Comments on: Learning from the Free Market http://www.mrclay.org/2008/10/14/learning-from-the-free-market/ Steve Clay on programming, music, public policy and other junk Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:00:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jay http://www.mrclay.org/2008/10/14/learning-from-the-free-market/comment-page-1/#comment-101849 Jay Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:55:08 +0000 http://mrclay.org/?p=229#comment-101849 Very interesting post. I am a legalization advocate and long time LEAP supporter. Your point about the lack of regulation in the drug trade is well taken, but it overlooks a crucial element. The artificial price inflation that is caused by the drug laws. There are many trades that have little to no regulation, but the high chance of incarceration is what sets the drug trade apart. Most citizens do not vote with drug policy reform as priority. People must begin to see all the ways that the drug war affects them even if they do not use drugs. Police militarization, shifting resources from education and many other things are detrimental to society as a whole. Unfortunately, incidents like the one involving Berwyn Heights, MD mayor Cheye Calvo must happen more often for the average citizen to be moved. Very interesting post. I am a legalization advocate and long time LEAP supporter. Your point about the lack of regulation in the drug trade is well taken, but it overlooks a crucial element. The artificial price inflation that is caused by the drug laws. There are many trades that have little to no regulation, but the high chance of incarceration is what sets the drug trade apart.

Most citizens do not vote with drug policy reform as priority. People must begin to see all the ways that the drug war affects them even if they do not use drugs. Police militarization, shifting resources from education and many other things are detrimental to society as a whole.

Unfortunately, incidents like the one involving Berwyn Heights, MD mayor Cheye Calvo must happen more often for the average citizen to be moved.

]]> By: Steve http://www.mrclay.org/2008/10/14/learning-from-the-free-market/comment-page-1/#comment-101844 Steve Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:16:43 +0000 http://mrclay.org/?p=229#comment-101844 If politicians were to suggest ending this war you'd see the ads "____ wants to put police officers out of jobs, while letting drug addicts roam your street!" The ill effects of alcohol prohibition hit home because nearly everybody drank. The majority have no problem letting other people suffer as long as they're "criminal addicts trying to steal my stuff". Part of the problem is that these policies are defined by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Convention_Against_Illicit_Traffic_in_Narcotic_Drugs_and_Psychotropic_Substances" rel="nofollow">UN treaties</a>. Then again, despite <a href="http://www.cfdp.ca/uncan.html" rel="nofollow">pleading by prominent international leaders and thinkers</a>, it was the <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20050313/ai_n12937370" rel="nofollow">U.S. who vetoed</a> the last attempt to allow some tolerance (suggested by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia and Iran). If politicians were to suggest ending this war you’d see the ads “____ wants to put police officers out of jobs, while letting drug addicts roam your street!” The ill effects of alcohol prohibition hit home because nearly everybody drank. The majority have no problem letting other people suffer as long as they’re “criminal addicts trying to steal my stuff”.

Part of the problem is that these policies are defined by UN treaties. Then again, despite pleading by prominent international leaders and thinkers, it was the U.S. who vetoed the last attempt to allow some tolerance (suggested by France, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia and Iran).

]]> By: Lydia http://www.mrclay.org/2008/10/14/learning-from-the-free-market/comment-page-1/#comment-101841 Lydia Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:31:10 +0000 http://mrclay.org/?p=229#comment-101841 Interesting take. Hard to argue with someone who's been in the middle of it and come out with those opinions. Makes you wonder who's really the driving force behind keeping the war "on." Interesting take. Hard to argue with someone who’s been in the middle of it and come out with those opinions. Makes you wonder who’s really the driving force behind keeping the war “on.”

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