Drugs

Politics and other such topical creams.
eumaas
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Drugs

Post by eumaas »

I thought this was an interesting piece:
http://www.peopleofcolororganize.com/an ... -movement/
"Three Good Reasons People of Color Should Question the Drug Legalization Movement"
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Flex
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Re: Drugs

Post by Flex »

Interesting piece, although the first two points (in particular) address an argument that it never really crossed my mind to make (I'm not really very active or engaged with the drug-legalization movement, so I have no idea what kind of rhetoric they're putting out with regards to drug-legalization ending racism or whatever).

The third point is probably the most salient to me (tho I couldn't help but arch my eyebrows a bit at the assertion that the state regulating and taxing drugs would be "libertarian-capitalist's wet dream"), since I think it (rightly) points out that even if drugs are legalized then there's large, corporate structural apparatus which is going to co-opt a lot of the newly legal industry, which will have disproportionately negative effects on poorer, minority communities.

[Sidenote: I do think it's interesting that the concerns of "people of color" in this article apparently don't extend to the kind of low-grade border war which is taking place right now in the American southwest (and the accompanying racist laws being enacted as a response). I do think this particular situation is one which seems like legalization of drugs would probably have pretty immediate, positive consequences for poorer minority communities in that region.]

I think that it's still sort of obviously true that at least decriminalizing drugs (maybe as opposed to actual legalization) is a step in the right direction. Actually, it might be an ideal direction. But broader changes are going to come from more fundamental shifts than just taking some drug law off the books (I read the "about" and the author of the article is a self-described anarchist, so I imagine we have fairly compatible beliefs in terms of what larger systemic changes may be needed).
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Flex
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Re: Drugs

Post by Flex »

Anyways, I'm mostly contemptuous of the drug legalization movement, largely for the lack of community outreach outlined in that article.

Bunch of rich white hippies panhandling in front of their SUVs and telling the government to legalize this shit so they don't have to do business with scary minorities.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a bowl of soup
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
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eumaas
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Re: Drugs

Post by eumaas »

Busy day. Rest assured, I will be replying to your insightful comments at some point...
I feel that there is a fascistic element, for example, in the Rolling Stones . . .
— Morton Feldman

I've studied the phenomenon of neo-provincialism in self-isolating online communities but this place takes the fucking cake.
— Clashy

eumaas
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Re: Drugs

Post by eumaas »

Flex wrote:Interesting piece, although the first two points (in particular) address an argument that it never really crossed my mind to make (I'm not really very active or engaged with the drug-legalization movement, so I have no idea what kind of rhetoric they're putting out with regards to drug-legalization ending racism or whatever).

The third point is probably the most salient to me (tho I couldn't help but arch my eyebrows a bit at the assertion that the state regulating and taxing drugs would be "libertarian-capitalist's wet dream"), since I think it (rightly) points out that even if drugs are legalized then there's large, corporate structural apparatus which is going to co-opt a lot of the newly legal industry, which will have disproportionately negative effects on poorer, minority communities.

[Sidenote: I do think it's interesting that the concerns of "people of color" in this article apparently don't extend to the kind of low-grade border war which is taking place right now in the American southwest (and the accompanying racist laws being enacted as a response). I do think this particular situation is one which seems like legalization of drugs would probably have pretty immediate, positive consequences for poorer minority communities in that region.]

I think that it's still sort of obviously true that at least decriminalizing drugs (maybe as opposed to actual legalization) is a step in the right direction. Actually, it might be an ideal direction. But broader changes are going to come from more fundamental shifts than just taking some drug law off the books (I read the "about" and the author of the article is a self-described anarchist, so I imagine we have fairly compatible beliefs in terms of what larger systemic changes may be needed).
I agree with your criticisms of the piece. The interesting part for me was the broader idea that certain progressive moves, without being contextualized into a greater structure of change, can be detrimental. I think Carson raises this point in that if you cut welfare first, a lot of people would be fucked--the order in which you proceed matters because you have to build the alternative institutions to take over these particular roles the state has forcibly appropriated for itself.
I feel that there is a fascistic element, for example, in the Rolling Stones . . .
— Morton Feldman

I've studied the phenomenon of neo-provincialism in self-isolating online communities but this place takes the fucking cake.
— Clashy

Wolter
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Re: Drugs

Post by Wolter »

eumaas wrote: I think Carson raises this point in that if you cut welfare first, a lot of people would be fucked--the order in which you proceed matters because you have to build the alternative institutions to take over these particular roles the state has forcibly appropriated for itself.
Exactly. If people are using a rusty and rickety scaffolding to cling to the side of a building, it's immensely more useful to first build a better scaffolding for them to step over to than to tear down the old one and hope they're able to dig their fingernails into the wall.

This extended metaphor brought to you by "the guy working in a building undergoing facade repairs."
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rcs
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Re: Drugs

Post by rcs »

Wolter wrote:This extended metaphor brought to you by "the guy working in a building undergoing facade repairs."
that made me laugh
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Kory
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Re: Drugs

Post by Kory »

rcs wrote:
Wolter wrote:This extended metaphor brought to you by "the guy working in a building undergoing facade repairs."
that made me laugh
Me too.
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Purple Hayes
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Re: Drugs

Post by Purple Hayes »

My new favourite badge ever... :mrgreen: From these nice people http://www.release.org.uk/nice-people-take-drugs

Image
'People like Coldplay and people voted for the Nazi's, you can't trust people Jeremy':- Super Hans

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Purple Hayes
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Re: Drugs

Post by Purple Hayes »

'People like Coldplay and people voted for the Nazi's, you can't trust people Jeremy':- Super Hans

'Hayes ... is one of the most godforsaken places I have ever struck. The population seems to be entirely made up of clerks who frequent tin-roofed chapels on Sundays and for the rest bolt themselves within doors.' - George Orwell

Purple Hayes
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Re: Drugs

Post by Purple Hayes »

To celebrate World Drugs Day I'm going to skin up and watch this...

http://www.nicepeopletakedrugs.org/
'People like Coldplay and people voted for the Nazi's, you can't trust people Jeremy':- Super Hans

'Hayes ... is one of the most godforsaken places I have ever struck. The population seems to be entirely made up of clerks who frequent tin-roofed chapels on Sundays and for the rest bolt themselves within doors.' - George Orwell

Inder
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Re: Drugs

Post by Inder »

[youtube][/youtube]

Chuck Mangione
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Re: Drugs

Post by Chuck Mangione »

Image

Rat Patrol
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Re: Drugs

Post by Rat Patrol »

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/won ... ot-satire/

Just wait until those satirists get a load of my drug-sniffing dog who only seems to find drugs on people who look at me crosseyed...all by himself. Your "satire" won't be admissible in court then, asshole.



Fun fact: The D.A.R.E. officer at my high school was busted for embezzlement. But he was clearly just a bad apple. Isolated incident; the program works. I SAID, THE PROGRAM IS SOLID. [*draws tazer*]

tepista
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Re: Drugs

Post by tepista »

Image

Image
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