Shouldn't something be done about Mexico?

[Bereta_Eder]

Building on what Kentonio said,
I think there are basically two ways of action regarding drugs.
One is the idealistic approach that says that yes, life is like that for many people, but it shouldn't be like that. So the aim is to correct that life (a very high aim no doubt). Governments of the ideological approach tend to have a harder stance on drugs.

The other is the pragmatic approach. In this there is an acceptance that things are like that. So the aim should be how best to cope with the situation in the here and now. The governments following this approach tend to have a less strict stance on drugs.

[kentonio]

True. For me though the two are not mutually exclusive. You could make cheap safe synthetics and weed available for public sale, and still work to improve peoples lives to a point where they dont rely on regular serious drug use.

There's also the question of course of whether social drug use is actually a negative. Alcohol is as much a drug as something like ecstasy (and far more harmful), yet would we really like to see a world where drinking booze was removed? Substances that enhance enjoyment and loosen inhibitions are a huge part of our cultures and traditions, yet we always seem to see them as a net negative. Perhaps we should just embrace them and focus on the importance of moderation and safety rather than looking to high lofty ideals.

There's definitely a hard line you can define though between someone taking a drug at the weekend to enhance a social experience and someone relying on constant hard drug use to make their lives tolerable.

[Jon Miller]

There's also the question of course of whether social drug use is actually a negative. Alcohol is as much a drug as something like ecstasy (and far more harmful), yet would we really like to see a world where drinking booze was removed?

It is definitely negative. All the rapes, abuse, and so on that is partially the fault of alcohol. I would ban alcohol in a heart beat, despite enjoying it on occasion, if it was realistic.

It isn't though. And neither is banning marijuana. Heroin seems (or seemed?) to be otherwise though.

JM

[loinburger]

A large part of the problem is that idiots like Kidicious are convinced that drug use is some sort of Cosmic Evil, comparable to devil worship and gay sex. Why should we impose draconian laws in an attempt to reduce drus use? For the same reason that we should impose draconian laws in an attempt to reduce devil worship and gay sex! But what makes drug use so evil? Shut up you idiot, the answer is so obvious that I don't even know what it is! (Alternatively: The Bible says so. Which part? The part I haven't read.)

[Kidlicious]

Well this thread is thoroughly jacked.

[molly bloom]

You should be proud if you go for disgusting and offensive.

I imagine that's the kind of thing you might find to be a (strange) source of pride, but I don't.

Doing nothing also has consequences as we see.

Indeedy doody, Kiddlywinks. How long has it been since you were closely examined by a mental health professional ?

You know you can always section yourself....

[molly bloom]

Perhaps the Mexicans should intervene in the US while US' is busy intervening in Mexico. That way both armies can avoid eachother.

The Mexicans might be able to reduce the number of African American youths shot by white American males. You never know...

[molly bloom]

not in that post. You should be more clear when you rant.

And everybody should be polite and the sky should rain down money.


Oh rah, you have such a good, big heart, but some things are simply impossible....

[kentonio]

It is definitely negative. All the rapes, abuse, and so on that is partially the fault of alcohol. I would ban alcohol in a heart beat, despite enjoying it on occasion, if it was realistic.

Alcohol loosens inhibitions, it doesn't cause those urges or behaviour. Thus my point about encouraging moderation and safety.

[molly bloom]

Alcohol loosens inhibitions, it doesn't cause those urges or behaviour.

I feel a song coming on...


Blame it on Cain!

Blame it on the Boogie!

Put the blame on Mame!


Voice your choice !

[Kidlicious]

Ken, encouraging moderation doesn't work. You might want to research drug addiction.

Most people in the US don't want their kids to ever take any hard drugs. And that's the right attitude.

[loinburger]

Ken, encouraging moderation doesn't work. You might want to research drug addiction.

What studies that you read during your exhaustive research into drug addiction indicated that criminalizing drug use did anything to reduce consumption?

Most people in the US don't want their kids to ever take any hard drugs. And that's the right attitude.

A lot of people don't want their kids to have pre-marital sex either - should we criminalize that as well?

[Kidlicious]

yes; i used to volunteer in one. our drug policies are a total failure and it's ill-informed people like you who help to keep things that way.

What are you better than doctors too?

[loinburger]

If you are at all interested in educating yourself on addiction, then I recommend that you start with this video. To sum up: addiction results in the brain thinking that drugs are essential for life (this is especially noticeable in animal studies, where animals will starve to death because they're so fixated on taking cocaine or whatever), so threats of punishment do not in any way help the addict - the need for a high outweighs the threat of punishment.

You're pretending to be an expert on addiction without offering anything of substance, so I'm assuming that everything you've "learned" has either come from your own fevered imagination or from theofascist blogs that reinforce your own prejudices. In the unlikely event that this is not the case then you would look like much less of an ******* if you actually said anything substantive on addiction, rather than insulting people who obviously know more than you do.

[Kidlicious]

What studies that you read during your exhaustive research into drug addiction indicated that criminalizing drug use did anything to reduce consumption?



A lot of people don't want their kids to have pre-marital sex either - should we criminalize that as well?

Are you familiar with enabling? Legalizing drugs is enabling. That's why so many people drink.