Columbusite said:
It absolutely is not. We still have an unusually high rate of homocides compared to many other countries and they don't use the death penalty as a deterrent. We have some serious social dysfunctions we need to face. We are a lot more violent on average.
Two words: Drug War
The Drug War is at the center of a great deal of social ills, including homocides. It is a nexus, the center of a spider's web.
HUGE Portions of the Murders commited in the USA (not to mention cop killings and cops killing) are a result of the Drug war by means of drug gangs, black market pricing (which heavily increase killings for money to buy drugs), and other associated factors. (see DOJ statistics)
Gangs largely exist because of drugs and the black market profits. Not to mention, the Black Market Profits also aid terrorism. As much as 40-60% of major city murders are because of Drug Gang related activiteis alone (see LA crime stats for starters).
It makes crimminals out of not violent citizens. (I don't recall exactly the following state, so I am using a broad range). Betweem 1/5 and 1/3 of Prison populations are filled with non-violent drug offenders, most without ANY history of violence EVER. (check the Bueau of Prisons, and DOJ)
Prisons are filled with soo many non violent crimminals, that often VIOLENT crimminals are being released to make room, because drug laws carry MANDATORY sentences, whereas rape, assault, robbery and murder do not. This has also lead to kickbacks and corruption by Government officials, who are lobbied and bribed by prison builders, prison workers, and Private Prison operators. (see Rockefeller Dug Laws for NY state)
It a source of Local, State and federal Corruption. Not a year goes by when I don't hear or read about numerous City officials and particulalry police officers and detectives being caught as participants in drug rings. Federal agencies have been often implicated in buyig, selling, and distributing drugs for other illict activities. (see: Oliver North. CIA.)
The "necessity" of fighting drugs has led to tremendous strain on police and prosecution resources that either result in ever increasing taxes, or poorer service from public agents, most often both. Polcing spend so much time tracking and prosecuting non-violent drug offenders that a significant portion of societies greatest crime, murder, remain unsolved or under-invesitgated. It's even worse for violent non-murders (assaults, rapes) and property crimes. Some cities have property crime resolution rates as LOW as 6%. Public Defenders are often overworked or understaffed, that they can not give adequate defenses/ Prosecutors are also often overworked that they are often lured to skirting the rules, even breaking the law themselves, in order to secure a conviction, and move on to the next case. Court systems are overbooked and judges and staffers over worked that fair trials are seriously in jeopardy in this country. (not sure if there are any stats kept, often read it in the news though)
The Black Market prices allow gangs to afford to purchase guns, and motivates them to steal guns, or motivates others to steal or sell guns to gangs, OUTSIDE LEGAL CHANNELS. This increase in gun running and resulting gun violence (even violence over gun smuggling) is often used as a reason to further infringe upon the American's Right to Bear Arms. (see DOJ, Democratic Party, and Second Amendment to the US Constitution)
The prohibition of drugs has lead to increased potency and unclean cutting. During the years of prohibition's major start in the united state (1960's) and even until now, drugs are becomeing more and more potent, because the more potent the drug, the less drug needed to be transported, and cutting can be done at local distributions. The less drug transported, the harder to catch. The distrubution network, through malice, greed or ineptidue will often realse unclean or "unsafe" drug with irregular potencies or impurities that can lead to permanent injuries or fatalies. Furthermore, increade potencies are more likely to lead to addiction (Pepto Bismol contains opiates, as do many other anti-diarheals, but in such low doses they pose no risk of addiction, and can be sold Over the counter), Opium, certainly addictive, is by no means as addictive as Heroin. The same is true of Cocaine, which Coca farmers regulars chew the leaves of the coca plant, and suffer no addiction. the reason "hard drugs" are as hard as they are, is because of prohibition. (see NIH, possibly CDC, and DEA)
Prohibition has cut of many Medical Avenues for treatment. Doctors' can lose their licences if they attempt to treat addictions, at least without prior state approval, and possibly a new crimminal record for the patient. (ask your doctor about the legal implications, Doc may know)
Prohibition has been used as an excuse to violate people's Property Rights, by siezing homes, cars, or anything even SUSPECTED of being part of the drug trade. Even upon exhonortion by a jury, the state keeps the property, and the acquitted must sue the state to get it back. Which is often not likely, ebcause either most people don't have enough money, or they spent so much in being acquitted that they can no longer afford further suit, by which time the state may have auction off the goods already anyway. (see asset forefieture and 4th, 5th, and 7th amaendments)
Normal, peaceful citizens are often required to associate with the violent dregs of society, in order to attain drugs, or satisfy their addiction. Prohibition itself, is the GATEWAY to violence and addiction.
I literlaly could wring a book, and some day may, on the nexus of prohibition, and it's HUGE implications. I have literally, only scratched the surface.
Drug abuse, drug addiction, and addles minds are by no means things we as a society should promote. However, the alternative: Violence, Corruption, Abuse of power, Violation of the rights numerous civil and Consitutional rights, economic costs, increased taxation, growth of central power, Medical costs, International Conflict, Medical allfiction exasperated by restricted treatemnts, and a myriad of other factors, are not worth the price or prohibition.
What started out as two words, obviously went on a great deal. The Two words are central to a significant portion of many of the societal problem we face in the, including murder, for which the death penalty is oft used.