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Kofi Annan calls for an end to the war on drugs, what do you think?
Why I'm Calling to End the War on Drugs
Posted from huffingtonpost.com
Drugs
Crime
Law
Government
Policy
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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I think his opening statement says it all. From a pragmatic point of view:
"In my experience, good public policy is best shaped by the dispassionate analysis of what in practice has worked, or not."
Why do we continue to do what has not worked?
"In my experience, good public policy is best shaped by the dispassionate analysis of what in practice has worked, or not."
Why do we continue to do what has not worked?
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LTC (Join to see)
In my opinion, it's easier to continue to do something that has proven itself a failure, because it is a source of revenue through taxation. To end the war on drugs would send politicians into a frenzy on how to replace the tax revenue lost. I mean we spend ~50bn/year for a 10% success rate according to statistics and experts.
Interesting "cost clock" for the war on drugs: http://www.drugsense.org/cms/wodclock
More sources: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Economics#sthash.h3vScLJ6.dpbs
https://web.stanford.edu/class/e297c/poverty_prejudice/paradox/htele.html
Interesting "cost clock" for the war on drugs: http://www.drugsense.org/cms/wodclock
More sources: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Economics#sthash.h3vScLJ6.dpbs
https://web.stanford.edu/class/e297c/poverty_prejudice/paradox/htele.html
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
LTC (Join to see) - The problem with that is that you cannot make money (revenue) through criminalization (specifically imprisonment) of the citizenry. It doesn't work.
It lowers average income, not raises it. It increases government spending as opposed to lowering it. It's like taking your foot off the Economic Accelerator while applying the brakes at the same time.
I'm not saying that "someone" won't make money, but it won't be the Nation as a whole.
As an example, for every X prisoners, you need Y guards. The Zeroes significantly outweigh the Ones.
It lowers average income, not raises it. It increases government spending as opposed to lowering it. It's like taking your foot off the Economic Accelerator while applying the brakes at the same time.
I'm not saying that "someone" won't make money, but it won't be the Nation as a whole.
As an example, for every X prisoners, you need Y guards. The Zeroes significantly outweigh the Ones.
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LTC (Join to see)
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS - Oh I agree...I wasn't referring to revenue through the prison system...mainly just the tax revenue that the federal government collects in order to cover the cost of the 50+ billion/year bill for the WoD. One could argue that WoD is also a form of population control...but I won't go down that road.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
LTC (Join to see) - If so, it's a horrible one (badly thought out), just because of disproportionate effect, and 2nd and 3rd order effects. I see the argumentation (intuitive logic), but it just doesn't work.
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Well, this appears to be the subject of the day. I've already answered it elsewhere but don't mind answering again. It's time to decriminalize drug use. Prohibition not only doesn't achieve its well-intentioned goals, but also cause irreparable harm to society at large, much more than caused by drug use. However, one caveat: End the legalism of diminished capacity. If a user causes harm or commits a criminal act while under the influence, hold them fully accountable.
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SGT William Howell
No. There are good stories that start out drinking beer. Name one good story that started out, "I was shooting up heroin...".
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