Failure of Fault Based War on DrugsWritten by Clark Brittain
Kate Comiskey’s death is a tragic casualty of war on drugs. It began when Governor General Taft outlawed opium in newly conquered Philippines, then expanded with Pure Food and Drug and Harrison acts. After failed experiment with alcohol prohibition, not to be defeated moralists convinced congress to make marijuana essentially illegal with exorbitant taxation. The only opposition testimony was from American Medical Association. Nixon developed forerunner to DEA and vowed to create a way to get blacks without appearing to be racist. It has worked quite well. Nixon commissioned conservative republican governors Shafer and Hughes to do a study and officially denounce marijuana once and for all. That commission disappointed president and recommended among other things, that marijuana should be legal/regulated as is alcohol, and that only legitimate role for federal government regarding drug use would be to help identify people who might benefit by getting help. That report was rejected by Nixon, and war on drugs was initiated with a relatively small budget of about $30 million. Selective prohibition was considered moral thing to do; it would drive up prices making drugs comparatively unavailable to average person. By time Reagan became president war on drugs took a serious turn. Maryland University basketball star Len Bias died of a cocaine seizure (his friends were afraid to get help for fear of legal culpability) and several dozen crack babies fed federal frenzy that ratcheted up war even further. Helping it along was CIA involvement in cocaine trafficking to help fund illegal arming of contras in Nicaragua. Illicit drugs became a huge business- because of black market. It is estimated that three largest industries in world today are: oil, arms and illicit drugs. Unfortunately there is so much money to be made in illicit drugs that no one in legislative power is willing to pull out rug on this financial feeding trough. The money derived from illicit drugs finances governments, central banks, political parties and countless subversive organizations. The profits only exist in context of a black market. These drugs are not expensive to produce or distribute and even with interdiction/confiscations prices are only 10% of what they were at threshold of war on drugs in early 1980’s. It has also fueled an explosion of prisoners, with more people incarcerated for non violent drug offenses in United States than in all of Europe for all causes. Today more black adult men are in jail than college. In 2003 there were more arrests in America for simple marijuana possession than for all violent crime combined.
| | Local Realtor Attends "World-Class Service" SeminrWritten by Leslie Riggs
For Further Information Call: Jonathan Taylor (714) 815-4540 For Immediate ReleaseLocal Realtor Attends “World-Class Service” Seminar This past week, Orange County real estate specialist Jonathan Taylor attended an advanced customer satisfaction seminar in Palm Springs given by BY REFERRAL ONLY, a professional training company devoted to excellence and delivering “wow” service. “I’ve lived and worked in Orange County for over 40 years,” said Taylor “My work in real estate helps build community I love.” During seminar Taylor learned about common mistakes many homeowners make when selling their homes. “I came back from seminar full of information to share with community,” said Taylor. “Orange County is a wonderful place to live. I’m committed to making sure that home sellers and homebuyers have all information they need to make right decisions.” Jonathan Taylor of First Team Real Estate has set up a free, 24-hour Consumer Awareness Hotline a1-888 281-3740 Ext 8605 that gives Orange County home sellers a behind-the-scenes peek at most common mistakes people make when selling their homes – how not to make them – and shares tips on simple, inexpensive things to do that make homes sell for thousands of additional dollars.
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