Neocon,
I do respect your views, and I agree with most of them. I just think we can do more.
The drug war is being lost, and as compassionate conservatives we do have a responsibility to help people and to do it in a way that allows them to help themselves.
Coke users were/are never easy to identify. Some people are naturally "chatty" -g- Crackheads, on the other hand are no problem. Even years after they stop you can get the impression that something is not right. A very good friend of mine (introduced by a dealer directly) shared his battle with crack with me after we knew each other for many years. Until that time I did not know what event or drug had messed him up, but I knew there was a problem. Generalizations for coke heads are pretty tough to make. For some people the drug is a motivational influence and they are actually (or claim to be at least) more productive. Coke in powder form, and with limited usage, is actually a very subtle drug. The change is behavior is so slight that the normal range of difference in human behavior masks most signs that someone is using. The red flag is only seen when the person spirals out of control, and for some reason only a percentage of coke users ever get to this point. I don't have the answers here, but I think it is very safe to state that a move from occasional powder to habitual use is not certain, and a move from powder to the pipe is most certainly not the norm.
Certainly there are going to be people that want to use drugs. I just think the removing the incentive from those that will profit will result in a net reduction of people that "elect" to make that first trip down the hard drug path. I am certain that usage of soft drugs will increase. The real question for me is this increase just on paper because of better data or is it the result of "governmental seal of approval" stuck on the bag of drugs? I do not know the answer to that and of course I have great concerns about the social impact.
Widespread use of drugs? I know of presidents of companies that I have worked for that used. My generation used at an incredible level. In few cases have I seen the smoker move to the needle. Just a government myth to keep the funding alive to fight their losing war on drugs.
Maybe if there was no interdiction then the price would be half what it is today, but the best I can say that effort has done is fix the price. I resent the fact that my taxes dollars are wasted on prisons, legal costs, and personnel to fight a battle we have no chance to win.
Hopefully someone else will comment. I am out of ideas -g-
Have a good Sunday.
TH |
