There are many wars without ends….LBJ’s War on Poverty or The War on Terror, it will surely be one also…..but the war I am talking about is the war on drugs…….
Step into the “Way Back Machine”…the year is 1973 and the formation of the DEA….and the war began…..to date about $1 trillion, that is trillion with a “T”, has been spent to defeat drugs and to date it has NOT even come close to ending the use of drugs……millions and even billions are spent every year for everything from printed anti-drug pamphlets to actual armed attacks on drug lords….and in the almost 40 years and a trillion dollars we are no closer to solving the problem that has been with us since the 1930’s…….
In the recent debate on our spending….there seem to be a real chance that programs like Medicare and Social Security could be under the ax……they, the GOP freshman, want to get rid of inefficient programs…..but you know…I have NOT heard one of them say anything about the war on drugs……let us be honest…..just what have we gained from the trillion or so spent on this war?
The funds have been used to outfit armies…armies that have committed atrocities against their own people in the name of a war on drugs…..funds from this war have been used to prop up unpopular leaders……
If the government wants to work on the premise that only programs that show results or the ones that are efficient then the Wart on Drugs has got to go…..I am waiting to see just which programs will be cleared to keep getting their funding…..
This war is a war on a concept or a way of thinking….there is no way it can be won……I say crap the system and use the money for education or health care or something that will benefit the people of this country in our time of need……or we continue to fight a war that we cannot win (sounds familiar?)……..
It’s not so much the effectiveness of federal money spent on such programs. With religious conservatives its all about making a statement about what they regard as a threat to their sense of social order. There might be more effective ways that don’t necessarily punish everyone involved or spend as much but that will not do to let some slip through the full punitive effect of the anti-drug, pro-war, pro-death penalty mentality of some. So what if some innocent people are destroyed over this approach. By mere association or even proximity they are likely guilty anyway, right?
I might suggest to change the law that forbids all use of illegal drugs. Allow those who want to engage in such practices to moonshine it if they want. Market it like alcohol. It must pass strict FDA standards. This could be one area where most citizens wouldn’t mind some of that “gubbermint regalation”.
Sure some young people will fall prey to its use but the money saved from going after drug lords and throwing people in prison could more cheaply be used to educate young people and rehabilitate those who slip through the cracks,
Not a perfect system but nothing is.
Larry…I agree…..tax it and use cash for the Medicare system……and look the illegality of drugs has done in Mexico and Colombia……armed camps…..cut out the middle man and most, but not all, of the violence could be eliminated……..
The war on drugs was a joke…drugs won.
And won hands down!
Just wanted to let everyone know….I live on the Gulf Coast and we are dealing with tropical depression #13, soon to be Jose……..lots of rain and will be so for a couple of days….I will probably lose connect-ability….I will return as soon as possible.
On a side note….some old guy just floated by inj this big boat…..he was shoveling dung and singing Proud Mary….is that a sign or what?
I agree 100%