Cartel battle in Mexico

[26 Inf]

I’d like to think those concerns would inevitably be self correcting over time

That is what I'd hope.

[WillBrink]

A couple of things - I agree (for the most part) with everything MountainRaven posted.

My only concern is the impact that legalization, which would initially, lead to more folks experimenting with drugs, would impact these stats:

While important issues, (1) I can't even fathom what the actual costs of drug interdiction efforts have been over the last decades in both $, lives, etc and (2) I suspect accurately assessing the true costs pro/con are a WAG at best and (3) prohibition does not work, ever, full stop.

[flenna]

So if we legalize drugs the cartels will cease to exist and become good citizens , the violence in Mexico will stop, we will save billions of dollars and drug consumption will massively drop? If this is not all true then how will legalization solve anything? I can agree that the WoD is not working but I cannot see legalization solving anything.

[Jsp10477]

..... self policed

[Circle_10]

So if we legalize drugs the cartels will cease to exist and become good citizens , the violence in Mexico will stop, we will save billions of dollars and drug consumption will massively drop? If this is not all true then how will legalization solve anything? I can agree that the WoD is not working but I cannot see legalization solving anything.

It solves the problem of the State regulating what substances people are allowed to put into their own bodies.

[flenna]

It solves the problem of the State regulating what substances people are allowed to put into their own bodies.

Yes, because drug abuse is a victimless crime .

[TomMcC]

Chronic large scale drunkenness was the driving force that ultimately led to prohibition, I don't see a material difference between that and the drug problem. Maybe the gov't doesn't really have the legitimate authority to prohibited drug consumption, maybe they do....but...what they are doing now doesn't seem to be helping and has, imo, corrupted le. Maybe we need a different solution. More and more Americans seem to be losing a certain hopeful outlook that was a bulwark against self indulgent behavior...maybe we need that hope back.

[Diamondback]

Chronic large scale drunkenness was the driving force that ultimately led to prohibition, I don't see a material difference between that and the drug problem. Maybe the gov't doesn't really have the legitimate authority to prohibited drug consumption, maybe they do....but...what they are doing now doesn't seem to be helping and has, imo, corrupted le. Maybe we need a different solution. More and more Americans seem to be losing a certain hopeful outlook that was a bulwark against self indulgent behavior...maybe we need that hope back.

Douglas MacArthur had a quote that seemed relevant here, though he was talking about the challenges of ending armed conflict.
"The problem basically is theological and involves a spiritual recrudescence and improvement of human character that will synchronize with our almost matchless advances in science, art, literature and all material and cultural developments of the past two thousand years. It must be of the spirit if we are to save the flesh."--from his speech at the Japanese surrender, 1945

Now I'm not saying everybody needs a Bible or whatever holy book stuffed in their hand by citing this--what I am saying is we've had so many generations raised to believe in nothing above ourselves starting with the overindulged upbringing of the Baby Boomers and steadily getting ever further off-course through Gen X, my own "X-ennial microgeneration," Millennials and now Post-Millennials, and a kind of nihilistic rot has set in at a cultural level.

[JediGuy]

The argument against any sort of prohibition is that it doesn’t work. The same arguments are made about regulation.
Regulation DOES work. There is just a point of diminishing returns. The BATFE, I would imagine, is still involved in illegal alcohol sales, illegal tobacco sales, illegal explosives sales, and illegal firearms sales. I would hazard a guess that we are not in a worse position regarding most of those things. When was the last SBR used in a bank robbery? I’d imagine they’re out there...but... We can bitch and moan about muh rights, but sometimes it’s worth taking the hit for a better good. Don’t take my words farther than they go there, as I would love theoretically love to do away with the Hughes Amendment. But I doubt any of us would like the result, which is that kids in the ghetto would start getting hit by automatic fire instead of semi auto fire in short order. And I don’t foresee any voters liking that for long.

Perhaps we should legalize some things. But to act like legalization of all drugs would not have deleterious consequences for individuals and families is silly. I’ve got immediate family who has used more drugs than I can name. It isn’t good. Making them legal would not make that any better.

[JediGuy]

But regardless of legalization, the cartels won’t go away without direct, active military action by the US. Thinking otherwise, in my opinion, is delusional.