Comments on: 99 years of failed prohibition lessons http://www.drugwarrant.com/2009/08/99-years-of-failed-prohibition-lessons/ by Pete Guither Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:44:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mafficker http://www.drugwarrant.com/2009/08/99-years-of-failed-prohibition-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-457 Mafficker Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:04:49 +0000 http://www.drugwarrant.com/?p=3951#comment-457 The message about feedback regulation applies to biologic systems as well. And we biologic systems created the failed policy and the law which controls policy possibilities. The fundamentally unequal regulation of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs that alter mental function has failed. We, yes we the people, have stuck the law in an ideologic loop! We need to get out from under article 4(c) of the 1961 UN Single Convention! That principle blinds us by ensconcing a western biomedical paradigm as the definition of 'proper' use of drugs that alter mental function! DrugEquality.org The message about feedback regulation applies to biologic systems as well. And we biologic systems created the failed policy and the law which controls policy possibilities. The fundamentally unequal regulation of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs that alter mental function has failed. We, yes we the people, have stuck the law in an ideologic loop! We need to get out from under article 4(c) of the 1961 UN Single Convention! That principle blinds us by ensconcing a western biomedical paradigm as the definition of ‘proper’ use of drugs that alter mental function!

DrugEquality.org

]]> By: Cliff http://www.drugwarrant.com/2009/08/99-years-of-failed-prohibition-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-417 Cliff Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:48:05 +0000 http://www.drugwarrant.com/?p=3951#comment-417 Truly, there is nothing new under the sun. Truly, there is nothing new under the sun.

]]> By: kaptinemo http://www.drugwarrant.com/2009/08/99-years-of-failed-prohibition-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-406 kaptinemo Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:06:44 +0000 http://www.drugwarrant.com/?p=3951#comment-406 In engineering, one of the greatest problems with any system is regulation. There has to be feedback in order to control the system. But if there's no feedback that isn't distorted, the system goes crazy and destroys itself. The DrugWar has been a system that has been allowed to go on without much in the way of proper regulatory feedback for a very long time. Instead of the 'negative' feedback required (like brakes on your car when you're going too fast) , 'positive' feedback (hitting the gas when brakes are needed) is applied. And so, with every failure, the demand to apply further 'positive' feedback increases...and we see the result all around us. All to placate a small minority of people in this country who directly benefit from this fiscal and social trainwreck...that has gone off the tracks and is about to crush those who've footed the bill for its' fuel and maintenance. A society that refuses to learn from History's lessons will be doomed to repeat them. At least, until the lessons become too expensive. As they have. In engineering, one of the greatest problems with any system is regulation. There has to be feedback in order to control the system. But if there’s no feedback that isn’t distorted, the system goes crazy and destroys itself.

The DrugWar has been a system that has been allowed to go on without much in the way of proper regulatory feedback for a very long time. Instead of the ‘negative’ feedback required (like brakes on your car when you’re going too fast) , ‘positive’ feedback (hitting the gas when brakes are needed) is applied. And so, with every failure, the demand to apply further ‘positive’ feedback increases…and we see the result all around us. All to placate a small minority of people in this country who directly benefit from this fiscal and social trainwreck…that has gone off the tracks and is about to crush those who’ve footed the bill for its’ fuel and maintenance.

A society that refuses to learn from History’s lessons will be doomed to repeat them. At least, until the lessons become too expensive. As they have.

]]> By: Jesper Kristensen http://www.drugwarrant.com/2009/08/99-years-of-failed-prohibition-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-401 Jesper Kristensen Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:29:40 +0000 http://www.drugwarrant.com/?p=3951#comment-401 One of the things that surprised me when reading Mark Thornton's book "The Economics of Prohibition" was the prevalence of State intervention in the early 1800's. Thornton argues that these interventions - on opium, alkohol, saloons - did in fact create additional problems, and that these problems in turn was harnessed by prohibitionists as an argument for even further intervention. Much like when contemporary politicians point to "increased drug related crimes" and "increased deaths" as an argument for more prohibition. I'm not sure how well-known that was at the time, but I'm fairly certain the nature of man wasn't all that different. One of the things that surprised me when reading Mark Thornton’s book “The Economics of Prohibition” was the prevalence of State intervention in the early 1800’s.

Thornton argues that these interventions – on opium, alkohol, saloons – did in fact create additional problems, and that these problems in turn was harnessed by prohibitionists as an argument for even further intervention. Much like when contemporary politicians point to “increased drug related crimes” and “increased deaths” as an argument for more prohibition.

I’m not sure how well-known that was at the time, but I’m fairly certain the nature of man wasn’t all that different.

]]> By: paul http://www.drugwarrant.com/2009/08/99-years-of-failed-prohibition-lessons/comment-page-1/#comment-399 paul Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:37:48 +0000 http://www.drugwarrant.com/?p=3951#comment-399 This isn't on the topic of this particular thread, but I just read a story about kidnapping in Mexico, and how it has become one of the worst kidnapping countries in the world. That story agitated me so much I decided I to post about it right away. The reason kidnapping is so prevalent, of course, is the lawlessness rampant in Mexico as a result of the drug war. Kidnapping is in the top 5 or 6 worst possible crimes, and it is hard to fight against if the idea gets around that you can get away with it. Since everyone now knows you can literally get away with murder in Mexico these days, kidnapping is a given. This must stop, urgently so. The drug war is causing a catastrophe in Mexico, and we have just got to pull the plug somehow. To comment on the current thread, yes, history does seem to repeat itself, over and over and over. Been more than 100 years now. This isn’t on the topic of this particular thread, but I just read a story about kidnapping in Mexico, and how it has become one of the worst kidnapping countries in the world. That story agitated me so much I decided I to post about it right away.

The reason kidnapping is so prevalent, of course, is the lawlessness rampant in Mexico as a result of the drug war.

Kidnapping is in the top 5 or 6 worst possible crimes, and it is hard to fight against if the idea gets around that you can get away with it. Since everyone now knows you can literally get away with murder in Mexico these days, kidnapping is a given.

This must stop, urgently so. The drug war is causing a catastrophe in Mexico, and we have just got to pull the plug somehow.

To comment on the current thread, yes, history does seem to repeat itself, over and over and over. Been more than 100 years now.

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