Muscatine

A long time ago I mentioned that the governor of New Mexico had suggested legalizing drugs.  I believe he had the right idea and now I see others have the same idea.  How do the rest of you feel about this?

From the Cafferty Files 

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Here's something to think about:

How many police officers and sheriff's deputies are involved in investigating and solving crimes involving illegal drugs? And arresting and transporting and interrogating and jailing the suspects?

How many prosecutors and their staffs spend time prosecuting drug cases? How many defense lawyers spend their time defending drug suspects?

How many hours of courtroom time are devoted to drug trials? How many judges, bailiffs, courtroom security officers, stenographers, etc., spend their time on drug trials?

How many prison cells are filled with drug offenders? And how many corrections officers does it take to guard them? How much food do these convicts consume?

And when they get out, how many parole and probation officers does it take to supervise their release? And how many ex-offenders turn right around and do it again?

So how's this war on drugs going?

Someone described insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. That's a perfect description of the war on drugs.

The  United States is the largest illegal drug market in the world. Americans want their weed, crack, cocaine, heroin, whatever. And they're willing to pay big money to get it.

The drug suppliers are only too happy to oblige. The Mexican drug cartels now have operations in 230 American cities. That's 230 American cities!

And we're not just talking about border towns, but places such as Anchorage, Alaska; Boston, Massachusetts; Atlanta, Georgia; and Billings, Montana. They're everywhere. And they don't just bring drugs, but violence and crime as well -- lots of it at no extra charge.

They have been able to infiltrate those 230 cities because we have not bothered to secure our borders. In addition to illegal aliens who come here to work and avail themselves of our social programs, we have criminals from Mexico bringing drugs in, taking money and guns back, and recruiting American kids into their criminal enterprises while they're here. iReport.com: Is it time to legalize pot?

What do you suppose the total price tag is for this failed war on drugs? One senior Harvard economist estimates we spend $44 billion a year fighting the war on drugs. He says if they were legal, governments would realize about $33 billion a year in tax revenue. Net swing of $77 billion. Could we use that money today for something else? You bet your ass we could. Plus the cartels would be out of business. Instantly. Goodbye crime and violence.

If drugs were legalized, we could empty out a lot of our prison cells. People will use this stuff whether it's legal or not. Just like they do booze. And you could make the argument that in some cases alcohol is just as dangerous as some drugs. I know.

Legalize drugs because alcohol is just as dangerous. Hmmm. Then why not legalize murder because suicide is just as deadly?

I never quite thought of it that way and the point of the article may have been lost by acquainting alcohol to drugs which many feel is a drug.  Alcohol used excessively can kill if that person goes out and drives and causes an accident.  People who do drugs and abuse alcohol do it for many reasons and they are not going to stop.  The cost for enforcement, case load in the courts and the costs of incarceration have gone sky high and there is no end in sight.

Boot legging days are gone (mostly) so there is no money in that for the crooks.  Hard drugs are a different story.  The cartels are making millions and killing those who try to stop them.  If people could buys drugs legally, it would put them out of business.  I think it is time to look at this issue and to determine if another approach is needed. Nothing is working now.

But what happened to bootleggers when alcohol became legat again? They turned to drugs and other crimes. Legalize drugs and drug dealers won't go away. They'll turn to other crimes. Ya gotta draw a line in the sand somewhere and mean it.