2011-10-02, 01:08 | Link #761 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Texas, USA
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See: Gaius Marius, L. Cornelius Sulla, Gnaius Pompeius Magnus, Gaius Iulius Caesar, Octavianus, ... Diocletian... etc. etc.
I think it's worth noting that it has sucked for the majority of humanity for the majority of history. It's only recently that the majority has become well-educated enough to start being pissed about how much it sucks for them. Who knows if/how that'll change anything in the coming centuries. But it probably won't get any better in time for any of us to enjoy it, and it may not get any better in time to ensure the longtime survival of our species, now that imminent environmental disasters and our own destructive technologies are looming as large as they are. |
2011-10-02, 05:54 | Link #762 |
Knight Errant
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Age: 36
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The Mexican drug wars are both a Mexican problem (for obvious reasons) and an American one (because american money and weapons are fuelling the cartels).
I think the American government should do their best to help the mexican government, which last time I checked they're already doing. But they really need to do more on their own side of the border. Stop the flow of weapons, and reduce the demand for drugs. It's not going to be easy though. |
2011-10-02, 12:48 | Link #763 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
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Quote:
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2011-10-02, 13:29 | Link #764 |
Kurumada's lost child
Join Date: Nov 2003
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The war on drugs is most useless and unproductive war in human history. Not only has it destroyed the lives of millions of Colombian and Mexican citizens but also generated gangs and gang violence all over the US and the world.
When will people understand that suppression is delusion. They need to legalize all drugs, and target those most susceptible to become drug addicts with real education and counseling programs that work. Mexico is the mess it is right now because Colombia has managed to push away most of its cartels off the country. When the Mexican government "wins" against its drug lords then other country in the Americas will become the next hub for drug production. It is a never ending cycle that will keep repeating itself so long as the "war on drugs" continues.
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2011-10-02, 15:05 | Link #765 |
Gamilas Falls
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 47
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Income source...drug tax. Still cheaper than the drug lords rates as their isn't the risk in smuggling driving the prices up. They might still deal to get around the tax, but that is a different crime...tax evasion.
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2011-10-02, 15:53 | Link #766 |
blinded by blood
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If the government wanted to solve the debt crisis, it'd be easy. There are dozens upon dozens of ways to increase government revenue without making the lower and middle classes feel the pinch, and even without making the rich mofos sweat much more than usual.
The problem is they don't want to solve the debt crisis. The GOP/Tea Party want to starve the beast, so they can kill what little remains of our social safety net and then tell the American people that they had no choice, planting the blame squarely on "socialism" and "godlessness" or whatever other such nonsense they come up with.
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2011-10-02, 16:49 | Link #767 | |
「Darkly Charismatic 」
Artist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: The Lounge
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Quote:
Godlessness The Republican Party would use the debt limit vote, an otherwise routine legislative procedure that has been used 87 times since the end of World War II, in order to concoct an entirely artificial fiscal crisis. Then, they would use that fiscal crisis to get what they wanted, by literally holding the US and global economies as hostages. The article I posted on the last page describes this very well |
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2011-10-02, 18:47 | Link #768 |
Knight Errant
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Age: 36
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I'm not sure if legalizing drugs would be the way forward. Just look at all the social ills that alcohol brings.
Not only that, but most of these drugs are extremely harmful. For instance, I don't think we should ever have Heroin being sold anywhere legally. That stuff makes cigarettes look good. How about something like Oxi? The minute drugs are legalized it will be a race to the bottom. |
2011-10-02, 19:31 | Link #769 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
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One reason the presidential race is almost just a distraction from the central problem: congress.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/03/us...er=rss&emc=rss Quote:
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2011-10-02, 19:38 | Link #770 |
Gamilas Falls
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 47
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Well, every representative and senator is suppose to be representing their states...so interests within those states would be a priority, since that is their voter base.
The problems come when they all add up and then nothing happens. This is why Congress usually doesn't really do anything until they get someone or something to motivate them. be it a giant popular movement, or a President with some weight behind his words.
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2011-10-02, 19:41 | Link #771 | |
Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: London
Age: 34
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Quote:
Legalizing shouldn't be confused with providing. Also a big difference between legalizing and decriminalizing. Legalizing doesn't mean your local grocer would be allowed to sell it. People that want to do hard drugs will do hard drugs (unless the education and support systems are in place to prevent/rehabilitate them), the difference is in whether the government makes it more or less dangerous. |
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2011-10-02, 19:44 | Link #772 |
Gamilas Falls
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 47
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One suggestion was to set up a Federal Drug House, where people would go to do their drugs (for a fee and with the drugs purchased being taxed). Then they would be in a controlled enviroment for whatever it is they are doing. The only trouble I see is that some people use drugs for very specific reasons and those reasons can't be done in a controlled drug house (like coping with work or whatever).
This is mostly for the hard drugs. The lighter drugs can have other methods of taxation (like cigarettes).
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2011-10-02, 19:57 | Link #774 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 67
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There's some evidence that a certain percentage (10-15%) of the population are just prone to addictive behavior, legalized or not. Legalizing, regulating it, and providing treatment programs is a lot less exciting but a lot more effective and cheaper for society... just not so great for those who benefit/profit from the current status quo.
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2011-10-02, 20:00 | Link #775 |
Knight Errant
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Age: 36
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I just think we shouldn't give any of these drugs the veneer of respectability by making them legal. And even if those drugs are decriminalized or legalized, so long as they're not readily available people will illegally smuggle them.
That said, I would support decriminilizing the possession of small quantities of drugs, but certainly not the distribution. It's like the way the distribution of harmful medical drugs is banned. Not only that, but lots of young people have a "try anything" attitude, imagine how many lives would be destroyed if these people were exposed to Oxi. |
2011-10-02, 20:13 | Link #776 |
Gamilas Falls
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Republic of California
Age: 47
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Lke an Opium Den, but potentially cleaner and with a professional medical staff.
Some people do things because it is illegal. It isn't the rush from the drug that starts it, it is the rebellious thing, or the peer pressure thing. You make it "legal but in a controlled enviroment" it is no longer that edgy, rebellious things. It is going to the doctors for a treatment, and rebellious types hate that, as that isn't "cool". So they'd find something else to be rebellious with.
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2012 elections, us elections |
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