Could we have a better use for the trillions of dollars spent on Drug War, such as fighting terrorism?

Question

The U.S. spends trillions of dollars fighting an endless, unwinnable drug war. A victimless crime of free will.

Wouldn't those trillions of dollars be better spent on Work Programs for the poor, Homless, Medical Care for the Elderly, scholarships, Fighting Terrorism, and all kinds of worthwhile programs.

We can't find Bin Laden now because we don't have the financial resources to locate him.

The police don't seem to have any problem finding all the marijuana smokers and putting them in prison.

The police have equipment that can see through walls to find marijuana smokers. Couldn't the police use this see through wall equipment to find Bin Laden.

The police have spectrographic equipment on planes and satellite that can spot marijuana growing from hundreds of miles away.

Couldn't they use this equipment to spot Bin Laden.

Maybe the cops just don't care to save our country. They just want their $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Answer 1

In California, the prison guards' union lobbies against decriminalization so that they'll need more prisons and therefore more prison guards.
The 2 worst drugs, tobacco and alcohol, are legal.
If we legalized ALL drugs, which would drive down the price and eliminate the profit motive, the crime rate would drop considerably.
Today's organized crime got its start and big boost during the 11 years of "Prohibition", when the sale of alcohol was illegal.
We're so stupid.

Answer 2

try not to equate the two.

We cannot locate bin-Laden, because the people around him won't turn him in regardless of the price.

I agree the war on drugs has been a failure. I have long called for a rational debate on what individual drugs do.

However, to call the drug trade 'victimless' is absurd. Meth kills not only the users, but the manufacturers, and the poor kids that have to live where it is being made.
There is and violence associated with the drug trade, and people get strung out and do evil stuff.

One final thing, the cops do give a **** if you are just smoking dope. And I assure the equipment that peers through walls is not squandered on piddly-*** small timers.

Answer 3

Drug use is not a victimless crime. Do you have any idea how many people are murdered to get you your wonderful drugs? Begin in Columbia with the warm wonderful cartel members, the bodies dumped after their usefulness is over, the police officers who lives are at risk, the small children ignored by drugged parents, the drug stupor driver who believes he drives better.
We have plenty of money to find Pig Laden, money is not the issue, perhaps a little less drugs in your system might enlighten you. Police have no problem finding marijuana smokers because they are stupid, prone to do stupid things.

Answer 4

I am an old hippy and I beleive that if we legal lize and control drugs like we do RX's and over the counter psuedophederine, we could tax and relieve taxes for those who don't do drugs, we could give incentives we jobs and taxes and vouchers for good behavior instead of constantly premoting bad behavior. Many teens do drugs because it is exciting and a high to see if they can get away with it. Selling drugs is a moral issue as we are our brothers keepers. Let Woody Harlison and Montel Williams have thier pot and let the FDA regulate the controled drugs. The reason we don't have this system is becaus it is away for the folks who run this government to provide genicide of blacks, hispanics and adventurous whites. We give them enough drugs to sell and they will kill each other off and the problem will be solved and the fat cats get rich. The fat cats don't use the drugs they supply them and make trillion of dollars off of our children and young adults.

Answer 5

I more or less agree with the overall message you're putting through.. and as a matter of fact I had the same question.. with all the supra sensitive satelites, equipment, infra rays etc. and they can't locate their targets?? who are they kidding?? just like in the Gulf War.. somehow they stopped short of going into the building and arresting the Iraqi leader.. before the funds and the means, comes the will to do something, and apparently the only will there is is to have loose ends and issues for future use .. in all this the police is the last to blame (if at all, since no police can interfere internationally)

Answer 6

A 'win' in Iraq means more oil profits in the pockets of the board member of the oil companies. Better healthcare mean less money in the pockets of the insurance executives who also sit on the boards of the oil companies. Need to ask anymore. Oh, and regarding the wolf at the door. The wolf is a Saudi who was based in Afghanistan and is now in Pakistan......neither of which is anyway shape or form located within the boundries of Iraq (or Iran)

Answer 7

You really must be a pissed off drug addict.

Why don't you do everyone a favor and move to another country if you feel so violated.

Chances are you're a criminal and have a very hard time holding yourself accountable for your actions. Since you can't or won't do it, the police and the justice system will do it for you.

Thank God for that.

Answer 8

I think we can have it both have more money for drug war and more money for terrorist we can have the best of both words. we do not have to choose. the government is rich so do they just choose not too that my thoughts we should help the drug addicts. then make our borders safer there no pick or choose period.

Answer 9

If you let the terrorists do what they want, I think the loss will be more than the money spent on the security measures.

Answer 10

To be honest I'm not all that sure.