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Politics : Libertarian Discussion Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: budweeder who wrote (3864)	7/12/2000 5:53:20 PM
From: Jim S	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13056

Aha. I think we've found the point of focus for the differing opinions. The 'war on drugs' is the direct cause for a number of things that directly violate the Constitution, but in the interest of "Safety of the Populace," have not been thrown out by the Supremes. For example, less evidence was initially needed for a phone tap or 'no-knock warrant' if drugs were involved -- this same relaxed policy (using the word of an informant, even an anonymous informant) is now common among law enforcement agencies. Property confiscation could be based on SUSPICION of involvement with drugs, or even property involved but where the owner had no knowledge of the crime. This is also spreading to other non-drug areas. Confiscated property is sold, and ADDED TO THE AGENCY'S BUDGET; even worse, agents get Meritorious Pay Bonuses that is in direct proportion to the value of confiscated property, thereby giving agents financial incentive to confiscate property SUSPECTED of being involved in drug trades. This is also now BATF and IRS policy (I don't know about other agencies like FBI or INS). The one exception that allows use of the military in law enforcement is drugs -- witness Waco. Drugs are being used as the excuse to track YOUR internet usage. I'm no lawyer or gatherer of complaints about the government, these are just some things that come to mind immediately. As I said, I'd simply rather have some dead druggies in a ditch than to have some ninja-clad thugs with automatic weapons bust down my door because someone might have made unsubstantiated and untrue allegations about me as a part of a plea bargain. All these things stemmed from the 'war' on drugs, and migrated to other agencies and even state law enforcement. Ten years ago, can you imagine Smallsville, Nebraska with a full bore SWAT team? Nowadays, if your town "ain't got SWAT, it ain't squat." Drugs provided the thread and precident. So, you may well be right -- maybe legalization isn't the answer, but somehow the Constitutional abuses need to be rolled back. jim