Awesome Videos to Watch Now
Interesting Theory Video | Harvard Economist Jeffrey Miron on Legalization of Drugs
This video was labeled in a way that implied Jeffrey Miron supported the legalization of marijuana. However, it is obvious within the first bit (talking about needle use) that he supports the legalization of most, if not all, drugs.
It’s an interesting proposal, to say the least, but how much of it is coming from the ‘laziness’ factor? “It’s a lot of work and money involved when drugs are illegal.”
Then again, he makes some valid points towards legalization. Imagine how much revenue governments could attain through ‘sin taxes’ if all drugs were legal?
But you also have to think about the complete shift of social norms it would take to accomplish such a thing.
John
March 25, 2009 at 3:09 pm
I have been saying the same thing for years, the money involved corrupts law enforcement, and corrupt law enforcement is the reason the ‘War on Drugs” will never end.
The huge increase in violence has swollen the jail populations, the large supply of jails has swollen the ranks of prison guards, not to mention local police, federal police, DEA, court officers, judges, etc…
These people get paid veerrry well, thus have a vested interest in continuing the “War on Drugs”, and every single one of them has a veerrry lucrative government PENSION paid for by the taxpayer.
The drug trade is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $100 Billion per year. As a capitalist, I want to get my hands on the money. As a pragmatist, I think all the people that use these drugs should be paying into the system ahead of when they will have their hand out to the system.
The GOP always preaches personal responsibility, private sector solutions over government solutions. Except for this subject. That is because one of their largest constituent bases is law enforcement.
Illegal drugs are the leading cause of crime and violence. This is good for the law enforcement business! Which is good for the GOP!
But the private sector is exactly where drug enforcement belongs.
When someone shows up at work strung out, stoned, wired, or drunk, the employer will send them home and make an entry in their employee record. If the employee does not make amends, they tally up three strikes.