Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
My opinion: The main, and most acute priority is to find a way to stop the violence. ...
I am looking for constructive dialog.There have been many good ideas here. Of course, we Nomads do not have any power stop the violence, but we need
fresh ideas. A forum is just that; an exchange of ideas. The status quo, meeting violence with violence, isn't working.
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Let me ask these question?
Why is it that the problem of drugs exists on both sides of the border but the violence does not. With the exception of , perhaps our inner cities,
like downtown Oakland.
Many reasons, the drug problem in the US is one of consumption. Consumption certainly exists in Mexico but so does the extremely lucrative
business of supply and trafficking. The US has a better paid, better educated, more expansive police force whose members are difficult to corrupt. The
border area is where the BIG money is made and drug hauls are frequently measured in huge quantities. The problem is concentrated in a small area. And
generally there are greater opportunities to make money legally in the US.
How would the American public and government respond if a severed head of a police official appeared on a lampost?
Don't know why but that question made me think of the mass killings in US schools. Anyway the US crooks know that killing a cop will almost
certainly lead to capture. Head attached or detached.
If we are asked to legalize drugs it would be for the right reason - that we can deal with their inherent problems. It wouldn't be because our law
enforcement couldn't deal with law breakers.
How is it that the US is responsible for Mexico's violence? If we can deal with it on our side then so should Mexico. The idea that our demand for
drugs is causing their violence is outdated: they have their own clientele now. The drug wars would continue if we were on the other side of the
planet. Mexico's violence is due to improper security. Corruption has been a problem for decades in all of latin america. It's just that the stakes
are higher now - lives instead of money.
Eventhough drug use is rising in Mexico, the US is a HUGE market. You can't deny that consumption in the US is a big part of the equation.
I do agree with you that in this discussion the presence of violence is of greater priority because the problem is clear. In our country there are
various classes of drugs and the law enforcement has appropriate measures for each type. This is a democracy and if the public wanted to legalize the
hard drugs it would have done so by now. Our system pursues hard drugs and turns a blind eye to the others. This has been a policy for quite some time
now. Bajagringo, you asked what's the solution? That's the solution now and I don't hear the public clamoring to change it. And there's no reason why
this can't be Mexico's solution, except ......
Except Mexico is a poorer country, with much less opportunity, many uneducated people, and a significant number of people find nothing wrong with
killing other people for personal gain. Plus the chances of getting caught are slim.
<<gangster profit motive would evaporate>>
For how long? Until another scheme comes up. Do you know that in Peru the Shining Path initially were concerned with redistributing the wealth of the
wealthy. When that worked so successfully they changed their tactics and required every business and store owner to pay a percent of their profits if
they wanted to keep their businesses. A sort of tax, you might say.
True, drug trafficking has become more difficult and a horrendous crime, kidnapping is on the rise.
It's a good thing that we've legalized gambling. Just think of the opportunities if Americans had to cross the border for that pleasure.
All the losers are also helping out the state treasuries and giving American Indians jobs. But that's way off-topic.
[Edited on 11-25-2008 by Skipjack Joe] |
....they always get the job done!
