For over 20 years we have been fighting this war... can we win... how do we win?

Question

For over 20 years we have been fighting the war on drugs and there are no less drugs than before, crime hasn't decreased, voilence hasn't decreased, etc...

When will it be time to examine our tactics against our citizens and form a conclusive strategy to end the war?

We have been dropping the hammer on these criminals for over 20 years and we are no closer to resolution... Isn't it time we switched tools?

We have reverted to no-knock warrants, paramilitary units, and using K-9 against our citizens. How can we possibly win and what would be the next logical step toward finalizing this war?

Scott.... It isnt a war on drugs. It's a war on personal freedom, keep that in mind at all times, thank you. - Bill Hicks

Answer 1

I agree with the poster lil me
legalize marijuana

if we would have legalized it in the 60's, instead of the right wing trying to use scare tactics saying it will make our kids killers (like the army?) we could have used all of the income from special use permits (taxes) and completely headed off all of the Cocaine brought into this country.
But by using the failed tactics of the moral majority fun police, we created a culture that will not believe the government's warnings regarding drugs (due to the governments over reaction on pot) and therefore kids try inhalants-coke-heroin-extascy-and the list builds daily.
It may still work, trading off legalization of marijuana for the info to irradicate these other harmful substances

Answer 2

Some of your statistics are off. Crime rates nation wide have dropped though some areas have seen increases, some areas have seen remarkable decreases, like New York in the Giuliani years. I don't claim that the war on drugs is responsible, simply that the time from correlates. There have also been some interruptions in drug trafficking in some areas. Not very significant or long lasting, but noticeable. All that being said your basic premise is correct. The war on drugs cannot be won the way it is being waged. I've never been a drug user of any sort, but I favor legalization of marijuana. It is merely an intoxicant and has not been shown to have any health risks at all. It should require no more regulation than alcohol. As for the more destructive drugs, like Cocaine, Heroine, and Crystal Meth, getting people to not use them in at all is the best option. In the case of drugs like these, even if the war can't be won, I don't think it should be surrendered.

Answer 3

When drug dealers can make a fortune by selling drugs and , if caught , spend little time in jail, you can't win, the rewards way outweigh the consequences. Mandatory life sentences for drug dealers would take the "WOW" factor out of it quick. And big rewards for turning in dealers would turn some prospective dealers into informants, as well as giving dealers no place to feel safe. We are fighting a containment war on drugs- time to get real! As far as room in jails- we won't need as much- drug dealing won't be very appealing anymore.

Answer 4

Enforce the militia requirements in the Federal law and Constitution.

Require every able bodies man of military age (17-45) and female volunteers to be appropriately armed, properly trained, and responsible for the security of their local area.

Simply put, most local areas would become very hostile for criminals very quickly and those that aren't would be obvious and easily concentrated on by those in law enforcement freed up from having to protect large populations of people that finally are responsible for themselves.

Notice: It would also make it a lot harder for terrorist activities to succeed, school shootings to kill more than one or two, and prevent the idiocy that was the Hurricane Katrina aftermath.

Never gonna' happen though.

Answer 5

2 ways to solve everything with the drug wars
A) legalize every drug charge import taxes and sales taxes on these drugs have a company start manufacturing these drugs and have a way to stabilize the more off the chain drugs you kill the drug influences from South American drug lords and basically "run them out of business" and you kill the local dealer by have a cheaper price (a company making drugs would be sold cheaper than street value) and with one year the ones that are using drugs just because of the thrill rides quit using them
or
B) make it a total war bomb the countries that ship them in have the National Guard have drug task forces that break in crack house like they do in Iraq and if that doesnt slow drugs down nuke the countries that their "unofficial export is drug"
very easy both within one year you would see 100% turn around from today

Answer 6

The people engaged in fighting the war do not want to win. They would be out of a job. By making the news with huge seizures and some arrests they can show their progress, but they never make a dent in the delivery of drugs to the street.

Answer 7

We have to get away from moralism and treat the problem like a health issue rather than a criminal justice matter. We need to concentrate on the demand side, since we cannot restrict the supply enough. All we do is end up raising prices, which creates more crime. Hoew about more investment in spartan (not spa-type) rehab centers?

Answer 8

We can't win. People have been using drugs of some type for all of recorded history. Continuing to make them not only illegal, but seriously illegal, only overburdens the criminal justice system and makes it harder to keep dangerous criminals imprisoned for want of space. Decriminalization of "simple possession" would be a good start, but it's not going to happen in my lifetime.

Answer 9

It is not a war on drugs it is a war against the citizens.

Answer 10

We win the same way we did when there was prohibition in this country with alcohol. You legalize it. Take the mystery out of it. Take the desire out of it. Not to mention putting many drug dealers out of business. Good question.