Steven Greenhut: Mexicans dying in our drug wa

[Arne]

Steven Greenhut: Mexicans dying in our drug war
Drug prohibition lies at the heart of violence in Mexico.

Steven Greenhut
Sr. editorial writer and columnist
The Orange County Register


When it comes to foreign affairs, Americans are used to debating progress or setbacks in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or on the Israeli invasion last month of the Gaza Strip. We're used to thinking about death and destruction thousands of miles from home and, as a result, tend to debate these matters based more on glancing impressions, quick reads of newspapers and Web sites and sound bites rather than personal knowledge or the knowledge of those who live in the countries at issue.

What if I mentioned that thousands of people have been killed – 7,337 at last count – since 2007 in open warfare just a short drive from here? Or that the grisly violence has reached close to areas within the readership of this newspaper? What if I noted that the violence has altered the lives of many of our neighbors, friends and co-workers, who have family members who dwell in the heart of the war zone? What if I added that, because of this war, we place our lives in jeopardy by simply visiting some of our favorite vacation spots? Would that cause you to think twice about your foreign-policy priorities?

I am referring, of course, to Mexico, which has turned into a horror show in the past couple of years. There's been sporadic news coverage of these events. But the average American – and the average politician, for that matter – doesn't seem attuned or interested in a human tragedy that's starting to spill not just across the border, but deeply into the American interior, to cities such as Dallas, Atlanta and Sioux Falls, S.D., where Mexican drug gangs have murdered and abducted people.

I still receive many phone calls and e-mails from readers upset about the "Mexican" situation, but they aren't talking about the beheadings, murders, kidnappings, assassinations of newspaper editors, gunfights in town squares between drug lords and the military, killings of bystanders and children, or about the huge numbers of Mexican police who work for the cartels. No, they are referring to the immigration situation, and they generally are upset at the number of Mexican nationals who come north mainly to escape grueling poverty. But, as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich pointed out at a recent speech to an Orange County trade association, there isn't a wall big enough to keep out the nasty problems now destroying Mexico. Americans need to think more broadly about this matter. Since hearing Gingrich, I've been reading about, and fuming over, these horrors.

American policy – in particular, the federal government's insistence on funding and fighting a drug war here and in pushing the Mexican government to battle the drug cartels down south – has exacerbated the carnage in Mexico. That's not to reduce the responsibility of the evil folks committing evil acts. But as Ted Galen Carpenter of the libertarian Cato Institute explained in a 2008 article for The National Interest, "U.S. policy seems to assume that if the Mexican government can eliminate the top drug lords, their organizations will fall apart, thereby greatly reducing the flow of illegal drugs to the United States." But Carpenter notes that cutting off the head of one drug Hydra leads only to more heads sprouting. He gets to the real problem: "If Washington continues to pursue a prohibitionist strategy, which creates the enormous black-market profits in drug trafficking, violence and corruption will become a dominant and permanent feature of Mexican life."

Unfortunately, not many Americans on the political Left or Right are willing to even discuss the real answer, which is the decriminalization of drugs. Indeed, it's hard to even get any support for the modest goal of allowing people to sell small amounts of marijuana to terminally ill people. Yet it's the illegality of drugs that makes them so lucrative, and which assures that only the most vicious gangsters will thrive as the price goes ever higher. Even those Americans who see Mexico merely in terms of illegal immigration ought to broaden their horizons. If the lawlessness down south isn't reduced, pressure will increase for immigration, legal or otherwise, as more Mexicans seek refuge from the violence outside their doors.

Americans need to stop being so childish about drug issues. Yes, drugs are bad, but some people will always use them. Government cannot stop this desire, and government interdiction efforts only succeed in raising the price of the contraband, which leads to an even bigger reason to violently fight it out over the market. It provides the money needed to buy off cops and corrupt an entire justice system. We don't see Budweiser dealers shooting it out on Main Street with Miller dealers to control the beer trade. That's because beer sales are legal. That may seem absurd, but consider that the same sort of battles took place in the United States between bootleggers when alcohol was illegal in the 1920s and early 1930s.

"During Prohibition, there were undoubtedly people … claiming, 'Booze consumption is down. We're winning the war on booze. Al Capone is in jail. We've got to keep on waging the war on booze until we can declare final victory,'" wrote Jacob Hornberger, president of the free-market Future of Freedom Foundation. "Fortunately, Americans living at that time finally saw through such nonsense, especially given the massive Prohibition-related violent crime that the war on booze had spawned. They were right to finally legalize the manufacture and sale of alcohol and treat alcohol consumption as a social issue, not a criminal-justice problem."

If Americans can't figure out that the drug war is no different from the booze war, then we are destined to read more headlines such as these, which were taken from recent newspaper articles: "Mexican drug violence spills over into the U.S."; "Bloodshed on the Border: Life in Juarez, where drug violence has created the equivalent of a failed state on our doorstep"; "Mexico vs. drug gangs: A deadly clash for control"; "Drug war mayhem instills a new fear: Drug-related killings have taken thousands of lives, but now those uninvolved in the cartel battles are falling victim, even children"; "Mexican police linked to rising kidnappings: Many are afraid to contact authorities about abductions, fearing officers could be involved."

I think back to ancient history – the early days of the Bush administration. Our new president touted America's special relationship with Mexico and met several times with then-Mexican-President Vicente Fox in an effort to bring about a more open border and better relationships between our two democracies. The idea seemed sensible, especially from the vantage point of Southern California, with its close connections and proximity to Mexico. The issues of the time – illegal immigration, Bush's proposed guest-worker program and the plan to make it easier for Mexican trucks to travel into the United States – were contentious, but seem like minor-league stuff compared to today's goings-on. Now Tijuana and even Rosarito Beach are war zones. This is from the L.A. Times in October: "As Tijuana's latest flare-up in the drug war rages into its fifth week, with the death toll approaching 150, violence is permeating everyday life here, causing widespread fear, altering people's habits and exposing the city's youngest to carnage."

I'd hate to think of this going on for years, but it probably will. The root of the problem – drug prohibition – seems obvious, but for some reason Americans and Mexicans are unwilling to consider an end to it. But even if few people are willing to discuss the solution, it's high time that Americans pay more attention to this problem.

Contact the writer: sgreenhut@ocregister.com or 714-796-7823

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/d...ericans-people

[Dirkgreatness]

Mexico is a mess.

[Mavdog]

in one action we can alleviate the problem.

legalize, tax and regulate.

less cost to try and wage the failed "war on drugs", increased revenues from taxation, a hopeful end to the battle going on in mexico and the cartels will have to find something else to do or become legal distributors.

[dalmations202]

Originally Posted by Mavdog

in one action we can alleviate the problem.

legalize, tax and regulate.

less cost to try and wage the failed "war on drugs", increased revenues from taxation, a hopeful end to the battle going on in mexico and the cartels will have to find something else to do or become legal distributors.

Are you going to do the same thing with prostitution?

I am curious as to where the line ends up being drawn. Drugs is one area that I am unsure exactly where I stand.

[mcsluggo]

actually prostitution should be done first, obviously.


drugs have all sorts of spillover effects that could potentially get messy if not handled well. How exactly is prostitution oh so different from a purely-non-sexual massage, or a chiropractic visit, for that matter?

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by mcsluggo

How exactly is prostitution oh so different from a purely-non-sexual massage, or a chiropractic visit, for that matter?

Herpes?

[alexamenos]

Originally Posted by mcsluggo

How exactly is prostitution oh so different from a purely-non-sexual massage, or a chiropractic visit, for that matter?

about $50 an hour.

[dalmations202]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Herpes?

So if government gets involved and monthly HIV tests have to be taken, and bordello's get tax breaks, but in general it is taxed like Alcohol etc........ does that make it a good idea?

I know it doesn't make it "right" by my personal belief, but alcohol and cigarettes are legal, and I don't do them either. I don't want more laws telling me I can't though.

[alexamenos]

Originally Posted by mcsluggo

How exactly is prostitution oh so different from a purely-non-sexual massage, or a chiropractic visit, for that matter?

I've never been to a chiropractor?

[92bDad]

When I was young and into the Drug scene, I wanted it legalized...now as an adult and a parent, I am thankful that we have some level of laws that protect some from making stupid decisions.

Fortunately, I cleaned up after becoming a parent...and in time, I even cut out my alcohol consumption and holy cow, I became a responsible adult.

The solution of leagalizing drugs, prostitution and other such activity is absolutely foolish!!!

Just as foolish as has been the legalizing of abortion and the massive push on 'Gay Rights'...

It's time to move forward and stand up for the clear boundaries that are good for this country and its people.

It's amazing, when I was young I was a slave to vices...now I am liberated and living in freedom with the stronger boundaries that I put in my life. The same is needed for our nation, believe it or not, Boundaries are a good thing and create more freedom than anything I've experienced before.

Now in regards how we fight this war on drugs...we need to get stronger and enforce the laws on the books, go after dealers, go after those who use...but we should invest and develop stronger treatment solutions (Recovery from addiction)...at least for the users. As for the Dealers...I would make dealing drugs an offense equal to Murder, since the results are often death to someone.

Now, the problem may never be completely eradicated, but I am willing to bet that the tougher our government would get the lower the problem would become.

[Mavdog]

hmm, let's see what you just wrote...

in spite of the drugs being illegal, you were able to source these illegal items and consume them.

the "war on drugs" has not stopped you, and millions of others, from obtaining these illegal substances.

these substances are still available to you and others, it's just that you made the decision to not obtain them.

now, what exactly is the difference if they were legalized? clearly the fact that they are illegal hasn't prevented you or anyone else for that matter from using the forbidden drugs. it is only your individual decision that stopped you.

if legalized one would still have the choice to partake or not, no change there.

the change would be that the criminals would not be able to profit by the government's attempts to stop people from obtaining the drugs, and the government would not be spending billions of dollars in the farce of stopping the availability of these drugs but would be receiving income from taxing the drugs.

these "boundaries" should be individual decisions. if I want to puff a joint it has zero affect on you or anyone else. if I want to hire a prostitute that has zero affect on you as well.

[dalmations202]

I guess I am still on the fence as far as laws go on this one.

I think you are an idiot for riding a motorcycle without a helmet, but I am not sure it should be a law.
I think you are an idiot for driving without a seatbelt, but I am not sure it should be mandated.
Drugs make people Stupid --simple as that.
Alcohol makes people Stupid -- simple as that.
Sleeping around is STUPID -- simple as that.

I just don't know if having government mandate these things by law is the right way though.

[bernardos70]

Legalize it. More tax money coming in, less drug war crimes? Sign me up.

People can get fired for being alcoholics. People know better than to go on their lunch break and down a bottle of Grey Goose and come back to the office.

Just take the normal precautions and all should be fine. Commit a crime while on drugs? Double the time/fine. Smoke a J while on lunch break? Find yourself another job. Make it legal to discriminate against drug users when hiring, when loaning money, etc. It's way simpler than you think.

[Arne]

Originally Posted by 92bDad

When I was young and into the Drug scene, I wanted it legalized...now as an adult and a parent, I am thankful that we have some level of laws that protect some from making stupid decisions.

Fortunately, I cleaned up after becoming a parent...and in time, I even cut out my alcohol consumption and holy cow, I became a responsible adult.

The solution of leagalizing drugs, prostitution and other such activity is absolutely foolish!!!

Just as foolish as has been the legalizing of abortion and the massive push on 'Gay Rights'...

It's time to move forward and stand up for the clear boundaries that are good for this country and its people.

It's amazing, when I was young I was a slave to vices...now I am liberated and living in freedom with the stronger boundaries that I put in my life. The same is needed for our nation, believe it or not, Boundaries are a good thing and create more freedom than anything I've experienced before.

Now in regards how we fight this war on drugs...we need to get stronger and enforce the laws on the books, go after dealers, go after those who use...but we should invest and develop stronger treatment solutions (Recovery from addiction)...at least for the users. As for the Dealers...I would make dealing drugs an offense equal to Murder, since the results are often death to someone.

Now, the problem may never be completely eradicated, but I am willing to bet that the tougher our government would get the lower the problem would become.

Have you ever been to the Netherlands? I bet you a hundred dollars you will feel saver than you've ever felt at night in an American inner city district. Pot is sold in normal shops just like alcohol.

Now what would "getting tougher" on drug abuse mean? Here you go:

There are an estimated thirty to forty million people who have used illegal drugs in the last year. If we imprisoned all of them, we would have to build a prison large enough to hold the combined populations of California, Arizona, and New Mexico. The total cost to imprison them for five years, including the costs of arrest and prosecution would be roughly ten to fifteen trillion dollars, or about ten times the total Federal annual budget. This does not include the related costs to society which would be caused by the imprisonment of millions of gainfully employed, tax-paying citizens.

There doesn't seem to be any clear answer to this question. I have asked public officials of all kinds, including law enforcement officers, elected officials and all three of the US Federal Drug Czars. To date, the only person who has ever replied with an actual numerical estimate is Michael Levine, one of the DEA's former top agents. He estimated that the optimum number of drug offenders to put in prison would be about 2.7 million -- in addition to the people who are currently in prison. His assumption, he said, was that we would put all of the addicts in prison, and he estimated the number of addicts at about 2.7 million, based on other government figures. Mr. Levine's plan would require that, for every prison cell which now exists, we would have to build three more just like it. He did not say what he would do about the fact that even this plan would leave tens of millions of recreational drug users free to continue their drug use with little fear of prosecution.

http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/.../basicfax8.htm

Now, the Dutch people are paying close to nothing in order to get control over there "drug problem"...

[alexamenos]

Tearful Atlanta Cops Express Remorse for Shooting 92-Year-Old Kathryn Johnston, Leaving Her To Bleed to Death in Her Own Home While They Planted Drugs in Her Basement, Then Threatening an Informant So He Would Lie To Cover It All Up.

of course the cops were remorseful because they received an extremely light sentence, not because they murdered an old woman, but hey...what should we really expect?