Prayers for Pek

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Monster, Agree on the fact government needs to be part of the solution, as I have been pointing out to WolvesFan as well.

I think public awareness and advocacy has a huge place in educating and reducing illicit drug use, as you can't regulate things to such a degree that eventually a black market forms, thus undermining the very purpose for legalizing a banned substance to begin with. Beyond that, it comes down to fundamental human behaviors that are probably beyond the government's scope to address.

[Monster]

Monster, Agree on the fact government needs to be part of the solution, as I have been pointing out to WolvesFan as well.

I think public awareness and advocacy has a huge place in educating and reducing illicit drug use, as you can't regulate things to such a degree that eventually a black market forms, thus undermining the very purpose for legalizing a banned substance to begin with. Beyond that, it comes down to fundamental human behaviors that are probably beyond the government's scope to address.

Good thoughts. One aspect that I consider is it seems to me that some drug abuse comes down to some form of self medicating. It seems like if there was more assistance, public awareness and advocacy in that regard we might move in a more positive direction. We have a long way to go. When Kevin Love came out and talked about mental health it was like a big deal...it seems like there is still a stigma about mental health in this country.

One other thing worth considering is people that have served in the military. I'd guess they have a higher likelihood of drug abuse of some kind. It seems to me we still don't really take care of those that serve well enough especially considering the spending that goes into that part of government. I'm not suggesting that excellent resources for everyone that comes back from combat will solve all issues but I think and hope we can do better.

[Porckchop]

The pie in the sky idea that we can trust people on an idividual basis to do the right thing is just something I can't get behind. The argument that becuz alcohol produces drunk drivers than why not be okay with all drugs being legal doesn't make sense. Why have drivers be impaired only by alcohol when you can have them impaired by an assortment of drugs is ridiculous. And what exactly does recreational drugs mean? It means something completely different depending on who you talk too. Most people will lie to themselves and say all the drugs they do are done recreationally.
If we're worried about unemployment rates now imagine when people are given their drugs to feed an addiction. Work will no longer be a priority to pay for their drugs and it'll be a lot easier to beg for change to simply purchase a sandwich every once and a while. Homelessness will sky rocket.

Some people ( like Kap) want things to go back to the Wild West. Ironic that most of those people consider themselves progressive .

[Wolvesfan21]

The pie in the sky idea that we can trust people on an idividual basis to do the right thing is just something I can't get behind. The argument that becuz alcohol produces drunk drivers than why not be okay with all drugs being legal doesn't make sense. Why have drivers be impaired only by alcohol when you can have them impaired by an assortment of drugs is ridiculous. And what exactly does recreational drugs mean? It means something completely different depending on who you talk too. Most people will lie to themselves and say all the drugs they do are done recreationally.
If we're worried about unemployment rates now imagine when people are given their drugs to feed an addiction. Work will no longer be a priority to pay for their drugs and it'll be a lot easier to beg for change to simply purchase a sandwich every once and a while. Homelessness will sky rocket.

Some people ( like Kap) want things to go back to the Wild West. Ironic that most of those people consider themselves progressive .

They already do now. You just don't know it. People will do things regardless if it's legal or not. Marijuana is a schedule 1 drug by the Federal GOV but it's on every street in America. The only difference is the cops put people in prison for possession or selling. Would use go up some if it was legal? Probably. But the benefits to society are much greater.

The US imprisons the highest percentage of people in the world. Why? Strictest drug enforcement of any country. Most tyrannical police state in the world by statistics. We should not be locking up drug users/sellers and wasting your tax money.

Clogs up courts and police costs and enforcement. More GOV cost and waste.

Creates a vicious cycle for the user. They go to prison. Never figuring out why they use the drug they do. Get out get caught and the cycle continues. Ruins lives, more GOV cost for police, courts and jails/prisons.

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[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

2021 is on the horizon folks. 3/4 of the way there. We've come this far. Don't let your Facebook feeds and cable news personalities make us hate each other and let's hope for a peaceful election.

[thedoper]

2021 is on the horizon folks. 3/4 of the way there. We've come this far. Don't let your Facebook feeds and cable news personalities make us hate each other and let's hope for a peaceful election.

Yes!! Diversity of opinion and listening to other perspectives is the outcome of American ideals. I hope that America never completely descends into ignoring that ideal, despite what the media and politics seem to be representing at this point in history.

[Wolvesfan21]

2021 is on the horizon folks. 3/4 of the way there. We've come this far. Don't let your Facebook feeds and cable news personalities make us hate each other and let's hope for a peaceful election.

Yes!! Diversity of opinion and listening to other perspectives is the outcome of American ideals. I hope that America never completely descends into ignoring that ideal, despite what the media and politics seem to be representing at this point in history.

The main stream media (CNN, FOX, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC) is just a talking piece for GOV. The GOV creates news stories for the media to run and pay journalists. At least have in the past and I can prove it.

[youtube]5bcohDkDHKw[/youtube]

Ken Herman says "Payments to journalists and prepackaged news stories" and Bush admits to both saying it's NOTHING NEW.

In February 1976, Director George H. W. Bush announced an even more restrictive policy: "effective immediately, CIA will not enter into any paid or contractual relationship with any full-time or part-time news correspondent accredited by any U.S. news service, newspaper, periodical, radio or television network or station."[11]

By the time the Church Committee Report was completed, all CIA contacts with accredited journalists had been dropped. The Committee noted, however, that "accredited correspondent" meant the ban was limited to individuals "formally authorized by contract or issuance of press credentials to represent themselves as correspondents" and that non-contract workers who did not receive press credentials, such as stringers or freelancers, were not included.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Mockingbird

And above of course is Operation Mockingbird when Bush Senior the then CIA Director promised to stop paying News journalists to run propaganda.

[Leado01]

Wow. This thread took a turn. Did anyone read the story? Or just the headline?

It's a sexy headline, but it doesn't appear they have a case on Pek . . .

[BloopOracle]

I will not be attacked for smoking weed by you coffee drinking DRUGGIES!!! Put down the goddamn caffeine!!!!

[thedoper]

I will not be attacked for smoking weed by you coffee drinking DRUGGIES!!! Put down the goddamn caffeine!!!!

Prison for weed is unethical, one of the great miscarries of justice that has disproportionately affected people of color in the USA. Thankfully most states have been waking up to this barbaric reality, reversing unfair rulings, and changing their laws in regard to marijuana.