Conservative congressman running for president, Ron Paul lost many votes four years ago because of radical beliefs relating to changing drug laws. Today, Paul says that the best way to fight drug cartels is to shine light on them, pull them out into the open. If drug users were able to buy from a dispensary, back ally drug sales would diminish along with crime rates. Law abiding dispensaries would follow rules, check IDs, and refuse sales to minors, just as liquor stores and bars do now.
Again, look at the Alcohol Prohibition in the 20s, the violence did not come from making and distribution of alcohol but rather the black market. Criminals became very wealthy and crime rates went up. Today, it is not uncommon to have a glass of wine at dinner, and because of this beer, wine, and liquor companies provide jobs and stimulate money in the economy.
If these reasons aren’t enough, Ron Paul urges us to look back at the constitution and consider where there is authority to forbid personal choices. From his article “End the War on Drugs” he states that
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.
Although he does not agree with recreational use of drugs, he stands for personal freedoms. If people are only allowed to make good decisions, then they do not have complete freedom.
I very much agree with Ron Paul’s views to end the war on drugs. I think that his ideas and reasoning’s are on point and have great potential to help this issue. The Alcohol Prohibition is a good example of what is happening with the war on drugs; we as a country have spent trillions of dollars and have shown very little progress. I feel that it is time to change how we view drugs in our society and turn the focus from crime to treatment.
I think this is an interesting stance that many politicians cannot bring themselves to entertain. Drugs are taboo, and many cannot think of ways to fix drug problems or economical problems by monitoring or tolerating any aspect of drugs. Marijuana is in many cases, very similar to alcohol. Likewise, why can we not look at our history books and see what happened during the Alcohol Prohibition. Also, instead of letting drug dealers thrive, why not let American reap the benefits in a monitored, safe environment.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very real post considering this is a touchy subject for most politicians because who really has an answer to ending the war on drugs?
ReplyDeleteIt's ironic because I was learning about the drug exchange between Mexico and America while observing a high school class and one of the questions the teacher had the students answer was "who do you think is at fault?" So of course it made me think too, and we as Americans should take personal responsibility for the drugs being smuggled into our country. When youget down to the bottom of it, it all deals with simple supply and demand. If we drug-obsessed Americans did not fiend over the use of cocaine and other such drugs, Mexico would not be supplying it.
I think when it comes to the war on drugs we have look at our country as a whole and work on ourselves to stop the our addictions, which will in turn force out these drug lords.