Why are we supposed to care when an illegal drug user commits a crime that only harms them self?

Let's be honest: Most Americans are ignoramuses and cowards, who are too stupid to think for themselves and understand the truth about drug policy, or any other policy. And who are too timid to stand up for what is right when the truth is unpopular. The only time most Americans ever "stand up" is when they are part of a witch hunt or a lynch mob.

And unfortunately, these shortcomings have always been typical of the American character. Or lack of character. For instance:

In the 1960s, when America was committing genocidal war crimes by torturing and murdering millions of innocent rice farmers in southeast Asia, for no other purpose than to augment the illicit power of the Central Intelligence Agency and to fatten the obscene profits of corporate industrialists, the average sluggish, cowardly American said "We gotta support our troops and annihilate those godless Commies, or pretty soon that doggone Ho Chi Minh will take over this country and we'll all be speaking Communist Chinese."

And in the 1930s when black Americans were prevented by "law enforcement" from voting, or using public accomodations, or "marrying into the White Race," the average sluggish, cowardly American said: "We gotta support our due process of law under God, and we gotta support our heroic police, because you know the darky race is actually only three-fifths human, so they don't have any real rights. And besides, statistics show they cause lots of trouble. And suppose one of them married your daughter. What would become of that ungodly mongrel baby they might have? Certainly he couldn't get any kind of respectable job."

And in the 1920s when citizens were prohibited by godly "Temperance Ladies" from legally consuming alcohol, and as a direct consequence the nation spawned the highest rates for alcoholism and alcohol related morbidity and morality in its history, as well as a new and very powerful consortium of murderous organized criminals, the average sluggish, cowardly American said "The Prohibition is a darned good thing because wine-bibbers cause trouble for other people besides themselves, and so we must send all these lost souls to prison if they do not bend to our will and follow our godly example and lead a sanctified life in Christ, just as we do."

And make no mistake: The War-On-Drugs is EXACTLY like Prohibition. And that's really the only thing that any supporters of the War-On-Drugs need to be reminded of. The theoretical arguments in favor of the War-On-Drugs are now completely ludicrous. Because it has already been PROVEN, in REAL LIFE, that when the government tries to take people's natural and civil rights away from them, the effort will sooner or later be guaranteed to turn into a disaster.

The use of illegal drugs affects people other than addicts. Many drug users commit crimes to get the money to buy drugs. People are often hurt or killed when drug dealers fight over territory. Some endanger others by cooking meth in labs they set up in apartment buildings or trailer parks. Sometimes, people under the influence of certain drugs become confused and/or violent.

I don't recommend that most illegal drugs be made legal, but I would be happy for marijuana to be legalized. Pot doesn't cause hallucinations or violent behavior. Legalization would empty a few jail and prison cells, and the government could then regulate the distribution and sale of marijuana and tax it just as alcohol is regulated and taxed. I believe the main reason pot isn't legal is that the government makes more money from it being illegal than it would make from taxing it.

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I know many productive members of society that have been using for many years. They have never stolen or committed a crime in order to purchase their drugs. I realize this is contrary to public opinion, but then too public opinion, law enforcement, and the media are often wrong, Most people that use drugs never get in trouble, they are not members of the criminal element and never will be because they don't go out and cause problems.

So what I am trying to say is that where drugs are legal the crime level is lower than countries that still consider all drugs illegal and continue to incarcerate all users even if they have never committed any other crime but using.

I've seen what drugs and alcohol has done to my family. I know what drug abuse did to me for three years. I watched someone I care for spend most of his time high, broke, trying to steal even from me. I saw him squirm and shake and want more even when he had had several strokes that nearly killed him, and finally one did. Drug and alcohol abuse kills and destroys families. Oh, I know that it's legal to drink, but not drive while intoxicated. Do you really think a drug abuser will stay put in his house and only hurt himself? What a joke. I've seen the inside of a Motel 6 bathroom where the parents nearly burnt the floor smoking crack while their babies lay sleeping in the next room. Do you really think that the government should legalize drugs and this will help? Sure, give it to the doctors to take care of this. Look what they did to Elvis, Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole and her son.

You're right about one thing though. They should make stricter laws against texting while driving, and take a driver's license away from someone who has a DUI. Take someones license away for life if they're in a DUI situation and have caused an accident. Sounds good to me.

I think the casual drug user should be treated the same as a casual alcohol user.

As long as that person doesn't imbibe in a manor which could in danger others,

then leave them alone. If they truly want help, they can ask for ir.

There is really two parts to your question. Why do we care? As a nation, because we are concerned anytime someone harms themselves. It is a waste of a life, and talent, not to mention (as you did) tax payer money.

But why should we care if someone chooses to cause harm to their self by using drugs when the only one being harmed is the drug user? Isn't it a waste of money to incarcerate them for something that affects no one else? If drugs were legal and users could get them in a safe and controlled environment, we wouldn't be wasting money on incarceration. The billions spent on the Drug War and jail time could be used more productively on treatment for those addicts who want it.

I agree there are victimless crimes, and IMO drug use is one of them. Unless the user commits another crime that may be required for him to get the drugs, then he is the only victim. With legalization of drugs no user would need to commit any crime against another person to get his drug and drug wars would be over, saving thousands of innocent lives that otherwise may be caught in the violence.

It's as simple as the fact that we should love all people, even our enemies. We are all here in life for the same purpose. We all have different battles that we wage but they are all part of the same war. We don't have to love the bad that they do any more than the bad we do but as we love ourselves in spite of our faults and failings, so too should we all people.

Wheew Blu - too long...

simple answer is if you legalize drugs and take the money out of it - the war on drugs is over - it's won. Let it be available in programs through local hospitals. Then you don't have addicts hitting people over hte head for a fix - cuts the crime rate way down and the expense of enforcement and prosecution and jail time...

then after you accomplish this - let them simplify the tax code... that should not be so hard to do either.

I don't care. I view drugs the same way I view alcohol.

I'm 64 and have seen many friends drink themselves to death; I've only lost one friend to drugs.

First, it's essential that we start distinguishing USE from ABUSE.

As with alcohol, it's possible to USE drugs, without destroying yourself by using them (abuse).

I think it's reasonable to care about people destroying their lives with abuse. The way to deal with this problem is to treat it for what it is, a medical problem.

Currently, it's not true that drug users ONLY harm themselves. Inability to get drugs lead them to commit other crimes. We could eliminate most of this (and all the violence committed by drug suppliers) by legalizing drugs.

Let people engage in recreational, safe use of whatever floats their boat. Obviously, as with booze, don't let people drive or do other things that endanger others, while on drugs that impair their ability to do those things safely.

Offer help to people who can't just use drugs benignly.

BTW, it's NOT the case that we don't go after traffic violators. It's not an either/or thing.

But we're spending insane amounts of money, and destroying a LOT of lives, by going after people over drug use. I wish we'd grow a brain on this issue.