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InvisibleSimplepowa
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80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War
    #19291424 - 12/18/13 01:19 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

By Burton Abrams

Op/Ed
|
12/05/2013 @ 1:03PM |3,715 views


The War on Drugs is an unmitigated failure. Those who support that war might recall Prohibition, a similar deployment of government paternalism, which was wisely repealed 80 years ago this month.

Prohibition was the result of misnamed “temperance” crusaders who sought to outlaw the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. On January 16, 1920, they got what they wanted in the 18th Amendment.

Prohibition temporarily lowered alcohol consumption in the early and mid-1920s. The “noble experiment” not only failed to alleviate the various ills decried by prohibitionists but succeeded in making most of them worse.

Prohibition cost tens of thousands of jobs in the brewery and distilling industry, adding to recessionary forces in 1920 and 1921. It encumbered the public with startling new burdens for enforcement and jails to hold those convicted, while simultaneously eliminating an important source of tax revenue.

Prohibition corrupted politics, public servants, and public morals, and lowered public respect for the law. It undermined the liberties and institutions on which the nation was founded. It promoted the killing, wounding, and poisoning of thousands.

Prohibition did succeed in creating and enriching a vast criminal class. It is hard to imagine a more disastrous social and economic policy, but the ongoing War on Drugs is certainly a contender.

President Richard Nixon declared the War on Drugs in June of 1971 and duly increased the size, presence, and power of federal drug agencies. The federal government has maintained the war for 42 years – three times as long as Prohibition – with similar results.

Illegal drugs are still relatively cheap and widely available. Drug prohibition has enriched a violent criminal class and hastened the spread of deadly diseases like AIDS and hepatitis. Drug prohibition has increased the crime rate, inflicting incredible violence, including drive-by shootings that injure or kill innocent people.

Drug prohibition has also created an enormous tax burden, both to fight the war and keep about a million people in prisons. The War on Drugs costs about $88 billion a year or $380 per adult per year, a significant amount even by federal standards but far from the only costs.

The War on Drugs has destabilized foreign governments and created a general disrespect for the law. Recall that presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama – among many other high-profile individuals – have used illegal drugs.

Medical science has shown some health benefits for marijuana, but the federal government denies those benefits and keeps cannabis in a restricted category. Colorado and Washington State have legalized marijuana for recreational use whereas states such as California and others permit medical marijuana.

None of that, nor drug legalization in countries such as Portugal and Switzerland, have prompted the federal government to call a truce in the War on Drugs. A recent poll found that about 75 percent of U.S. adults think the war is a failure, and they have a strong case. So why does the war continue?

[get the rest on the link]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/12/05/80-years-after-prohibitions-repeal-president-obama-continues-a-failed-drug-war/


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OfflineConstantine
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Simplepowa]
    #19291816 - 12/18/13 04:25 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Wow, great article, and from Forbes too and not legalize420.com or some shit like that (Edit: can't believe thats actually a website :lol:).

Awesome :thumbup:


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Edited by Constantine (12/18/13 06:18 AM)


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OfflineDrugsRGood
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Constantine]
    #19292340 - 12/18/13 08:38 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Great article. Now we just need more ears.


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: DrugsRGood]
    #19292359 - 12/18/13 08:43 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

It's too bad that the article focuses on the President who has zero power to repeal laws instead of Congress who could change it in a matter of days.


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Invisibleluvdemshrooms
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Enlil]
    #19292410 - 12/18/13 08:56 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Having zero power to repeal the laws hasn't seemed to make much impression on Obama. If he can alter enforcement of the PPACA and our immigration laws, surely he doesn't become suddenly impotent to do the same for drug laws.


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You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: luvdemshrooms]
    #19292418 - 12/18/13 08:59 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Certainly he could stop enforcing, but only at the federal level and only for a few years.  The next guy who has the job would likely start it all up again.


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Invisibleluvdemshrooms
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Enlil]
    #19292447 - 12/18/13 09:06 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

The next guy quite possibly would. As we can't see the future, we don't know.

What we do know is that the man freely picks and chooses which laws he wishes to have enforced (or more accurately... not enforced). He could do the same for drug laws.


--------------------
You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: luvdemshrooms]
    #19292458 - 12/18/13 09:09 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

He could, but it wouldn't significantly reduce drug law enforcement anyway.  Most of the enforcement is at the state level.


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OfflineKonyap

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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Enlil]
    #19292512 - 12/18/13 09:25 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Obama can write his own laws, veto new ones and he could actually reschedule Marijuana

he could also do pardons too

so he's like the baseline dickhead president, but he admitedly reduce crack cocaine sentencing to 18:1 or something instead of 100:1


Edited by Konyap (12/18/13 09:26 AM)


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Konyap]
    #19292541 - 12/18/13 09:35 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

He can't write his own laws, and he can't reschedule marijuana...although there is a process by which the attorney general can.  It's not simply discretionary, though.


Also, he can only do so at the federal level...which is a small portion of drug prosecutions.  Similarly, his pardons would only be for federal convictions.


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Invisibleluvdemshrooms
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Enlil]
    #19292548 - 12/18/13 09:37 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

Enlil said:
He could, but it wouldn't significantly reduce drug law enforcement anyway.  Most of the enforcement is at the state level.




Because it wouldn't be perfect we shouldn't hold his feet to the fire?

It would matter a great deal to those who do get nailed at the federal level.


--------------------
You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: luvdemshrooms]
    #19292564 - 12/18/13 09:41 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

It would, but that's not the average drug user on the street.  That's the higher level manufacturers and dealers.  In essence, it would be giving those guys a pass and busting all of the little guys...

Although that's not even really true.  The DEA gets most of their cases from local law enforcement initially...so if there were no federal enforcement, those same people would be prosecuted at the state level.

What really needs to happen is Congress needs to write comprehensive drug laws that preempt the field such that they operate to invalidate state drug laws.


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Invisibleluvdemshrooms
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Enlil]
    #19292600 - 12/18/13 09:53 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Of course that's what needs to happen. Congress does need to do its job and a far better job then they've been doing.

That doesn't mean you don't take steps when you've clearly shown you're willing to do so when it suits you. And it certainly doesn't mean that saying "Oh, it's somebody elses job" is in any any way an acceptable excuse.

As long as Obama is willing to alter the enforcement of laws when he wishes, criticizing him and his administration is both deserved and understandable when he doesn't.

It's a shame so many were dumb enough to vote for this fool. The first time was bad enough. That so many voted for a known shitbag speaks volumes about the stupidity of the American People.


--------------------
You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: luvdemshrooms]
    #19292698 - 12/18/13 10:22 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

I can't fault the President for enforcing the laws that are passed by Congress.  I fault him for not enforcing them.  Failing to enforce even more of them would only make him worse IMO.


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Invisibleluvdemshrooms
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Enlil]
    #19292767 - 12/18/13 10:48 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

I happen to agree that all laws should be "faithfully executed". However, numbnuts clearly does not.

As such he is open to criticism for picking and choosing. Criticism which is richly deserved.


--------------------
You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers


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OfflineMushroom Face
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: luvdemshrooms]
    #19293347 - 12/18/13 01:24 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Interesting article to read, honestly though... Prohibition was a bigger failure, but I see the references that were made in this article to prohibition.

I wonder if its possible to start some kind of waiver to get it legalized.


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Offlinethirtygoats
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Simplepowa]
    #19293432 - 12/18/13 01:49 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

How is the drug war a failure when the President said the point of the drug war was that it was supposed to be "ongoing", not to be won or lost. They've won if they've taken any money from the people via drug war.


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: thirtygoats]
    #19293436 - 12/18/13 01:50 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

But it's cost far more than they've taken.


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InvisibleJuicin
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Enlil]
    #19293453 - 12/18/13 01:54 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

He could end the drug war tomorrow............On the federal level anyway


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: 80 Years After Prohibition's Repeal, President Obama Continues A Failed Drug War [Re: Juicin]
    #19293464 - 12/18/13 01:57 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

It would be highly improper, though, and set a very dangerous precedent.

Plus he could only temporarily stop it...not end it.


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