From the 8/22 Show – Legalization Makes No Sense

There was a recent article in the Hartford Advocate http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/featured-news/connecticuts-drug-war-is-a-bust-6 lamenting “the drug war” and how it has failed. The advocates for legalizing all drugs continue to use the 1970’s term “drug war” crafted by Richard Nixon. Nobody but disingenuous individuals use that term anymore. The reality is the phrase “drug war” was dropped many years ago by the government and the incarceration rates started to increase after the democrats pushed stronger legislation for incarceration in 1986. The terminology “drug war” started to fade from our government.
In summary, the drug mavens and advocates for creating more availability of drugs to every man, woman and child in our country use the statistics of incarceration rates, law enforcement expenses, tax payer costs, probation and parole costs and the loss of revenue from possible taxation of drugs.
When a law enforcement officer is told by a family member, “thank God my loved one is in jail where I know they are safe” should tell volumes on the lunacy for legalization. When minimal public costs for treatment for a loved one is $1500 to $2000 a month how can legalization be considered? Who is going to pay for the additional treatment individuals will need from legalization? Private treatment approaches $30,000 a month!
The argument of taxation makes no sense when alcohol brings in a minimal amount of revenue in comparison to the costs of alcohol to our society. To believe that “taxing drugs” will balance the damage and destruction drugs create has no basis of fact. To make drugs legal because the challenge to prevent the damage and destruction to people is an inconvenience to society and is measured in pure economic costs has to be challenged. The families who have loved one hopelessly addicted need to be heard on the logic of legalization. I have no problem keeping someone in jail so they can’t introduce children to drugs.
The legalization advocates need to be challenged concerning their true agenda. The cost for legalization of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine needs to be revealed. The radio show delves into the human factor more than the legalization advocates can answer to. The mass distribution and growing damage the legal prescription narcotics and amphetamines are creating is evidence that it is time for the advocates for legalization to be challenged.