As your nation apparently undergoes an economic crisis...

[Revvy]

"the US government [releases] $197m (£133m) to help Mexico fight the drugs cartels.

Source (BBC News)

What a brilliant way to spend so much money! When more families are finding it harder and harder to get by, your government still insists on wasting millions upon millions of dollars in meddling in the affairs of other nations.

But "Ninety percent of all the cocaine consumed in the US is believed to reach the country via Mexico." supporters will probably say, with absolutely no regard to any logic. It's not Mexico's or Colombia's or anyone else's fault that you have an ever spiralling drug problem; it's the failure of US policy and way of life. The US's (and Europe's) demand for drugs is the reason for why there's so much bloodshed in South America, it should be them invading us for causing so many damned problems in their country: not the other way round.

[Kbasa]

yeah, welcome to the waste of money that is the war on drugs.

Imagine if these substances were somewhat legal, the government could be making money on them instead of spending billions.

There are problems with making them legal, but I think that there would be less deaths overall if pure substances were being produced and purity was known and regulated...Really the U.S. needs a better education system on drugs, the one now is so full of bullshit its ridiculous.

People need to be aware of what they are putting into their bodies and how this will effect them overall. I've met too many idiots that are willing to pop any pill given to them, no matter what kind it may be.

/rant

[whocares123]

How would making them legal and taxing them dry up the black market? People would want to sell for less than the legal price, without any taxation, and the government would have to enforce THAT shit.

I've wondered this for a while...

[DarkMage35]

Originally Posted by whocares123

How would making them legal and taxing them dry up the black market? People would want to sell for less than the legal price, without any taxation, and the government would have to enforce THAT shit.

I've wondered this for a while...

Make sure tax still comes to significantly less then black market prices, and offer quality assurances, I assume. I mean, the tax thing has worked reasonably well for cigarettes and booze...

[Revvy]

Originally Posted by whocares123

How would making them legal and taxing them dry up the black market? People would want to sell for less than the legal price, without any taxation, and the government would have to enforce THAT shit.

I've wondered this for a while...

Think how much it costs drug barons to get drugs over the border. They have to produce far more than what is sold, they have to bribe officials, buy weapons, fund armies, pay people to smuggle, then pay the distributors.

Any business without such a legal minefield to cross could easily supply for much cheaper. I mean, most drugs are produced for ridiculously cheap amounts.

Besides, if you were a drug taker, where would you rather buy substances from: a regulated vendor or a black market dealer? If you question the rationality of the consumers, then just look at how many people buy alcohol on the blacket market. Of course, people do, but it's a rather low amount.

[wallstreetshuffle]

I want to see the world go into a huge huge depression, so far that we are forced to live once more as tribes and such.
Having to survive yourself, it would be great, and food, and ...well i dunno about anyone else, but i think about this a lot.

[aLn]

Damn. What a waste of money.

I think the government just needs to decriminalize drugs.

I used to be all for legalization, but the thought of greedy corporations being able to peddle cocaine made me think twice.

There is no way you can stop drugs being available. They just threw away all that money, just like the money they waste on Iraq, not to mention human lives.

Fucking retards in power.

[easeoflife22]

Originally Posted by Revvy

Think how much it costs drug barons to get drugs over the border. They have to produce far more than what is sold, they have to bribe officials, buy weapons, fund armies, pay people to smuggle, then pay the distributors.

Any business without such a legal minefield to cross could easily supply for much cheaper. I mean, most drugs are produced for ridiculously cheap amounts.

Think about what you're saying here. Officials, the ones that run the police as well as elected officials are bribed. The have to buy guns and ammo from arms dealers, the USA. They fund armies that make those countries easier to exploit for various reasons. And the people who distribute and smuggle, make good money, and have to pay off officials to do business, and banks to launder money.

Why would they want to make drugs legal and cheap, when so many high up people profit so heavily on them? A bonus is that it destroys communities, and when people aren't united, corrupt authorities thrive. That 192 million was to crack down on cartels that aren't playing by the rules, that try and dodge paying off officials.

Drugs are big business, but only if it's kept illegal and lucrative.

[RAOVQ]

this isn't as big a waste as you would think. we all have our own opinion on the 'war on drugs' but i think it is very safe to say that mexico is completely fucked up right now. some areas are basically war zones, with the military engaging well armed enemies.

yes, this is 'mexico's problem', but it isn't exactly wise to have a country descend into civil war when you share a border, no matter what the cause. when a country that shares a border gets completely ruined, bad things happen. more illegals will try cross, borders and security will be even more lax, things other than drugs get pushed through. militants find a breeding ground and go unchecked. it can be debated if mexico are really doing much to stop these things happening now, but they could be doing alot less.

i think that 200 million (almost nothing considering to what they have been spending bailing out unsuccessful companies) is money well spent if it means a neighbour has the ability to secure itself and avert a potential disaster.

[Revvy]

Originally Posted by easeoflife22

Think about what you're saying here. Officials, the ones that run the police as well as elected officials are bribed. The have to buy guns and ammo from arms dealers, the USA. They fund armies that make those countries easier to exploit for various reasons. And the people who distribute and smuggle, make good money, and have to pay off officials to do business, and banks to launder money.

Why would they want to make drugs legal and cheap, when so many high up people profit so heavily on them? A bonus is that it destroys communities, and when people aren't united, corrupt authorities thrive. That 192 million was to crack down on cartels that aren't playing by the rules, that try and dodge paying off officials.

Drugs are big business, but only if it's kept illegal and lucrative.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but are you implying that corruption, supporting the arms trade, exploiting nations and destroying communities are all good things?

If drugs being illegal means the forming of big business, then that's reason alone for why they should be legal.