How the Drug War Destroyed Over $11 Trillion in Wealth, in Addition to Costing Us $5.3 Trillion

[aociswundumho]

How the Drug War Destroyed Over $11 Trillion in Wealth, in Addition to Costing Us $5.3 Trillion - Bengal Capital

Recent Article from Bengal Capital - How the Drug War Destroyed Over $11 Trillion in Wealth, in Addition to Costing Us $5.3 Trillion

www.bengalcap.com

This week we look at a more indirect cost, but one just as real: how much less did people that were caught up in the drug war earn as a result of their arrest, conviction, etc.? How much economic value was lost by society as a result of drug enforcement - as a result of the almost 33 million marijuana-related drug arrests (only a fraction of the 88 million drug arrests) since 1971?

These articles don't include the prescription drug system, which is also terrible. There are millions of chronic pain patients in the US who are under treated because the rotten DEA monitors doctors and pain meds, and doctors risk losing their license if they are found to be "over prescribing".

The drug war is public control of the means of production regarding certain drugs, i.e. socialism. In fact, the name of the law which created the modern drug war is named The Controlled Substances Act. Call it democratic socialism if it makes you feel better.

 

[calamity]

How the Drug War Destroyed Over $11 Trillion in Wealth, in Addition to Costing Us $5.3 Trillion - Bengal Capital

Recent Article from Bengal Capital - How the Drug War Destroyed Over $11 Trillion in Wealth, in Addition to Costing Us $5.3 Trillion

www.bengalcap.com

These articles don't include the prescription drug system, which is also terrible. There are millions of chronic pain patients in the US who are under treated because the rotten DEA monitors doctors and pain meds, and doctors risk losing their license if they are found to be "over prescribing".

The drug war is public control of the means of production regarding certain drugs, i.e. socialism. In fact, the name of the law which created the modern drug war is named The Controlled Substances Act. Call it democratic socialism if it makes you feel better.

Should we return to the days of the Opium wars? We all saw what damage legal drugs can do with the recent Oxycontin nightmare.

If all drugs were legal, powerful corporations would market them as safe and hook 80% of the nation to crap like they did cigarettes and sugary foods.

 

[aociswundumho]

Should we return to the days of the Opium wars? We all saw what damage legal drugs can do with the recent Oxycontin nightmare.

If all drugs were legal, powerful corporations would market them as safe and hook 80% of the nation to crap like they did cigarettes and sugary foods.

Adults have the right to put what they want into their own bodies, yes?

Or do you believe the state should have control over what we put into our bodies, and physically punish those who disobey?

 

[Yakshi]

Every government on the planet has control over what we put in our bodies and physically punishes those who disobey.

So, adults don't have an absolute right to put whatever they want into their bodies, no.

 

[aociswundumho]

Every government on the planet has control over what we put in our bodies and physically punishes those who disobey.

So, adults don't have an absolute right to put whatever they want into their bodies, no.

Virtually every government on the planet punishes people for what they say, does that mean the right to free speech doesn't exist?

It's such a bizarre argument: governments routinely violate the rights of people to do X, therefore you have no right to do X.

Even state-worshiper @calamity didn't take such a ridiculous position.

 

[OrphanSlug]

The so called ‘War on Drugs’ has resulted in no measurable success.

What it did do was jumpstart yet another evolution of international criminal organization, that has negatively impacted plenty of nations along the way, taken our own nation right to the top as the incarceration capital of the world, and resulted in so much social and economic fallout that it would take generations to undo assuming we could start tomorrow.

All arguments to continue this path we are on will result in continued mess, costs, loss of life, and insanity.

It really is an example of doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.

 

[CaughtInThe]

 

[Yakshi]

Virtually every government on the planet punishes people for what they say, does that mean the right to free speech doesn't exist?

It's such a bizarre argument: governments routinely violate the rights of people to do X, therefore you have no right to do X.

Even state-worshiper @calamity didn't take such a ridiculous position.

Your question makes no sense. No right is unlimited anywhere in the world. People have free speech until they slander, incite a riot, or violate that limited right in any of a number of ways. And then they are punished for it.

You seem to think that the simple existence of the regulatory role of government is ridiculous. You also seem to think that you have absolute rights.

I can't help you there, because it is a fact that you don't.

 

[Trumpsucks]

concerta is like crack i read on google, i'm not sure i typed this in years ago, cocaine is similar to ritalin adderall similar to speed xr similar to ecstasy.

 

[Questerr]

Should we return to the days of the Opium wars? We all saw what damage legal drugs can do with the recent Oxycontin nightmare.

If all drugs were legal, powerful corporations would market them as safe and hook 80% of the nation to crap like they did cigarettes and sugary foods.

The Opium Wars weren’t about “legal drugs”. They were about forcing people to take drugs.

 

[Deuce]

The drug war is ... socialism.

Bwaaahahahahahha

Dumbest take I've ever seen. You guys cry "socialism" more than Al Sharpton cries "racism."

 

[Deuce]

Adults have the right to put what they want into their own bodies, yes?

Or do you believe the state should have control over what we put into our bodies, and physically punish those who disobey?

The unfortunate reality is that drug addiction creates a chemical reaction in our bodies that creates addiction. Addiction has an impact on society, on the people around you.

So, do you have a right to get yourself addicted to cocaine to the point where you break in to my car to steal my radio for your next fix?

 

[aociswundumho]

Bwaaahahahahahha

Dumbest take I've ever seen. You guys cry "socialism" more than Al Sharpton cries "racism."

Socialism is public ownership/control of the means of production and distribution. The means of production and distribution regarding certain, politically incorrect drugs (heroin, cocaine, etc) is highly controlled by the government. If you attempt to produce and distribute them, the cops will likely kick your door in, beat the shit out of you, and you will end up in a prison cell. The exact same thing would happen to you if you chose to grow food on your own in the USSR during collectivization. because at that point in time, the means of production and distribution regarding food was controlled by the government.

Capitalism would be a free market in drug production and distribution with no or little government intervention.

The unfortunate reality is that drug addiction creates a chemical reaction in our bodies that creates addiction.

Tens of millions of people have quit every addictive drug on the planet.

Yes, it's difficult. So are many things worth doing.

Addiction has an impact on society, on the people around you.

So do your awful political views. Can we make them illegal too?

So, do you have a right to get yourself addicted to cocaine to the point where you break in to my car to steal my radio for your next fix?

How often do you observe alcoholics or nicotine addicts committing crimes in order to pay for their next fix?

Illegality is what causes addicts to commit crimes. In a free market, every schedule 1 drug would be dirt cheap. On top of that, there would be an incentive to create safer drugs, since people value safety.


Anyway, how about answering this question:

Do adults have the right to put what they want into their own bodies?

Yes or no, comrade.

 

[Deuce]

Socialism is public ownership/control of the means of production and distribution. The means of production and distribution regarding certain, politically incorrect drugs (heroin, cocaine, etc) is highly controlled by the government. If you attempt to produce and distribute them, the cops will likely kick your door in, beat the shit out of you, and you will end up in a prison cell. The exact same thing would happen to you if you chose to grow food on your own in the USSR during collectivization. because at that point in time, the means of production and distribution regarding food was controlled by the government.

"It's socialism to make something illegal to sell" is a hilarious take. Naturally, it's socialism to ban abortion services, right?

Tens of millions of people have quit every addictive drug on the planet.

Yes, it's difficult. So are many things worth doing.

"It's possible to quit" doesn't actually contradict my argument.

So do your awful political views. Can we make them illegal too?

Thank you for admitting to this goal of yours. Control for me, not for thee.

How often do you observe alcoholics or nicotine addicts committing crimes in order to pay for their next fix?

Illegality is what causes addicts to commit crimes. In a free market, every schedule 1 drug would be dirt cheap. On top of that, there would be an incentive to create safer drugs, since people value safety.

Capitalism provides incentive to create cheaper drugs, not safer drugs. History is filled with examples of companies choosing profits over safety, and it's rare to see the market punish them. In the rare occasion they do get punished, it's usually the government. And usually a slap on the wrist. Don't want to destroy jobs, after all.

Anyway, how about answering this question:

Do adults have the right to put what they want into their own bodies?

Yes or no, comrade.

Do I have the right to own a nuclear weapon? Since rights are a yes or no question, the right to bear arms must be all or nothing.

Correct? This is the standard you're going with?

 

[Waddy]

By what standard is the War on Drugs a failure? What would addiction rates be now if all drugs had always been legal? If drugs were legal would it be Constitutional to test for drugs as a requirement of employment?
Addiction right now costs the taxpayers billions as addicts tend to need intensive social services. Who pays the cost when all drugs are legal?

 

[Sagittarius83]

The problem was always attacking the supply and suppliers.

This has never worked anywhere for any product in demand. This might be a useful lesson for anyone who believes tough gun laws will make that problem go away.

People who are anti capitalist love to dismiss the notion of marketplace supply and demand but it is as perennial as the grass.

 

[Sagittarius83]

Young people who regularly watch their parents drink will always view the acceptance of alcohol as hypocritical and use this as an excuse to experiment with or become addicted to drugs. I don’t believe in rationalizations but they have a point. Alcohol is legal because those in power like that drug. Some say alcohol is the real gateway drug. One might also remember what happened when that was attempted to be outlawed.

The opium wars comments were interesting. Opium devastated Chinese culture. And for those who admire strong government wars on drugs they can point to the success of Chinese communists who broke into people’s houses and killed entire families that had members distributing opium. Pretty much solved that problem if you are comfortable with governments that behave in this way.

 

[Sagittarius83]

Should we return to the days of the Opium wars? We all saw what damage legal drugs can do with the recent Oxycontin nightmare.

If all drugs were legal, powerful corporations would market them as safe and hook 80% of the nation to crap like they did cigarettes and sugary foods.

What would you rather have? Corporations marketing drugs with quality control or cartels distributing drugs that are cut with who knows what and killing untolled numbers of their competition and even innocent civilians in the crossfire every single day?