Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drugs. Show all posts

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Mr. President

Goodness.

We have a President!

It's been a long time, folks.

And the world is paying attention.

And may we pay attention to the world.

Our love of guns is just plain silly, and we're not likely to ever figure out what the framers of those words, "the right to bear arms," really meant, so let's put on our thinking caps for a change, let's take a look at the civilized world and admit that our lax gun laws, our infatuation with guns, our admiration of violence, creates a highly violent culture, and the rest of the world looks on with amazement.

And hats off to Iowa for a unanimous Supreme Court decision declaring gay marriage a constitutional right, and contrary to California with its initiative politics, it will be a lot harder to undo.

And maybe we can finally grow up with regard to "illegal" drugs. Secretary of State Clinton is right - our drug appetite is fueling the drug cartels and their violence. Our drug war is ridiculous - makes about as much sense as outlawing milk. Let's legalize it like the Netherlands; let's tax it and make some money, and above all else, let's put the cartels out of business.

Prohibition failed, and so will the drug war.

I have never been a user and at this stage of life, not likely to become one. I decry the sorrow of drugs, but even worse is the clogging of our legal system with prosecutions and making millionaires out of criminals.

We can do better; we can be smarter!

Who knows where it'll go, but this much I know - we finally have a President fit for the office, and a President fit for the 21st century.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Legalize Drugs

"The Economist" believes it's time to end the foolish "Prohibition" on drugs, and I agree.

It's time to see and treat this as a health issue, not a criminal problem.

Though any "solution" is going to be messy, the failure of the nations to deal with the First World's consumption of drugs driving, then, Third World producers, is manifest.

Now, the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same old thing, but expect different results. Our efforts to reduce drug consumption has failed. Statistics seemingly indicate that in any given society, a certain number of its citizens are likely to become addicts, even as with alcohol and tobacco. Further efforts along the lines we've followed for a hundred years seems to be fruitless, if not actually contributing to the problem.

Without being dreamy-eyed, "The Economist" offers wise counsel for a "less bad" solution to the seemingly intractable drug trade.

Click HERE to read more.