WASTE, WASTE, WASTE! Over the past 100 years, the United States Government has declared progressive "Wars" on "things", like the Drugs, Terror, Piracy, and the like.
The truth is that "War" on anything (or with anyone) is really just another tax-payer funded government program. Here, we'll examine the so called "War on Drugs" to show you why these things never have and never will work, despite the ridiculous amount of taxpayer dollars spent on them.
"You can't legislate good will - that comes through education."
~ Malcolm X
Cannabis propaganda sheet from 1935.
Click for a larger view ----------->
Since it's inception almost 40 years ago, It's estimated that through the "War on Drugs" effort, State and Federal Governments have wasted almost 30 Billion dollars (yes BILLION). In the process, we taxpayers pay the government to arrest and prosecute a citizen about every 17 seconds for drug-related charges. And why these gross expenditures? All under the guise to eradicate recreational drug use? Really? EVERYONE know someone who knows someone that has been affected by this Liberty-Smashing Crusade.
And it's more alive than ever. For a good example of this modern day Witch Hunt, consider the recent wave of madness, where State lawmakers and Boards of Pharmacy are issuing emergency orders banning any synthetic compounds like JWH-018 and other relatively harmless research chemicals that mimic the effects of marijuana. Substances like K2, and Spice are being outlawed as you read this, not because they are toxic, addictive, or harmful in any way, only because..... well, they mimic the effects of the "dangerous" controlled substance you may have heard of called marijuana. That's it!
What's the message here? Hey, thanks for obeying the silly laws already in place by seeking an alternative, but, despite the fact we are spending money we don't have to try and our enforce the existing laws that don't work, we need to make more costs and criminals at the expense of your liberty. Why do we let these things happen? How ridiculous!!!
Those of us that remember history class, may remember a little governmental experiment called "PROHIBITION". This generally is referred to as the time period between January 16, 1920 and December 5, 1933, where We The People gave the government Constitutional authority to outlaw the sale and possession of alcohol-based beverages.
Prohibition created Liberty-smashing agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) which lead to agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and so forth (By the way, since the US government doesn't produce any goods of fair market value, this is the only way that the government can "create jobs"! So when a politician says they promise to create jobs, they really mean to expand the government through police state and unnecessary bureaucracy.) Long story short, PROHIBITION WAS A MAJOR FLOP!
The Basic truth is that if there is a market demand for anything, there will be a supplier for it.
In fact, banning specific targeted drugs only accomplishes only the following:
- Increases Awareness and Demand.
- Creates a Black market .
- Restricts product availability, which artificially drives product prices up (This makes "illegal Drug Dealers" rich.
- Creates a new supply chain of "Criminals", where none existed before.
- Eats up taxpayer money by invoking even more ineffective government resources (almost half of our Judicial and Prison resources are dedicated to the fallout of "illegal drug" laws).
- Erodes liberties and builds a police state by giving law enforcement yet another excuse to pull you over or raid your home.