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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!cca!ima!inmet!nrh
From: nrh@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response - (nf)
Message-ID: <336@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 19-Sep-83 08:40:49 EDT
Article-I.D.: inmet.336
Posted: Mon Sep 19 08:40:49 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 20-Sep-83 20:59:20 EDT
Lines: 49

#R:tekgds:-128700:inmet:3900053:000:2302
inmet!nrh    Sep 18 16:57:00 1983

	***** inmet:net.flame / trsvax!ljw / 11:24 pm  Sep 15, 1983
	***** trsvax:net.flame / uiucdcs!mcewan /  1:55 pm  Sep  8, 1983
	/***** uiucdcs:net.flame / hp-kirk!jimd /  4:29 am  Aug 31, 1983 */
	Subject: Multiple choice response

	I suppose that I might support legalizing and taxing marijuana,
	however it is difficult to decide what happens next.  Two of my
	very best friends were killed by drug traders after they
	'stepped up' to cocaine.  Their offence: not recruiting more
	customers. I'm sure that their parents and myself will never
	feel too secure about this issue.  
	/* ---------- */ But the
	only reason that scum like this sell drugs is that the drugs
	are illegal. Legalizing drugs is the ONLY way to put these
	people out of business.  
	---------- Bull manure, the only
	reason that scum like this sell drugs is that it makes them a
	lot of money!  If legalizing drugs is the ONLY way to put these
	people out of business, how do you explain the existance of
	organized crime in Nevada and Atlantic City.  After all, those
	people are supposed to leave when gambling is legalized, at
	least according to your logic.  Not on your life.  Show me one
	incident where scum didn't *increase* when vices were
	legalized.  The existense of scum is one reason why harmful
	drugs should NOT be legalized.
			... (microsoft|ctvax|laidbak)!trsvax!ljw
			(Larry J. West)
	----------

I know people will try and burn for this, but.....
Organized crime survives because there's still some money to be made
that can best (most easily) be made by violent means.  In particular,
the drug trade, not gambling is O.C.'s greatest revenue source (as 
I understand it), and so they should remain strong, even though
gambling and prostitution be legalized.  On the other hand, 
gambling in particular is HIGHLY REGULATED -- meaning that corruption
is a very useful tool when trying to open a casino, and that 
criminals therefore have an advantage.

Organized crime will remain strong while they can manipulate
politicians.  (some) Politicians in turn will do what they can to keep
organized crime strong.  The only way out of this bind is completely
honest politicians, or to take power from ALL politicians (legalize as
much as possible), so that their dishonesty is of less import.

						- Nat Howard