Mac & Cheese

I got a joke for you. What's the difference between the death toll in the war on drugs and the war in Iraq?


Answer: About 6,000


Punchline: The war in Iraq is not greater.


But that's not much of a joke is it? In fact, that is not funny at all. Yet, the fact remains; more people die in the movement of illegal drugs than in fighting a war which has lost its patriotic shimmer. There is a real joke here, though, and that is that the United States Government has not yet deciphered the meaning of that little statistic, which obviously suggests terminating the war on drugs.


John Donne wrote a poem entitled "Death Be Not Proud," which explored the vileness of death and its actions. I believe no other poet has ever touched on the truth of death better; for, the simple "be not proud," illustrates that death is so disgusting that it should shame itself. Many in America would agree that death is not pleasant in any way whatsoever. Yet, here our government ignores the harm the war on drugs is causing, even while it leaves a catastrophic trail of dying.

For the death toll alone, the war on drugs should come on an end. The longer it continues, the more violent drug related deaths will occur. It is time for the government to answer the question of when cost out weighs the benefit. While the charges, arrests, and commandeering increase, so does the body count. How many lives must be lost before legalization becomes reality, if it becomes reality?

New Poll

We've just added a poll to the blog, which is located above this post. If you could take the time to answer it would be greatly appreciated.

Please leave a comment to this post explaining why you voted the way you did, we would love to hear your views on this issue.

Just Give it Up!

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748703580904575132153106546066.html?mod=article-outset-box

You know that fight where the one guy (we'll call him guy A) is just getting creamed by the other guy (and you know what, we'll call him guy B) but guy A will NOT give up? Or what about the argument between the married couple that goes back and forth until eventually man has no rebuttal for woman, but his damn pride will NOT let him quit? Maybe those example aren't getting to the point yet for you, so, how about that war between the United States of America and the manufacture, distribution, and sale of illegal drugs? Ah, maybe that rings a bell in the old noggin. Anyway, the point is, the US of A is just like guy A and man.
In the article linked, "The War on Drugs is Doomed", the minimal progress of the war on drugs in Mexico is explored. This is an illegal industry which still prospers, despite heavy military and police involvement from both countries. For, in 2009, "Mexico estimated the annual cash flow from U.S. drug consumers to Mexico at around $10 billion." And all the money goes to buy new houses and toys for drugs lords, along with supplying their armies of thugs with new and fun weapons to fight off anyone in a uniform. In addition, the death toll due to this illegal activity continues to rise. Well, since our oh-so-wise government believes that the solution is to just fight harder, "it is likely the we are going to get further plans to turn Juarez (Mexican city) into a police state with the promise that more guns, tanks, helicopters, and informants can stop Mexican gangsters from shoving drugs up American noses."
The worst part about it all though, is that nothing either country does will end or decrease American demand, and anyone who knows anything about economics knows that while there is a demand there will always be a supply.
Therefore, the problem is not simply the illegal activity, but "American demand coupled with prohibition."

"American demand coupled with prohibition"

BAM! Prohibition is the keyword. Didn't America learn the prohibition lesson from the 1920's when it wanted to make illegal anything that had to do with alcohol? Maybe not, which is absurd, seeing has how the parallels between both eras are seemingly endless. So you would think that with all the highly educated politicians on Capitol Hill, one of them would have figured out how stupid this so called war on drugs is; but, then again not necessarily, because some of them probably go home and light up a joint themselves when the vote for Obamacare ends.
Must I summarize? Well, I will. America, Washington, give up this war on drugs. You simply can't fight your own country's demand.

Cost Clock

http://www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm

This web site provides a real time clock for viewing the money spent on drugs nationally by both the federal and state governments combined. In April, approximately a third of the way through the calendar year, the spending has already roughly reached $14 billion.
Why? What for?
The government funds the DEA and other such enforcement programs, along with equipping a border patrol to fight against illegal drug imports, and in an indirect way, to fund convicts who have been arrested for drug violations. By the end of the year, roughly $50 billion will be spent to regulate drug imports, sales, and punishments. In light of a $13 TRILLION national debt, I think the drug money could be put to better use. Perhaps supporting Obamacare...
But, here's the real kicker, all the money spent, isn't even close to the potential profit. Let's say the government cut it's spending on drugs by 75%, and now they spend $12.5 billion. Now, hypothetically let's say that 100 million people (a third of the country) spend $35 a year on drugs. That alone is $3.5 billion right there, and that's likely a far underestimate.
The main point is, if the government decided that resistance to drugs is seemingly futile, they could embrace the economic positives. It is almost insane to use taxpayers' money to pay for the meal of an addicted inmate. What about the neglected meal of an impoverished child?
Essentially, our government is spending billions of dollars it simply doesn't have, on a problem that simply won't go away. The potential for that money elsewhere is endless, and the affect on the crime rate from the legalization of illegal drugs would be substantial. So, it all begs the question: Is it worth it?