Subject:
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Re: From Harry Browne
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Mon, 27 Nov 2000 22:46:46 GMT
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Viewed:
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701 times
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Dave Schuler wrote:
> I admit that what follows is far from rock solid: currently, as well as
> in Libertopia (correct me if I'm wrong) an addict faces the potential loss
> of employment, property, and family through repercussions of behaviors
> brought on by feeding the addiction. In addition, however, today's system
> allows incarceration based on use of the drug, and it could be argued (not
> entirely convincingly, I agree) that prison in that case helps him, since
> he's unable to supply his addiction. Of course, without actual rehab, the
> likelihood of subsequent relapse is considerable, but that's another issue.
If a person is so adicted as to essentially be incompetant, then there
clearly is a problem, however, I don't think Libertopia removes the
options of prison or involuntary commitment to a treatment center, but
the commitment needs to be based on demonstrateable
incompetance/irresponsibility, not just that someone happened to be
caught in a sting or some other stupid situation. We recently had a
sting operation in one of the local high schools where undercover cops
asked kids if they could supply them, and then busted the kids for
dealing, several of the kids gave credible witness that they had been
pressured into dealing, and were not in fact the big time dealers that
were the supposed reason for having the sting operation. I believe that
a huge number of people who are currently entangled in our "justice"
system are non-violent drug offenders, mostly black (there seems to be a
correlation between race and use of crack which carries the stiffest
penalties), for whom there really isn't evidence that they are harmfully
using drugs.
> Again, I recognize that this last part isn't ironclad. It seems to me,
> though, that even in an environment in which drugs are legal, an addict will
> go to whatever lengths are necessary to acquire it. An impoverished heroin
> addict will still steal to fund his habit, even if heroin is dispensed at a
> supermarket. With that in mind, I don't see that legalization of drugs
> would in any way eliminate the corrolary crime associated with them, even if
> possession itself is no longer a crime.
Some of the ways which the drug war is associated with other crime
include:
- Because the drugs are illegal, they are more expensive, which means
you need more money to feed your habit (thus an indigent adict will
steal more often)
- Because of the "war" on drugs, there is a "war" mentality created
among law enforcement, the drug dealers (and users), and the citizenry
as a whole, this "war" mentality increases the use of violence
- Because of the illegality of drugs, there is little opportunity to
offer treatment centers which may need to use the drugs to help bring
the people off their adictions
- Because of the illegality of drugs, there is no opportunity for
society to decide it's cheaper to give addicts the choice of living on a
drug farm where they can get all they need without having to rob someone
to pay for it, and then having to pay for a huge justice system to deal
with the problems
I don't doubt that a certain amount of crime is associated with the
psychotic effects of some drugs, but that should be dealt with directly
rather than effectively lumping all drugs which are disfavored by the
ruling class into the same boat.
--
Frank Filz
-----------------------------
Work: mailto:ffilz@us.ibm.com (business only please)
Home: mailto:ffilz@mindspring.com
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: From Harry Browne
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| (...) I understand what you're saying, and as far as deterrent criteria, I agree with the ones you've cited (and which I've snipped). In the current system, an illegal drug carries with it the direct penalty of its use, in addition to whatever (...) (24 years ago, 27-Nov-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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