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From: rdz@ccice5.UUCP (Robert D. Zarcone)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Drug dealing a ??FREE?? market?
Message-ID: <733@ccice5.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 18-Mar-85 12:58:03 EST
Article-I.D.: ccice5.733
Posted: Mon Mar 18 12:58:03 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Mar-85 06:34:58 EST
References: <3465@alice.UUCP>
Organization: CCI Central Engineering, Rochester, NY
Lines: 58

> 
> Drug dealers cannot advertise, thus the "consumer" is not operating 
> with good information. (??consumer == victim, under the current system?)

Wrong.  "20/20" showed last week how the heroin dealers in Detroit label
their junk with trade names.  This is to get loyal customers to come back
for that brand.
> 
> Drug dealers are operating illicitly, and take great risks with their
> personal freedom, and charge accordingly, after all, they have
> to be able to make bail, too.

An interview with the officer in charge of drug enforcement in Detroit
pointed-out that the dealers make at least $250 per day.  Since many of
them are minors, they do not face the same charges or bail limits if
arrested.
> 
> The supply of such stuff is restricted by the same lack of
> information, and thus the supply is also much more expensive.

A wall with a whole in it was shown as a shop.  There was a line around
the block to be serviced.  There was no problem with supply or customer
awareness.
> 
> In many areas (including ALL major population centers), one
> or another organized crime group controls the major distribution
> routes, and keeps prices at their liking.  All other "importers"
> must operate under the threat of arrest  from law enforcement
> agents, and under the threat of summary death from the relevant
> organized crime group.  Also, in some cases, there are two or more
> major organized crime groups in the same market, usually leading to
> violence and bloodshed.

The above scenario MAY exist.  It does NOT exist in "ALL major population
centers."
> 
> In light of the fact that the "consumer" cannot have market information,
> cannot go to a different supplier (in most cases, however parts of
> Ca. are indeed different as regards ONE such substance, but not
> others) the "seller" is at risk of death and/or incarceration,
> and the distribution method is EXPECTED to have significant losses,
> it's clear that the "drug market" isn't anything close to a free
> market.

Since the majority of this statement is wrong (with the exception of a
degree of risk), I won't bother with it.
> 
> The argument that 1% of drug trafficers are affected by the law
> or organized crime simply ignores the effects of illegality
> completely, when indeed the necessity  to avoid publicity and legal
> entanglements is itself  a compelling reason to disqualify the drug market as
> even slightly "free".

A free market does not have "the necessity to avoid publicity and legal
entanglements"?  How interesting.
> 

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