70 billion drug war is a flop
In the Viewpoint section of the FTU dated Dec.10 Ms Tonya Weathersbee wrote an article called, “Drug dealing problem needs as stronger remedy” I believe this is the first time that I have ever been in agreement with Ms Weathersbee’s Viewpoint section of the paper.
Ms Weathersbee recited some amazing stats about the war on drugs in this country. The following came from her article. According to the department of Justice 2.2 million people were imprisoned in the US at the end of 2006. She states that, this is an increase of 3.3% from the following year. Out of that 2.2 million people incarcerated half a million are in for drug related charges. In 1980 there was only 41,000 incarcerated for drug offense.
Those are staggering figures; any moron can look at these stats and tell that the program for the war on drugs is obliviously not working. So; why in the hell is our government using our tax dollars, $70 billion a year on a failed policy? You read it right; $70 billion a year of our money gets thrown into a bottom less pit every year, without any positive results too show for it.
Who ever the person is that is over seeing this war needs to be incarcerated them selves, for misrepresentation of government funding. Somebody is misrepresenting something about the program, how on Gods green earths can the person in charge of this program justify spending 70 billion a year on a program that isn’t working, without making some kind of a change to try and bring some type of a positive result. I mean when a person keeps doing the same thing year after year and getting the same negative results, isn’t that the definition of insanity? Am I missing something here?
We have half a million people sitting in jail, because it is easy money for the drug dealers to sell their drugs too the person on the street that is addicted to drugs. Aren’t the people that run these programs supposed too be smarter that a fifth grader? We put them in jail they come out as convicted felons they can’t find a job because of their record, and we act surprised when they go back too selling drugs.
Let’s try this, Arrest the drug dealers as usual, upon convection sentence them for two years, and give them a choice. They can chose too sit in prison for the term of their sentence, and when released come out as a convicted felon, or opt for the second choice which would be attend a rehabilitation Vocational training school, with mandatory drug rehabilitation classes for two years. The vocational training should be based on what jobs are most needed in this country, and they can choose from the ones that are available. Upon completion of all required classes and your graduation in vocational training, all references too your record as a felon will be dropped. Have a case worker follow their progress over a two year period for support if needed. If they return back to the drug dealing, give them a mandatory 10 year sentence.
Now for the addicted person that buys from the dealers many are productive hard working people that have got caught up in the addiction of drugs. Pretty much the same thing, other than evaluate their situation, and if need be send them through vocational rehab. Make it mandatory for them too complete your typical 30 day treatment program, with mandatory AA, And NA meeting for two years, with a case worker too follow their progress. When they complete the requirements of their program all reference to the conviction are sealed, and if they return back too the drugs and get rearrested they must serve a mandatory two year sentence and come out with a record of conviction.
$70 billion dollars should be enough to implement this plan, if not legalize marijuana regulated it tax it sell it only in liquor stores, and use the proceeds to supplement the new war on drugs. I know not all will be successful with the new program, and will have to serve their time. Wouldn’t it be better to return people back to society as productive working tax payers rather than put back on our streets as non working thugs that return to their old way of praying on the addicted person in our society?
If 100,000 people can’t follow the program and are returned to prison to serve out their sentence, which leaves 400,000 prison beds that we can keep these perverted sex offenders in prison and get them off of the streets so they don’t victimize are children. What would this do for the over all crime rate? Many of our crimes committed are for drug related crimes. Those are just two positive things that can think of right off the top of my head, I’m sure that there are more.
Regardless of what is done about the war on drugs, something needs to be done to stop the insanity of a failed policy.
It takes an unsatisfied person to make things satisfactory:win1955