PhillyKev 0 #26 June 23, 2004 QuotePeople profiting off of the weakness of others(i.e. dealers) should be jailed. What about tobacco companies, brewers, and junk food manufacturers? Those three things kill more people each than all the illegal drugs combined. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #27 June 23, 2004 Quotebut coke, crank, smack and pharmaceuticals must be highly regulated Why? QuoteToday's illegal drugs were legal before 1914. Cocaine was even found in the original Coca-Cola recipe. Americans had few problems with cocaine, opium, heroin or marijuana. Drugs were inexpensive; crime was low. Most users handled their drug of choice and lived normal, productive lives. Addicts out of control were a tiny minority. The first laws prohibiting drugs were racist in origin -- to prevent Chinese laborers from using opium and to prevent blacks and Hispanics from using cocaine and marijuana. That was unjust and unfair, just as it is unjust and unfair to make criminals of peaceful drug users today. Some Americans will always use alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other drugs. Most are not addicts, they are social drinkers or occasional users. Legal drugs would be inexpensive, so even addicts could support their habits with honest work, rather than by crime. Organized crime would be deprived of its profits. The police could return to protecting us from real criminals; and there would be room enough in existing prisons for them. Yet, our grandfathers had the foresight to know what was good for them and their families, yet in our more 'advanced' society - we don't? Ahh... the liberal point of view.... JenArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #28 June 23, 2004 How about jailing dealers, not for dealing, but for dealing without a license? Licensed dealers (hence, regulated), also known as pharmacists, would be far more effective in reducing the number of dealers on the corner. If everyone profiting of the weakness of others were jailed, entrepreneurs everywhere would be subject to arrest.witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #29 June 23, 2004 Well, we're always going to have an issue with getting people to put in an honest days work as long as there is a welfare state, but that's for another thread...witty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mardigrasbob 0 #30 June 23, 2004 Excuse me' while I go outside to smoke a fat one! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #31 June 23, 2004 Plus we need the prison space for the true scumbags of the world. Like these guys. US Charges AOL Worker Sold Customer List for Spam Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kennedy 0 #32 June 23, 2004 ooohh, that FUwitty subliminal message Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards. 1* Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #33 June 23, 2004 I think you may find this link helpful: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/crime.htm JenArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mardigrasbob 0 #34 June 23, 2004 QuoteI think you may find this link helpful: http://www.drugwarfacts.org/crime.htm Jen Perfect example of making the facts fit the theory! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #35 June 23, 2004 ok.... so your point is???? Ignore the evidence all you want, but moving to a country like China may suit your views slightly better. I know of very few people who advocate for more governement in their lives. edit to add: Since we're dealing with facts here - how about presenting facts that support your view... JenArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #36 June 23, 2004 QuoteI know of very few people who advocate for more governement in their lives. Can I come live with you. I know very few people who don't. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #37 June 23, 2004 Maybe I surround myself with too many conservative people - or those that like to think for themselves... but I only know of one person in my life who advocates for more government control and he is my uncle who has done nothing but sit on his butt for his 47 years - working as a 7-11 clerk is doing wonders for that point of view... JenArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benny 0 #38 June 23, 2004 QuotePlus we need the prison space for the true scumbags of the world. Like these guys. US Charges AOL Worker Sold Customer List for Spam I vote the death penalty to the schmuck who developed spyware! Ok, so maybe not death but that motherf#$ker deserves a good flogging at the very least. But, I'm with mozilla now, maybe I will see the end of this yet. As for drugs, rock on! Never go to a DZ strip show. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benny 0 #39 June 23, 2004 just a note, libertarian, conservative, not one in the same. many "conservatives" advocate plenty of government intervention, as long as it isn't your bible or your guns that the gov't is trying to intervene with Never go to a DZ strip show. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mailin 0 #40 June 23, 2004 Yes, there is a line of seperation - but I am being broad in this case, as it is usually a more liberal line of thought to get more government involved in peoples lives. JenArianna Frances Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
benny 0 #41 June 23, 2004 QuoteYes, there is a line of seperation - but I am being broad in this case, as it is usually a more liberal line of thought to get more government involved in peoples lives. Jen Maybe if your only basis for drawing a distinction is taxation. Unfortunately, the war on drugs is an equal opportunity fiasco for both, after all nobody looking to get elected wants to appear soft on drugs. It does seem that liberals have more of an anti-war on drugs movement though, that's just because they're a bunch of hippies! Never go to a DZ strip show. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #42 June 23, 2004 QuoteBut if skydivers robbed and stole to pay for a slot It happens. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mardigrasbob 0 #43 June 23, 2004 Without going into too much detail; I was retired by a couple of judges and the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice in the mid '90s. I hold no ill will toward the system or the Govenor at the time. I learned alot about crime, and found out that I was not cut out for it. I found that a person must make a decision whether he ia capable of doing what is required of a true criminal. I met some real bad MFs and many 'just plain f#$kups' but no-one who didn't deserve their stay, including myself. If you dance; be prepared to pay the band. A common saying was "he got his life saved" meaning getting busted and getting locked up sobered him up. Hard drugs will always be (and should be) illegal. Marketing of illegal drugs will always be around. Criminals will market drugs; as long there is profit in it. Now weed is a different story; as long as you are not selling major poundage or driving down the highway, cops are not going to mess with you. But if they do; don't go whining about the archaic drug laws. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #44 June 23, 2004 QuoteYes, there is a line of seperation - but I am being broad in this case, as it is usually a more liberal line of thought to get more government involved in peoples lives. To put it succinctly, Republicans believe in a government that governs less....unless it involves people having too much fun. You have people from both ends promoting legalization in some form. Cocaine is a hard one, though. It's one of the few drugs that a lab monkey will self administer itself to death with. There are lots of recreational drugs that people manage to play around with and not suffer great consequences. Coke doesn't seem to be one of them. Same with meth and heroin. Perhaps ensuring quality control would eliminate issues with bad product, but quite a few drugs remain behind the counter for a reason. That's the one tough question with legalization. Will people always be looking for the drugs riskiest to ones health, or will they be satisfied with choices beyond smoking a stimulant (nicotine) or drinking a depressant (alcohol)? Luckily for us, the Europeans are giving us examples to check out, should we give in. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #45 June 23, 2004 QuoteThat's the one tough question with legalization. Will people always be looking for the drugs riskiest to ones health, or will they be satisfied with choices beyond smoking a stimulant (nicotine) or drinking a depressant (alcohol)? I could walk down the street right now and buy all the coke and heroin that I wanted. I don't. And not because of fear of legal ramifications. Because I don't want to. I've tried just about everything in my past, including them. I don't and wouldn't anymore just because I don't want to. I never had trouble with the law over it, and the only dangerous circumstances I was ever in regarding them was the people I encountered trying to purchase it. I've had a gun in my chest, I've been robbed and I've been beaten. None of which would have happened had they been legal. And the end result would be the same. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,174 #46 June 23, 2004 IMHO the government has no business telling an adult what he or she should do with his or her body, including what substances are put into it, so long as no-one else is harmed.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mardigrasbob 0 #47 June 23, 2004 I find it amusing that: the same people that advocate legalizing drugs are the same one who want to make smoking on the beach a crime. ---------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #48 June 23, 2004 Quoteso long as no-one else is harmed Now you did. Now people are going to say "but it harms their family and friends". To which I'll steal a line from the conservative groups and point out that you don't have a right not to be offended. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #49 June 23, 2004 QuoteI find it amusing that: the same people that advocate legalizing drugs are the same one who want to make smoking on the beach a crime. ---------------- I smoke and I can understand that. Ever put a cigarette but in the sand....it keeps burning, until someone steps on it in bare feet. What harm will them doing drugs at home do to you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
crwmike 0 #50 June 23, 2004 QuoteExcuse me' while I go outside to smoke a fat one! Please stay on topic. If you want to talk about your homosexual behaviors, start another thread. Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
