It's Thursday, the day I pose a random question. I'm not so much looking for an answer. These are more like writing prompts. If this were so, what would happen?
Let the question take you where it will. Assume anything you wish. And if you manage to create a story from it, it's served its purpose.
I love H2: History Channel 2. I recorded a show called The Stoned Ages, and I finally got through both hours. (I watched it in 20 minute increments.) And it got me thinking...
During the Nixon administration, the "war on drugs" expanded. The anti-drug policies used until that time weren't working, so law enforcement got tougher. More jail time. Stiffer sentences. That sort of thing.
What if instead of getting tougher on drugs, the government instead changed tactics in combating drugs and the ill effects they have on society? (Whether this be by legalizing or finding another way to get drugs off the streets.) How would that effect society? Would things be better are worse than they are now?
Thursday, April 4, 2013
11 comments:
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*Exception: I do not respond to "what if?" comments, but I do read them all. Those questions are open to your interpretation, and I don't wish to limit your imagination by what I thought the question was supposed to be.
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Way back in the dark ages, my high school years, I did a debate on legalizing prostitution. Personally very against it (back then), but the teacher put me on the side to explain why it should be. Doing my research...everything pointed to how much more sense it made to legalize it. I've been out of high school long enough I'm retirement age now.........it's still not legalized, though it should be. I feel the same about drugs. Not sure it's any different then cigarettes or alcohol, money can be made off drugs and people would probably be safer. But, the far right has gotten farther and farther right and more and more vocal........soooo there you have it.
ReplyDeleteLove your knitted background that looks like cheese puffs. I knit and crochet also. Though those blogs aren't in the a-z, check them out if you're interested. Sandy's Space, and Bridge and Beyond.
It's Traveling Suitcase that brought me here for the A-Z
Glad you like the background. I had fun knitting it.
DeleteThe war on drugs has done nothing but put millions of non-violent criminals in prisons and choked our justice system to death.
ReplyDeleteChanging it as you suggest would put billions of dollars of taxpayer money back into our hands.
And that's a fact.
Legalize it and control it like with alcohol and ciggs. We'd be out of debt in a year.
ReplyDeleteI would love to think that what mshatch recommends would work. But I don't know...
ReplyDeleteIt's such a massive problem and a multi billion dollar biz for the big dealers - they won't let go easy :(
auntyamo
http://ficticiousamo.wordpress.com/
That is true. Perhaps they are one of the lobbies that makes sure that drugs aren't legalized.
DeleteThe government "wars on" whether it be drugs or poverty or whatever are just expensive boondoggles that effect no good but do give the politicians an excuse to claim they are accomplishing something.
ReplyDeleteInteresting question, stopping by from A to Z
http://www.unclemacsgardenshed.blogspot.com/
What should they do instead? Because there's got to be a better way, right?
DeleteI don't think that legalizing would do any good, in fact, from the lack of self control that I see in most people, it would be devastating. But what to do instead? Don't know.
ReplyDeleteGreat question to ponder.
I would say things would be better simply because the drug trade itself is so violent. There are problems with alcohol and prescription drugs, but it's not on the scale of cocaine or even marijuana. I also think it would do a lot more good to focus on treating drug addiction rather than penalization.
ReplyDeleteThe drug trade wouldn't be what it is if we the US government hadn't done what it did. It's not popular to say that places where it's legalized have much fewer problems. I'm with JEFritz and Michael and the others who make similar points. It's not a question of lack of self control, but where it comes from and how it's distributed.
ReplyDelete