Forum Post: Concerning the failed drug war. From Avaaz.
Posted 10 years ago on June 5, 2013, 2:46 p.m. EST by DKAtoday
(33802)
from Coon Rapids, MN
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Dear friends,
Our continent is bleeding at the hands of organized criminals and drug traffickers, destroying thousands of lives every year. All because the US has forced Latin American governments to carry out failed drug policies that only reward the criminal gangs behind the drug trade.
Now, for the first time in history, Latin American leaders are separating themselves from the extremism of the U.S. and demanding policies that deliver results. In 12 hours, Guatemala will bring together the Heads of State of the region to push for a new proposal that gives each of our countries the freedom to buck the US and adopt drug policies like those that have worked successfully in Europe.
It’s urgent -- high level officials have told us that for all the leaders to agree and have the power to stand up to the US, they need to see a groundswell of public support in the next few hours for changing the failed status quo. Click below to sign the urgent petition and share with everyone -- when we reach 100,000 our voices will be personally delivered to the Guatemalan commission that is leading the summit. Join in:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/for_the_first_time_in_history/?bGfGZcb&v=25525
For decades we have seen governments ignore all the experts’ advice and all the scientific evidence that has proven the failure of the War on Drugs, fearing voters will throw them out of office if they support alternative approaches, as they will appear “weak on crime”. Now, for the first time, science and politics have a chance to walk together and help shut the door on an age of suffering. The Organization of American States (OAS) is the first international organization that has produced a technical report laying out real alternatives like supporting new, peaceful, effective approaches in each country instead of using international law to repress innovation. And, for the first time a group of Heads of State want to act on that expert advice.
Momentum for change is building and now is the time to act: Guatemala, Colombia and other countries in the region want reform; and opinion polls show that citizens know the current approach is a catastrophe. Uruguay is developing a smart plan to regulate cannabis and two US states have already voted to legalize and regulate it. And while countries that have experimented with regulation-based policies have seen significant reductions in drug-related crime, addiction and deaths, the lobbies that have fiercely defended the status quo, including military, law enforcement, and prison departments whose budgets are at stake are losing ground in the debate.
From the streets of Chicago to the streets of Bogota, families across our region are scarred by the wounds of failure, and this is our chance to try success! The Guatemalan President wants to get all the American states to agree to experimentation this week. And those at the negotiating table have told us if we come out in force to say yes to change, we can push back on stalling from fearful countries.
Let’s ensure our continent, that has suffered most deeply, leads the world to review and reform failed international drug laws. We have just hours before the meeting -- sign now and share with everyone -- let’s help our leaders take this crucial step to save lives and restore hope:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/for_the_first_time_in_history/?bGfGZcb&v=25525
When politicians take a stand against failed orthodoxies in the face of political risk, as Guatemalan leaders are doing now, and the people don’t rally behind them, they go down in flames. But when mass movements rise up to support them, that’s how history gets made. Let’s make history in Guatemala.
With hope and determination,
Pedro, Maria Paz, Alice, Ricken, Laura, Bissan and the whole Avaaz team
PS - Many Avaaz campaigns are started by members of our community! Start yours now and win on any issue - local, national or global: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bgMYedb&v=23917
MORE INFORMATION:
OAS chief calls for drug violence debate (AlJazeera) http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/05/2013525124830563273.html
OAS Secretary General Presents Report on the Drug Problem in the Americas (OAS) http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-194/13
The Drug Problem in the Americas (OAS Analytical Report) http://www.oas.org/documents/eng/press/Introduction_and_Analytical_Report.pdf
Numbers Tell of Failure in Drug War (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/business/in-rethinking-the-war-on-drugs-start-with-the-numbers.html?pagewanted=all
Part of the OAS Report cites that "some 151 billion dollars in drug retail alone [in North American] hemisphere." My God! Who are Walmart's Lobbyists? I'd love to know whether they and the National Retail Federation are actively lobbying the political elite to legalize the trade. In concert with this initiative in Latin America, they should be able to trump the $42B per year "industry" the Federal and State Governments have created in crony enforcement and incarceration.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/statephotos/8954400934/in/photostream/
Molina and Kerry look as if they shared the pipe. Come on Boys! Just legalize the stuff and be done with it.
Signed.
Good deal - it is way past time that the failed drug war ( prohibition ) was ended.
Signed.
A "war" started by Nixon, that should have been over decades ago.
Prohibition does not work - how many people gotta die before this is a no-brainer fact?
It keeps the profiteered prisons full these days. In many cases with people who self medicate for mental issues.
While courts make secret rule changes and violate laws to prevent competent mental health care, and all newspapers of a city collude to hide the real reason for firings, resignations, and court gagging of reporters informed of the lawsuit.
http://algoxy.com/law/no_free_press/sbsecretsofmedia.html
It keeps the profiteered prisons full these days.
It was Reagan that started that ball rolling, I said that a few post back.
It's a ball that's still gathering steam.
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/04/map-states-cut-treatment-for-mentally-ill
Only ONE State made significant improvements, while most made more cuts.
This is different. Courts blocking citizens trying to get county compliance with state law to improve mental health care by making secret rule revisions.
I read it probably effects the entire 9th circuit. No more pro se civil rights when the community starts joining in. We'll be stuck looping through a court that instantly dismisses.
raygun definitely started the deprivations on the state level, as you say.
1.) Folk remedies for meth addiction. Not gonna happen. Just quit. same with alcohol.
2.) Sounds like early onset teabagge(R)y don't vote for conse(R)vative judges. ( if they bother to tell you)
Not folk remedy, narco hypnosis. Did you look at the lawsuit? There's a letter from a Ph.D, an approval.
From what I read, nearly 1/2 the US had it's pro se rights removed. Not even the teabaggers can get that done.
Narco hypnosis?? 100 years old? Unproven folk medicine. Methedrine hadn't been invented yet.
I guess you haven't been paying attention, but teabagge(R)y has been ruining life, liberty and freedom all over the nation.
You should know more about ALEC.
Destroying Democracy, one State at a time.
The mass insanity? That was 137 years ago in Santa Barbara from what the lawsuit says. There's a letter from a Ph.D director that's maybe 10 years old, basically approving the narco hypnosis.
Yea, I know about alec, treasonous fraud. They just pretend to want an ART5 so their reputation is associated with it.
No judge in a sane state of mind is going to approve such a thing for a meth addict. like I said meth wasn't invented yet, and I doubt amphetamines were either.
Just quit taking them, they're bad for you.
Cali state law says that Mental health dept.s have to if there is a chance of death in 2 years without it.
Maybe you have doctors and judges confused. The law is CHS 1370.4
I guess that's just more California crazy then.
I sure wouldn't want it.
Just quit.
Even the hippies knew.
Speed kills.
Incoherent repetitions do not make sense.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/concerning-the-failed-drug-war-from-avaaz/#comment-977975
Have you taken your meds yet?
I'm very, very sorry, but incoherent repetitions about art5 is all you've ever contributed here, so you don't have much room to talk in that regard.
Perhaps you've taken too many meds?
There's a 100 year old "cure" available, just don't expect it to be court ordered.
This post doesn't cognit. http://occupywallst.org/forum/concerning-the-failed-drug-war-from-avaaz/#comment-977965
Why are you talking about meth and hippies? This is about all substances. This is about the Hippocratic oath and the rule of law. Get a grip!
You don't cognit.
Speed kills.
You should quit.
And I already signed the petition.
You're the one that brought up some 100year old folk remedy as if it has anything to do with anything.
It doesn't cognit.
Why is good mental health care crazy? You don't want it? I think what was proposed is to work directly with the unconscious mind.
That is 86% of our mental capacity. Makes a lot more sense right away than talking to that evasive 14% or drugging the crap out of it.
Reagan screwed up mental health care in Cali a long time ago.
and like I said umpteen times and will say for the last time.
100year old folk cures are completely unproven for amphetamine addiction.
They weren't around.
Just quit.
speed kills.
Repeat "constitutional intent" 1,000 times, say the pledge of allegiance and consider a plea of incompetence at your trial.
Its racist, its repressive and the amount of people who are being treated worse than most pets is staggering.
http://rt.com/usa/mississippi-prison-inmates-sell-rats-029/
http://www.geogroup.com/index
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/displayArticle.aspx?articleid=24135&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/corrections-corporation-of-america-immigrant-detention_n_1336071.html
I looked up the Mangaement Team of GeoGroup. Who are these guys kidding? They all look like they just snorted before posing for their picture.
http://www.geogroup.com/management_team
The stock is trading at $34.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess it's been going nowhere but up.
If you were in one of their prisons, you'd know they weren't kidding.
Yep - for profit prisons - do not benefit anyone but businesses that thrive on the free labor. Universal health care would be much cheaper ( to the average citizen ) to society - and so much healthier.
How many of the laws that ALEC writes can put people in those private prisons?
http://www.pfaw.org/rww-in-focus/predatory-privatization-exploiting-financial-hardship-enriching-1-percent-undermining-d
Right to work will put many onto the street - because they have no rights anymore in the workplace. When one is out of work and can't find a job at a living wage - many losing unemployment benefits and not qualifying for any aid that will keep em from ending up on the street. Well - there goes the incentive to join the prison population - however unwillingly.
Yep.
Strangely enough, privatized prisons have roots with the English during the revolution.
They kept private prison ships in the harbor to keep the POWs and hooligans in.
Floating chambers of horror and death.
Privatized prison labor was very popular in the South after the civil war too.
Yep - field workers - road workers - mine workers - it was the extension of slavery - and it is coming on in a rush these days.
Privatized prison, the new "internship". If the job's not filled by another inmate when you get out.
OH jeeze - you just gave em a marketing idea - get an internship - go to prison - 3 meals and a place to sleep "FREE" while you learn a new trade - hurry-up and intern today.
Damn - now I did it.
I've heard of ill people breaking laws on purpose these days, just for the prison health care system. It's better than nothing.
I am sure there are more than a few that do it to get off the street - especially during the winter.
I've read about that happening in England, but most of our county prisons, that would be used for such short sentences are pretty awful places, and repeat offender laws would put them in for much longer periods of time..
Yep - more than one reason for a repeat offender.
They build and expand and sell them off for a profit, to the profiteers during every recession in my life time................Just another minor meaningless thing Reagan did, that we aren't supposed to remember, or talk about, along with the cuts to State mental health care that is still accelerating to this day.
Filling even more prison "beds"..
It just reinforced Nixon's war on drugs.
Yep - take a basically harmless person off the street for engaging in what should be a matter of choice action same as drinking or smoking. Disrupt their life with a prison sentence - give them no help to re-enter society - and walla - vicious cycle that feeds itself on misery.
http://www.cca.com/facilities/
Or one of the few profitable exports.
GEO sounds so Earth friendly, but the stock ticker price is on the front page.
http://www.geogroup.com/
Fucking insidious.
ALEC, don't forget our old "friend" ALEC.
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/8/5/new_expos_tracks_alec_private_prison
There's more, but I don't want to get yelled at.........................:)
Hell it's only the truth. So what if it comes from democracy now.
I get yelled at and maligned for pointing out the actions of ALEC, and their ties to the party that must not be mentioned in a poor light without claiming equal opposites on the "other side", even though that's not the case......
It happens all the time..................:(.
I know - and they have no defense for defending the majority of republicans in office - state or federal. Nor for defending the Koch TP party. They bring nothing to the table - because they have nothing to bring to the table - nothing good anyway.
Fuck em all. Hows that?
I have no use whatsoever for any of them. Half of them are bigots, and the other half is too weak to fight out of a paper bag.
We would be much better off without any of them.
I can slam Republicans all day long, but imo providing balance is the most important thing because quite frankly the majority of the public is sick of all of them. ALL OF THEM.
And without the majority, you wont get anywhere. Lets give the people what they want. Provide that platform. It was the driving force behind Occupys explosion and the reason it needed to be shut down...shut down mind you by both parties and the president.
I dont have a use for any of them.
I checked. You either lied, or just failed to keep your word.
Which one is it?
"I can slam Republicans all day long"
Do you promise??
I can hardly wait.
What day? I wanna be here for that.
Um, their party harbors racists, they claim to be against big gov yet find ways to intrude into peoples personal lives and into womens bodies, they started fuckin preemptive wars, they favor the bailouts and wall st, they are against gay marriage, they abuse the military, they would rather cuts schools than the DOD, etc etc etc.
What is this, polisci 101?
Trashy hates me too.
That makes me happy.................:)
I'm expecting some Koch or ALEC news soon. it's inevitable, and I'll post it too.
Much to some peoples chagrin. I can't help myself.
On ALEC and Right to Work. It will cost many their job - that is why it had to be hidden behind a misleading name. This supports the employer and makes across the board slave wages possible.
That does give one a warm happy feeling. {;-])
On ALEC and prisons??
It's not just the labor.
It's the whole concept.
"Corporations and their politician allies voted behind closed doors through ALEC to change America's criminal justice system and enrich profits. On the surface, many ALEC bills look like basic tough-on-crime legislation, but some corporate leaders of ALEC benefit financially from such legislation -- meaning that what has been sold to the public as good for public safety was often pushed by corporations that profit from such changes in the law, without politicians disclosing their corporate allies' financial interest to the public when such bills, pre-approved by the corporations, were introduced."
http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/Guns,_Prisons,_Crime,_and_Immigration
So yeah, they do write laws to fill up those profiteered prisons.
Gotta make the quotas you know.
It will be interesting to see what comes of this.