What is it now? Six out of ten crimes are now drug-related. Knowing that the police now regard something like a playground row to be a ‘crime’ and ‘solving’ said crime can be added to their clear-up rate figures, I would guess that the other four of the ten are probably almost irrelevant. Likely they’re speeding, drink-driving or saying something unpleasant about T B Liar at a Labour party conference (i.e. terrorism).
So why not legalize drugs? Where are the minuses in this? With a ready cheap supply of drugs there’s a good chance the addicts won’t be mugging grannies or breaking into people’s houses to finance their habit, and with any luck will quickly off themselves. The organized criminals will probably be at a loose end and can focus more on supplying us with cheap booze and fags. Gordon Brown could whack a tax on heroin and crack. And all those disenfranchised farmers in Afghanistan can get back to work and make a tidy profit on this.
I suggest a new T-shirt line:
7 comments:
The usual battle cry I hear in the States is “Legalize, tax, and regulate.” Make it pay for any costs incurred, make sure that enforcement against Driving While Intoxicated (and anything else that impacts other people) is strong, and let natural selection work it out; works for me. IIRC there’s a program in Las Vegas where you can voluntarily sign up to be put on a list where they won’t let you gamble; I’d suggest creating a similar list for drugs.
I think that here in the States it has more to do with our long-standing moral high-ground attitude than anything else. We have the best government! ...right :/ We have the best legal system! ...right :/ We know what’s best for the world! ...right? :/
In Afghanistan our anti-drug agencies are busy burning or poisoning poppy fields left right and sideways. Makes no difference that the villagers who grow the poppy have done so for generations and use the money from the sales to feed their families. Wouldn't it make more sense to buy the poppy from the villagers and sell it to make inexpensive painkillers?
Probably... but that’s the 'War on Drugs' for ya.
Oh, by the way Neil.
Got any new books coming? Didn't see a list on your site. Thanks!
Well, if you want a rough out line on how you can justify such and what such a program should look like see my blog:
http://belligerant-socialisim.blogspot.com/
Have at if you are serious.
Legalise and all these silly little drug kingpins will vanish overnight.
Drake
There was quite a good article about that recently on badscience.net - moralising politicians overriding sensible advice, yet again, sigh.
well, if you legalise it and make it cheap, all the crime will stop. there may be twice as many addicts, but at least they won't be committing crimes against the larger populace which is a good thing, because they can afford their habit.
and let's face it, those that can afford good drugs seem to get by.
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