Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!esosun!jackson From: jackson@esosun.UUCP (Jerry Jackson) Newsgroups: comp.society.futures Subject: Re: Terrorism on American soil Message-ID: <141@vor.esosun.UUCP> Date: 29 Apr 88 03:05:07 GMT References: <293@aplcen.UUCP> <12393408775.18.JPLILER@SIMTEL20> Organization: SAIC, San Diego Lines: 117 In-reply-to: JPLILER%SIMTEL20.ARPA@BU-IT.BU.EDU's message of 26 Apr 88 02:27:42 GMT In article <12393408775.18.JPLILER@SIMTEL20> JPLILER%SIMTEL20.ARPA@BU-IT.BU.EDU (John R. Pliler) writes: Path: esosun!seismo!uunet!husc6!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!mit-eddie!ll-xn!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!BU-IT.BU.EDU!JPLILER%SIMTEL20.ARPA From: JPLILER%SIMTEL20.ARPA@BU-IT.BU.EDU (John R. Pliler) Newsgroups: comp.society.futures Date: 26 Apr 88 02:27:42 GMT References: <293@aplcen.UUCP> Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet Lines: 41 Drug use in the United States has reached alarming numbers. It has been stated that at least 40% of all crimes committed today are drug related. There are not enough jails to hold these criminals. The distribution of illegal drugs should be considered an act of terrorism. People shouldn't have to worry about drug-crazed zombies walking the streets. But this is reality. There are many parts of this city, El Paso, which I wouldn't dare go into and it shouldn't be like that. I don't blame the police or the Judicial System. Courts are backlogged years in many places with drug-related crimes. I believe the way the United States should tackle the problem is at the source. We have to *stop* the flow of illegal drugs into this country. The use of the military would be an effective way to curtail this problem. The introduction of drugs into this country should be considered an act of war against the United States and those countries should pay the price, both militarily and economically. This is particulary true if these introductions are supported by the foreign governments themselves, such as Panama. The penalty for the distribution and use of *illegal* drugs should be very stiff. Major drug dealers and distributors should, in my opinion, face the death penalty. There is good justification for this penalty. These dealers are inflicting alot of pain to society with the increase in serious crimes against innocent people. Currently the prison system is in a shambles. Rehabilitation does not work. Prisoners should not lead the life of luxury at the taxpayers expense. Prisoners should be out in the fields busting rocks and not watching cable television in "color". If people understood the penalties for serious crimes this would be a good deterrent. Right now criminals ignore the Justice System. I don't agree with the "semi-legalization" of drugs, including the use of marijuana. Drugs pose a serious threat to society and should not be tolerated... John Pliler ------- I am constantly amazed at the attitudes of many Americans who probably would claim to support a "free" society -- Drug use in the United States has reached alarming numbers. It has been stated that at least 40% of all crimes committed today are drug related. There are not enough jails to hold these criminals. Yes, it's hardly unexpected that when you define a commonly practiced act as criminal, large numbers of crimes will be related to that act... Or, was this intended to refer to the "killings and robberies associated with drugs?" How many killings are associated with the delivery of beer? Not many?... Is this because alcohol is not a dangerous drug? No, it is because it is LEGAL... The penalty for the distribution and use of *illegal* drugs should be very stiff. Major drug dealers and distributors should, in my opinion, face the death penalty. There is good justification for this penalty. These dealers are inflicting alot of pain to society with the increase in serious crimes against innocent people. The death penalty? Surely that is somewhat extreme.. What serious crimes against innocent people? If people understood the penalties for serious crimes this would be a good deterrent. Right now criminals ignore the Justice System. It's fairly well established that the death penalty is no more effective as a deterrent than a long prison term. By the way, I consider organized religion as practiced in this country a form of near-criminal brainwashing that does serious harm to society... Does this mean that churches should be forced to close down and their ministers killed? Though I dislike what they do, I have to acknowledge the fact that the victims *volunteer* to be fed mind-numbing drivel just as the drug users do. I certainly would not want to live in a country where a person like me could shut down a church because he didn't like it and I think the analogy holds... However, if you can show me a case where someone was *forced* by a dealer to buy or ingest drugs then I will admit he should be punished, but as long as customers come to him, I think it's hard to point a finger. *FLAME ON* Also, it's pretty clear that Mr. Pliler belongs to that unique minority in America -- The Always Right Minority -- How wonderful it must be to have absolutely no self doubt -- to feel perfectly justified in sentencing someone you've never met to death and to know deep in your heart that the country could be made great again if people would only listen to you... Unfortunately, I don't belong to that minority and I'm afraid that even the extreme callousness which Mr. Pliler has exhibited in passing a blanket death sentence is *probably* not enough reason to lock him up. *FLAME OFF* --Jerry Jackson