But, like I said, it's about "will". No politician will push for it because they need the hispanic vote. And yes, I am singling out Hispanics because they represent by far the largest percentage of illegal immigrants. And don't call me a racist, it's just reality. If Canadians were flooding into the US illegally, I would single them out. Luckily for all of us, they are staying put, eh?

JSE