Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!laidbak!shawn From: shawn@laidbak.UUCP Newsgroups: alt.drugs,misc.legal,alt.flame Subject: Re: Why call 'em dirtballs Message-ID: <1220@laidbak.UUCP> Date: Mon, 2-Nov-87 00:20:48 EST Article-I.D.: laidbak.1220 Posted: Mon Nov 2 00:20:48 1987 Date-Received: Wed, 4-Nov-87 20:19:46 EST References: <1136@puff.wisc.edu> <23455COK@PSUVMA> <591@auscso.UUCP> <602@auscso.UUCP> <274@PT.CS.CMU.EDU> Reply-To: shawn@laidbak.UUCP (Shawn McKay(E)) Distribution: na Organization: LAI Chicago Lines: 83 Xref: utgpu junk:6210 misc.legal:2589 alt.flame:382 I think there is another issue here that is not being addressed with respect to drug legalisation, it's a very major point I might add. Morality aside, lets spend a few minutes on big money, how much money are some people making on the SALE, SMUGGLING, DISTRIBUTION, SAFEGUARDING, and the like of *illegal* drugs? Ever seen someone set up and armed meet for people to buy a pack of cigs? If we look at this topic from the side of the user, be them habitual, addicted, or just weak (meak?), we fill our minds and statictics with auto accidents, people hit by cars, as an EMT I'v actully seen some of what drugs can do up close, but both sides have points that I think need to be considered. I think drugs might just have a place in our society, in todays world people are on the go 18+ hours a day, (most of us anyway), what sleep some of us get is little, and not always good. Sometimes maybe even restful. But there is a fine line between use, and abuse, and I wouldnt mind seeing some consideration of what a valid 'use' might be, as well as where to draw the line of abuse. Do you use asprin? That's a drug. Do you use soft drinks to stay awake? Guess what, caffiene is also a drug. The list goes on of what drugs we use in our daily lives and don't even think about. Ever read the warnings on the back of some of the things you take, and then go operate a motor vehicle? Or perhaps just a kinfe, or chainsaw, or whatever other tools you have that might need your sense of good judgment? Guess what, many of our common meds have very real warnings on the back the same as alcahol doesn't. I'll grant you, things are out of hand at the moment in the world when it comes to drug use, but that does not mean it has to stay that way forever, through public education, government regulation/taxation, and responsable usage, I think SOME drugs have clear uses. Why won't think ever happen? Well, it's not as moral as you may think, if it were not for the fact alcahol was legal to begin with, and everyone in the world (ok, a large number of people) had grown to like it, it would probably still be illegal today. The people making the bucks from it didn't have time to get a foothold before it was legal again and they were out of jobs, (or changed them anyway). Same with pot, coke, whatever you like, they are being shipped by people with some serious intrest in there being illegal, if they are legal, LOTS of people, will lose I dare say, Billions of dollars, this I think anyway, is probably what plays the largest role in the way to legalise drugs. Once something is legal, it can be worked with, it's no longer forbidden, so the kids are no longer temped as easily by the 'danger' aspect of it, (as well as older kids like adults ....), with good education programs, and careful regulation programs, it becomes easy to monitor how much, of what people are using, and to what end. Can you tell I'm undecided about if we should legalise drugs or not? You're right, I'v seen it from a number of directions at this point, and don't like it's current usage, as with any tool, you have to put it in the right hands, and use it for what it was designed, less you cause damage insted of fixing things. Anyway, that's my $00.02 cents worth, (How much has that devaluated this month? :-)), anyway, my major point, and I hope I won't get flamed to badly for it, is not the moral issue, I'v seen enough of that, it's easy to repeat, and how many times can people say the same arguments? The real question, is if the people wanted too, COULD they legalise drugs, ANY drug, I don't think so. I think the people who are making the money off drugs right now have more power within our society than ANYONE thinks, (Even me, and I have great respect for the power the drug world has, although dislike). Yous in topic turning, (I hope), -- Shawn p.s. I welcome all flames, turn up the heat as hot as you like. On reflection I KNOW I'm going to get flamed, so might as well feel like I asked for it. :-) -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ban silicon!", "Paramedics save lives, EMT's save paramedics." [Standard disclaimer, and anything else of amusement.]