Who benefits/profits most from the War on Drugs

[dahunan]

*I will add more options if requested

You and I and Society
Pharmaceutical Corporations

I see absolutely zero benefit to society whatsoever

It hurts everyone by diverting resources away from care and into punishment

--------------added later

Big pharma sells cocaine already.. look at how addicted people are to their "depression drugs"

What if pot or other drugs were effective in treating these ailments.. no patents or copyrights etc on those... The Big Pharma needs people to be oppressed from finding other ways to cure their mind.

Society was on there because it is supposed to be why we enforce laws.. to benefit society. << and I am betting it remains a zero vote

Politicians benefit because they use it to make people fear and then show strength that they will get those bad guys for them...

Religion.. who set the morals about drug use being such a "SIN" or crime etc..

 

[Infohawk]

Probably the producers as it lowers the supply of their goods and people are still desperate to pay whatever it takes to get it. Some people in ghettos benefit financially for a bit although that usually turns into death or incarceration.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Probably the producers as it lowers the supply of their goods and people are still desperate to pay whatever it takes to get it. Some people in ghettos benefit financially for a bit although that usually turns into death or incarceration.

The financiers and bankers that cleanse all the cash.

 

[Sinsear]

It hurts everyone by diverting resources away from care and into punishment

So what about the junkies who are committing burglaries and other crimes so they can get their next fix? Should they not be punished?

I'm not talking about recreational drug users who don't really cause any harm to society. I'm talking about the junkies. Who will always need a fix and will do anything to get it, to include committing crimes. No amount of care or rehabilitation is going to help them. When they break into someone's house to steal jewelry, etc. and pawn it are you saying they should not be punished? Treatment is great but should not be used in lieu of punishment. People need to face consequences for their actions.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

So what about the junkies who are committing burglaries and other crimes so they can get their next fix? Should they not be punished?

I'm not talking about recreational drug users who don't really cause any harm to society. I'm talking about the junkies. Who will always need a fix and will do anything to get it, to include committing crimes. No amount of care or rehabilitation is going to help them. When they break into someone's house to steal jewelry, etc. and pawn it are you saying they should not be punished?

Theft is already a crime why should it matter why they are stealing.

 

[DaveSimmons]

So what about the junkies who are committing burglaries and other crimes so they can get their next fix? Should they not be punished?

I'm not talking about recreational drug users who don't really cause any harm to society. I'm talking about the junkies. Who will always need a fix and will do anything to get it, to include committing crimes. No amount of care or rehabilitation is going to help them. When they break into someone's house to steal jewelry, etc. and pawn it are you saying they should not be punished?

How many people rob houses to pay for cigarettes or Mad Dog 20/20?

If they can get enough for a pack of legalized Marlboro Smokin' Crack just by begging on the street, why would they do crimes?

Edit: the correct poll choice is "the drug cartels"

 

[nonlnear]

How about select government unions like this one? Then there's private prison operators, manufacturers of police state hardware, lawyers, criminals, sociologists and criminologists (government research grants would be a LOT harder to find in those fields dealing with substance issues if there weren't huge enforcement budgets and demand for policy consultants), and enemies of personal liberty across the country.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

How could you not put Law Enforcement on that list ?

In order

1. Law enforcement/prison system
2. Drug cartels
3. Growers

 

[woolfe9999]

How about select government unions like this one? Then there's private prison operators, manufacturers of police state hardware, lawyers, criminals, sociologists and criminologists (government research grants would be a LOT harder to find in those fields dealing with substance issues if there weren't huge enforcement budgets and demand for policy consultants), and enemies of personal liberty across the country.

That's approximately the best answer yet. No one really benefits from the war on drugs except the people who profit by trafficking it, or those who are given jobs and pay to prevent the trafficking.

- wolf

 

[ericlp]

besides the law enforcement and cleansing of the cash... Wouldn't you think the dealers and growers makes some of that cash too?

The frigen poll was so flawed, I voted for the church to get the money.

 

[woolfe9999]

How could you not put Law Enforcement on that list ?

In order

1. Law enforcement/prison system
2. Drug cartels
3. Growers

Yup, I would also mention that no group lobbies harder against drug legalization than law enforcement. Look at who comes out to speak. It's usually some sherrif or police chief or cop. They are afraid that some of them will be out of work, and the police brass is afraid of losing budget appropriations. It's that simple.

- wolf

 

[BoomerD]

The Law Enforcement Community.
a) Cops-more hired to prosecute the war on drugs.
b) Prosecutors (same)
c ) Judges. (same)
d) Probation/parole agents (same)
e) Jailers/prison guards (same)
f) Lawyers (same reason...more demand)
g) Rehab counselors (more demand)

Then, there's the criminal element who makes huge profits. Higher enforcement means lower supply...which means higher prices...which means more profits.

 

[BoberFett]

how many people rob houses to pay for cigarettes or mad dog 20/20?

If they can get enough for a pack of legalized marlboro smokin' crack just by begging on the street, why would they do crimes?

Edit: The correct poll choice is "the drug cartels"

qft

 

[sandorski]

How could you not put Law Enforcement on that list ?

In order

1. Law enforcement/prison system
2. Drug cartels
3. Growers

this

 

[GuitarDaddy]

The Law Enforcement Community.
a) Cops-more hired to prosecute the war on drugs.
b) Prosecutors (same)
c ) Judges. (same)
d) Probation/parole agents (same)
e) Jailers/prison guards (same)
f) Lawyers (same reason...more demand)
g) Rehab counselors (more demand)

Then, there's the criminal element who makes huge profits. Higher enforcement means lower supply...which means higher prices...which means more profits.

And what makes me really mad is those guys go after the easy money busting non-violent users and confiscating property and cash from the stupid people like Paris Hilton and her dumbass boyfriend. Nice and safe with no risks and lots of rewards, rarely if ever do they get their hands dirty and go after the gun toting criminals that might actually shoot back.
For every smuggler or dealer they catch they imprison thousands of users.
Busting dealers would actually hurt their business.

 

[ShawnD1]

This is the worst poll ever
-drug dealers is not an option
-prison system is not an option
-DEA and police spending is not an option

The options you actually have are terrible. Society does not benefit because it makes crime go way up. Big Pharma/Tobacco/Alcohol companies don't benefit because it means they can't legally sell things like cocaine. Starbucks sells shitty coffee and even that's worth billions; a franchise selling cocaine would be worth even more. Politicians don't really benefit. Religious groups do not benefit.

 

[nonlnear]

That's approximately the best answer yet. No one really benefits from the war on drugs except the people who profit by trafficking it, or those who are given jobs and pay to prevent the trafficking.

- wolf

I went a little easy on the general law enforcement community in that list. While they benefit, I see it more as a benefit to the field (in terms of number of police per capita) rather than individual cops making a lot more than they would if drug policy were less destructive. The upper echelons of law enforcement administration probably benefit directly in terms of individual compensation, but I don't know about the rank and file.

It might even be the case that in a world that needed fewer cops due to an end to the war on sanity drugs, police grunts might be able to command a (slightly) higher premium from the public due to the diminished level of public resentment. I would be much more willing to vote for higher police salaries if they were actually focused on things I believe to be social problems than if they continue being peons in a misguided, destructive, and evil policy regime. I like the idea of firefighters being paid well because it's their job to risk life and limb to save lives. However if the feds declared a war on mustaches, tasking firemen with putting out fires, as well as publicly immolating my mustachioed neighbors with drive-by Molotov cocktails thrown from the firetrucks, I would harbor some resentment against them and their profession. But that's just me...

 

[SammyJr]

This is the worst poll ever
-drug dealers is not an option
-prison system is not an option
-DEA and police spending is not an option

The options you actually have are terrible. Society does not benefit because it makes crime go way up. Big Pharma/Tobacco/Alcohol companies don't benefit because it means they can't legally sell things like cocaine. Starbucks sells shitty coffee and even that's worth billions; a franchise selling cocaine would be worth even more. Politicians don't really benefit. Religious groups do not benefit.

This. I was hoping to be able to pick the prison system.

 

[dahunan]

The drug dealers do not create the war.. they are a effect of it. That is why I did not put them on there. If I did it would show that I was in agreement with the war.

They only exist because of the war that should not exist.


**I cannot find a way to add more to the poll.. we used to be able to.. anyone?

 

[BurnItDwn]

Society ... negative benefit. (more expenses to pay for prisons, police, and a larger percentage of the potential work force locked up behind bars)
Pharmaceutical Corporations ... no benefit (prescription volumes wouldn't change significantly if lots of the drugs were legalized. If the end of the war on drugs included weakening controlled substance laws, it might actually mean more $$$ for the pharma's since they would be able to sell more product legally.

Politicians ... ehh .... sure, they can take advantage of the situation for some benefit.

Religious Institutions ... very little benefit

Criminal organizations ... Much benefit ... But, if the drugs were legalized, and they switched over to legal production/distribution ... they could keep their profits pretty high in the black.

Companies/Contractors who get Law Enforcement or prison contracts ... VERY VERY VERY MUCH benefit. (the people who benefit from war are the ones who make the tanks, guns, jeeps, and ships)

 

[dahunan]

This is the worst poll ever
-drug dealers is not an option
-prison system is not an option
-DEA and police spending is not an option

The options you actually have are terrible. Society does not benefit because it makes crime go way up. Big Pharma/Tobacco/Alcohol companies don't benefit because it means they can't legally sell things like cocaine. Starbucks sells shitty coffee and even that's worth billions; a franchise selling cocaine would be worth even more. Politicians don't really benefit. Religious groups do not benefit.

Big pharma sells cocaine already.. look at how addicted people are to their "depression drugs"

What if pot or other drugs were effective in treating these ailments.. no patents or copyrights etc on those... The Big Pharma needs people to be oppressed from finding other ways to cure their mind.

Society was on there because it is supposed to be why we enforce laws.. to benefit society. << and I am betting it remains a zero vote

Politicians benefit because they use it to make people fear and then show strength that they will get those bad guys for them...

Religion.. who set the morals about drug use being such a "SIN" or crime etc..

 

[dahunan]

Companies/Contractors who get Law Enforcement or prison contracts ... VERY VERY VERY MUCH benefit. (the people who benefit from war are the ones who make the tanks, guns, jeeps, and ships)

^^ who will do something about this? it only hurts all the people of the society by seeking to berate them and call them druggies or addicts and then slam them in prison to do low cost labor etc..

 

[ShawnD1]

I went a little easy on the general law enforcement community in that list. While they benefit, I see it more as a benefit to the field (in terms of number of police per capita) rather than individual cops

Supporting a failed drug war promotes job security. Police will never be fired and the budget will never bet cut if there is always a massive drug problem with huge gang wars. Yeah it sucks being a cop who needs to deal with this shit, but it's still nice to have a job as a cop instead of a job at McDonalds.

It's one of those things where you intentionally do something wrong just for the sake of getting what you want. I'll even give a hilarious example of this happening when I worked at McDonalds part time as a student. The people who worked the closing shift were getting their hours cut, so full time people who would normally do 40 hours would only do maybe 34 hours per week; part time were affected as well. We didn't like being fucked around, so we would intentionally not get all of our closing duties done then leave notes for the opening manager to do things that we couldn't get done. Wash this, change this product, move this over here, the grill has not been cleaned, etc. After doing this for a couple weeks and complaining about being short staffed, the hours went back up to 40 for each full time person and 20 for part time (me!). When that happened, we did all of our work properly like we were supposed to and we thanked the management for giving us enough staff to complete everything.

That's exactly how this goes down. Securing your job and securing the number of hours you work that job is priority 1. Keeping drugs illegal and out of control gives the police something to point to and say "see how much you need us? Just spend more money and the cirme will go down. We promise."

 

[BoberFett]

It's a dahunan thread. Failure should be expected.

 

[airdata]

I'm not calling for all out legalization of all drugs, but the simple FACT of the matter is that the war on drugs is a drain on our society. Obviously the legality of the drugs doesn't stop people from using them... So what then is the difference if you made them legal and took the profit out of the hand of gangs and mexican drug cartels ?>

Meth is a great example. EVERYBODY is effected by the war on drugs when it comes to meth. You have to show id to the pharmacist to get many over the counter cold medicines because they can be used to make meth... Good right?

WRONG. Instead of having your average redneck cooking up meth in their trilerpark, you've got the mexican drug cartels making millions of dollars from mass producing and trafficking meth because of it's dropped production in the united states.

So, they basically wasted everybodies time with all of that non sense, and in turn gave mexican drug gangs millions of dollars, and incentive to rape and pillage in order to traffic it through our borders.

*pause rant* to be continued.