ToTehEastSide United States. Mar 31 2009 19:37. Posts 1337
I would have posted this yesterday but I never got around to getting back to this site
This is a weekly column that Ron Paul does. You can find it at www.house.gov/paul
I love this whole article, but to save me time I will post the article and then spoiler a copy of it where I bold/color/italicize on the points I really like. If you prefer audio, just click on the link above or click on the spoiler below to hear the audio only on youtube + Show Spoiler +
End the War on Drugs
We have recently heard many shocking stories of brutal killings and ruthless violence related to drug cartels warring with Mexican and US officials. It is approaching the fever pitch of a full blown crisis. Unfortunately, the administration is not likely to waste this opportunity to further expand government. Hopefully, we can take a deep breath and look at history for the optimal way to deal with this dangerous situation, which is not unprecedented.
Alcohol prohibition in the 1920’s brought similar violence, gangs, lawlessness, corruption and brutality. The reason for the violence was not that making and selling alcohol was inherently dangerous. The violence came about because of the creation of a brutal black market which also drove profits through the roof. These profits enabled criminals like Al Capone to become incredibly wealthy, and militantly defensive of that wealth. Al Capone saw the repeal of Prohibition as a great threat, and indeed smuggling operations and gangland violence fell apart after repeal. Today, picking up a bottle of wine for dinner is a relatively benign transaction, and beer trucks travel openly and peacefully along their distribution routes.
Similarly today, the best way to fight violent drug cartels would be to pull the rug out from under their profits by bringing these transactions out into the sunlight. People who, unwisely, buy drugs would hardly opt for the back alley criminal dealer as a source, if a coffeehouse-style dispensary was an option. Moreover, a law-abiding dispensary is likely to check ID’s and refuse sale to minors, as bars and ABC stores tend to do very diligently. Think of all the time and resources law enforcement could save if they could instead focus on violent crimes, instead of this impossible nanny-state mandate of saving people from themselves!
If these reasons don’t convince the drug warriors, I would urge them to go back to the Constitution and consider where there is any authority to prohibit private personal choices like this. All of our freedoms – the freedom of religion and assembly, the freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, the right to be free from unnecessary government searches and seizures – stem from the precept that you own yourself and are responsible for your own choices. Prohibition laws negate self-ownership and are an absolute affront to the principles of freedom. I disagree vehemently with the recreational use of drugs, but at the same time, if people are only free to make good decisions, they are not truly free. In any case, states should decide for themselves how to handle these issues and the federal government should respect their choices.
My great concern is that instead of dealing deliberatively with the actual problems, Congress will be pressed again to act quickly without much thought or debate. I can’t think of a single problem we haven’t made worse that way. The panic generated by the looming crisis in Mexico should not be redirected into curtailing more rights, especially our second amendment rights, as seems to be in the works. Certainly, more gun laws in response to this violence will only serve to disarm lawful citizens. This is something to watch out for and stand up against. We have escalated the drug war enough to see it only escalates the violence and profits associated with drugs. It is time to try freedom instead.
We have recently heard many shocking stories of brutal killings and ruthless violence related to drug cartels warring with Mexican and US officials. It is approaching the fever pitch of a full blown crisis. Unfortunately, the administration is not likely to waste this opportunity to furtherexpand government. Hopefully, we can take a deep breath and look at history for the optimal way to deal with this dangerous situation, which is not unprecedented.
Alcohol prohibition in the 1920’s brought similar violence, gangs, lawlessness, corruption and brutality. The reason for the violence was not that making and selling alcohol was inherently dangerous. The violence came about because of the creation of a brutal black market which also drove profits through the roof. These profits enabled criminals like Al Capone to become incredibly wealthy, and militantly defensive of that wealth. Al Capone saw the repeal of Prohibition as a great threat, and indeed smuggling operations and gangland violence fell apart after repeal. Today, picking up a bottle of wine for dinner is a relatively benign transaction, and beer trucks travel openly and peacefully along their distribution routes.
Similarly today, the best way to fight violent drug cartels would be to pull the rug out from under their profits by bringing these transactions out into the sunlight. People who,unwisely, buy drugs would hardly opt for the back alley criminal dealer as a source, if a coffeehouse-style dispensary was an option. Moreover, a law-abiding dispensary is likely to check ID’s and refuse sale to minors, as bars and ABC stores tend to do very diligently. Think of all the time and resources law enforcement could save if they could instead focus on violent crimes, instead of this impossible nanny-state mandate of saving people from themselves!
If these reasons don’t convince the drug warriors, I would urge them to go back to the Constitution and consider where there is any authority to prohibit private personal choices like this. All of our freedoms – the freedom of religion and assembly, the freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, the right to be free from unnecessary government searches and seizures – stem from the precept that you own yourself and are responsible for your own choices. Prohibition laws negate self-ownership and are an absolute affront to the principles of freedom. I disagree vehemently with the recreational use of drugs, but at the same time, if people are only free to make good decisions, they are not truly free. In any case, states should decide for themselves how to handle these issues and the federal government should respect their choices.
My great concern is that instead of dealing deliberatively with the actual problems, Congress will be pressed again to act quickly without much thought or debate. I can’t think of a single problem we haven’t made worse that way. The panic generated by the looming crisis in Mexico should not be redirected into curtailing more rights, especially our second amendment rights, as seems to be in the works. Certainly, more gun laws in response to this violence will only serve to disarm lawful citizens. This is something to watch out for and stand up against. We have escalated the drug war enough to see it only escalates the violence and profits associated with drugs. It is time to try freedom instead.
0 votes
fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity
1
ToTehEastSide United States. Mar 31 2009 19:39. Posts 1337
It may sound silly, but this guy is truly our best hope for real change and liberty. Please Americans give this man at least a part of your time. If you actually listen he will wake you up.
Unlike any other one in the "biz" his actions speak even louder than his words
Sadly Ron Paul wont ever reach a position where he can change anything, the media will just supress him like they did in these elections.
I find it hillarious that even to date, many democrats consider Ron Paul a looney, even at the brink of absolute economical collapse, they will still call him a clown and bow to their executioners in the most massive stockholm syndrome ever seen.
Ex-PokerStars Team Pro Online
1
ToTehEastSide United States. Mar 31 2009 22:30. Posts 1337
see Baal that's where u defeat urself before you even start
you do not believe in the power of the people
I will agree, there are huge factions such as mainstream media that will use a "constantly push a POV and u will get there" tactic on their viewers but the internet is a wonderful thing and until it too get's regulated it has the capability of overcoming mainstream media
I will always believe that when the people here in America wake up and we unite and start to seriously move united in the right direction.........heh
then everyone better look the fuck out, because we can move like no other
and that's not being arrogant that's just a fact
and if u analyze the reasoning behind why that is your going to come across things like choice, freedom and liberty that have a wonderful effect on us as humans
so you see it as over, and I say it's not over, the battle here has only just begun
I still have hope and believe that the federal government here can be put in check, and SHOULD be put in check.
The issue is steadily coming to a point here one way or another
lol the federal government is so bad at things they are forcing their hand
fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity
1
ToTehEastSide United States. Apr 01 2009 00:25. Posts 1337
good I'm off the front page
To back up what I mean about the media being overcome Baal check this one out
They won't be looping/replaying this bit much on mainstream tv because msnbc David Shuster pretty much gets owned
That video shows why they usually resort to talking over him and cutting him off.
This is an important clip to my point really as most likely this video is not one anyone will ever see on mainstream cable tv again.
But the information is out there...or out here in the internet
and if I post that video...
and on the off chance that someone else actually watches it and starts to see Ron Paul for what he really is
well I've just totally bypassed the mainstream media and their intent
it's late where i'm @ but I promise to come back and read this!
Half Pot!
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ToTehEastSide United States. Apr 01 2009 23:02. Posts 1337
cool ^^
try the video too if u wanna see someone get outclassed and outfoxed on so many levels
keep hitting those issues Ron!!
fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity
Last edit: 20/06/2009 12:31
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ToTehEastSide United States. Jun 24 2009 09:19. Posts 1337
this to me is just too funny
they keep trying to put someone toe to toe w/ Ron Paul but the man is a Doctor and will grab the context of what you are saying and get right to the heart of the matter better than anyone I've seen
they can not debate him
they can only run him over or ignore him
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