|
|
Posted by David Sherman on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 13:28:53 :
In Reply to: Re: theft update from oct-08 posted by Adam on Saturday, February 21, 2009 at 06:35:30 :
I know I'm in the minority on this, but I still think, no the balance it'd be cheaper and less damaging to society if the dopers could get all the dope they want legally. The obvious comparison is Prohibition -- outlaw a recreational drug, and the mafia steps in to fill the need, which in turn created several generations of mafia-controlled politicians, the 1934 Gun Control Act, and two big government agencies (the FBI and ATF) that are with us today.
The tweakers are desperate, but so's a hard-core alcoholic. Meth certainly makes people some more violent and unpredictable than booze does (though booze is sure behind a lot of fights and murders), but most of that desperation only causes crime because they can't get their dope legally. All the arguments against legalizing illegal drugs are exactly the same arguments in favor of banning alcohol. It didn't work with booze and it's not working with the other drugs. At least in the 1930s people had enough courage to admit they'd made a mistake and repeal it.
Follow Ups: