I Was Wrong About The War On Drugs -- It's A Failure
I'll admit it, just five years ago I was "Public Enemy Number 1" in the eyes of the Libertarian Party. In my 2002 congressional race for Georgia's Seventh District, the Libertarian Party ran scathing attack ads against my stand on Medical Marijuana.
Today, I am their presidential nominee and will represent libertarians at the top of the ticket on November 4th.
Huh?
That's right, Bob Barr, formerly the War on Drugs loving, Wiccan mocking, Clinton impeaching Republican is the presidential nominee for the Libertarian Party.
Now, you may be asking how this happened and my answer is simple: "The libertarians won."
For more than three decades, the Libertarian Party and small "l" libertarians have done their part to prove to America that liberty is the answer to most of the problems that we face today. Over the past several years, I was one of the many people influenced by this small party.
Whether through the free market or by simply allowing families to make their own decisions regarding the education of their children, libertarians have taught us that liberty does truly work.
In stark contrast, when government attempts to solve our societal problems, it tends to create even more of them, often increasing the size and depth of the original problem. A perfect example of this is the federal War on Drugs.
For years, I served as a federal prosecutor and member of the House of Representatives defending the federal pursuit of the drug prohibition.
Today, I can reflect on my efforts and see no progress in stopping the widespread use of drugs. I'll even argue that America's drug problem is larger today than it was when Richard Nixon first coined the phrase, "War on Drugs," in 1972.
America's drug problem is only compounded by the vast amounts of money directed at this ongoing battle. In 2005, more than $12 billion dollars was spent on federal drug enforcement efforts while another $30 billion was spent to incarcerate non-violent drug offenders.
The result of spending all of those taxpayer's dollars? We now have a huge incarceration tab for non-violent drug offenders and, at most, a 30% interception rate of hard drugs. We are also now plagued with the meth labs that are popping up like poisonous mushrooms across the country.
While it is clear the War on Drugs has been a failure, it is not enough to simply acknowledge that reality. We need to look for solutions that deal with the drug problem without costly and intrusive government agencies, and instead allow for private industry and organizations to put forward solutions that address the real problems.
One such solution was presented to me recently by a libertarian friend and supporter, Glenn Jacobs.
Glenn is a very unique guy with a very unique job. To say Glenn is a "big guy" or "intimidating" is an understatement. He gives people nightmares... literally.
Each week Glenn, who stands nearly seven feet tall, walks into a wrestling ring under the stage name "Kane" to beat other large men for sheer entertainment purposes.
Had I not pursued a career in politics -- and were about two feet taller -- I might have chosen a similar career path. Maybe...
In June of 2007, Glenn and many of his friends and co-workers in the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) were rocked by the news of the Chris Benoit tragedy that took place in my home state of Georgia.
It was speculated that Chris had murdered his family and committed suicide in a steroid or "roid" rage. While it is unclear how much of a role drugs played in Benoit's actions, and whether mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) may also have been a contributing factor, it was clear the WWE had some serious problems within its organization.
In the wake of the tragedy, the head of the WWE, Vince McMahon, and its other leaders looked internally to recognize these problems and address them. Although in the two years before Benoit's death, dozens of wrestlers had been suspended, gone to rehab, or been dismissed under the WWE's recently adopted "Wellness Program," the WWE strengthened its drug policy further, re-emphasizing that its policy wasn't merely a document, but the internal laws of the company that would be enforced.
Additionally, in response to speculation by brain trauma experts that Benoit may have been suffering from brain damage caused by years of blows to the head, WWE added a MTBI component to its Wellness Program.
McMahon didn't wait for Congress to pass a law or parade his wrestlers in front of congressional committee hearings; he took the lead and assumed responsibility over the health and welfare of the individuals who work for the WWE.
As part of the WWE Wellness Program, wrestlers go through regular drug testing and even cardiovascular testing. The latter identified a previously unknown heart condition for the wrestler "MVP" and he was treated for Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. The government's War on Drugs wouldn't have done that.
Sadly, the long standing War on Drugs also did not save the life of Chris Benoit and his family. The truth is, only Chris could have saved himself through personal responsibility. However, the efforts of Vince McMahon are making progress in preventing other tragedies and harm.
The WWE is taking responsibility for its talent and giving its participants the resources that they need, through rehabilitation, testing and even anonymous help lines, to deal with any possible problems.
While there may be some employees of the organization who may not like random drug tests or being thrown on a treadmill for an EKG, they have the choice of finding a new employer.
That's the beauty of this libertarian solution. It does not take government intervention or our tax dollars. It also does not force anyone to do anything, as it only requires voluntary action and decisions.
While I applaud the WWE for taking on this responsibility with a libertarian solution, don't bother looking for me at an upcoming cage match on Friday Night Smackdown. I don't want to be responsible for hurting any of those little guys.
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Oh, please.
How 'bout all the rest of us out here who've known for decades that the war on drugs is a crock.
Should we all be running for prez?
do you get to keep the campaign-money your raise?
smart gig.
Babar, still a Grand Old Pachyderm at heart...
The war on drugs has always been an obscene fraud, racist in its inception and based on many false premises. This issue is foremost among common ground between the Green & Libertarian parties, though we approach it from opposite directions. The Green critique stems from social justice while the Libertarian perpective focuses on its economic travesty along with personal liberties. The Uniform Crime Reports from the FBI have consistently shown the majority of inmates convicted for drug offenses (ie. possession, abuse) are non-whites, particularly Hispanics & blacks, while the majority of white-collar crimes (for which punishment is benign by comparison) involve white male convicts from the corporate sector.
The fundamental false premise is that drugs are a legitimate medical solution. Our society is pre-occupied with the myth that every ailment must have a "silver bullet" to relieve symptoms. Allopathy only treats symptoms and ignores causes. This "war" is also a convenient cover for the pharmaceutical industry, granting billions in tax subsidies to fund vivisection, based on the pseudo-scientific lie that toruring nonhuman animals in laboratories will lead to human cures. The physiology and genetic structure of other species can never be reliably extrapolated to humans. As long as we rely on these abominations, we will never find solutions. The "war" further profits the prison industrial complex with more prisons for nonviolent offenders. Rehabilitation is a critical step in the right direction, but only the beginning.
Why not simply buy out the drug cartels like the capitalists you so-called "Libertarians" claim to be? Make them an offer for a straight-up real estate deal on all the land where coca and poppies and marijuana and peyote and so forth grow, and then send in the flamethrowers and Agent Orange to drive those plants into extinction, thereby eliminating the problem without the attendant addiction risk that you refuse to acknowledge? The reason you won't is because this issue isn't about reducing crime at all but rather your own desire to use with impunity. Vice isn't victimless, and addiction isn't a conscious choice like your utopias purport it to be.
The question is not whether drug use is dangerous or victimless, it's whether the war on drugs is worse. To me, it's clear that incarcerating non-violent drug users is more damaging to them, their families and all of our communities, than the use of the drug itself. No one is claiming legalizing drugs would create a Utopia.
It is 100% analogous to alcohol. Alcohol is dangerous and addictive, causes death and destruction. 1000s die in drunk driving accidents each year. It is the MOST PHYSICALLY ADDICTIVE drug we know of. Legalizing it has not created a Utopia, and millions of americans wish their loved ones were sober.
But outlawing it made the situation even worse. Much much worse.
BlackJAC, declaring war on plants is an irrational act.
The problem I have with this "business solves its own problems" mentality is simple. It doesn't work unless the overwhelming fear of government regulation isn't bearing down on their necks. Self-regulation works with businesses IF AND ONLY IF they are absolutely certain that if they don't do it, we, the people will do it for them through the power of the government.
I am certain that government interference in his business was a MAJOR factor in McMahon's decision to clean up his own act. Fear of having the feds meddle in his baby was likely a significant motivator, especially if Vince was paying attention to the baseball debacle. If we defang the government, the motivation for businesses to take care of their own businesses disappears. It's been shown to be true again and again.
These libertarian views sound great during oppositional rhetoric in a debate, but as legitimate policies for governmental function, they resoundingly fail.
Whoa! The reason libertarianism is so important today is that we have become such a totally statist society. The 'War on Drugs' morphed into a general 'War on Crime', which has resulted in an almost complete loss of our liberties, a mindset that has changed law enforement to militarism, a societal belief that suspicion equals guilt, zero accountability for law enforcement or prosecutors, no matter how much they break the laws and a judiciary comprised almost exclusively of ex-prosecutors. Even BEFORE the last 8 years, whether Democrats or Republicans in control, we have seen Congress and our Supreme Court rule that private property can be seized and sold upon 'probable cause' even if there are no charges filed, much less a conviction. We have seen that government can seize private property under 'Eminent Domain', then sell to another private party, rather than for public use. We have seen draconian sentencing laws, reduction of rights of appeal, disastorous military-style raids against ordinary people (what happened to knocking on the door with a search warrant), or, in essence, a criminal justice system that reflects our rights only in form, but not substance. Are you one of those who think rich folks get off unfairly? I'm one that KNOWS that the only way to defend yourself against our government is to have plenty of money and a willingness to spend it. Everyone else suspected of a crime has no chance, whether guilty or innocent.
The solution is so easy! Why didn't anyone think about it until Libertarians? Isn't nice if all of the people who used drugs are responsible for their own action?
The small government/big government argument is a lie. There is only efficient/representative government or corrupt/autocratic government. Government in a democracy is "of the People." When we are able to take back our government from a degenerate and lawless oligarchy, then We the People will have legitimate liberty.
We could begin to correct this be re-classifying marijuana laws and commense to de-criminalize pot with the thought of one day completely legalizing and controlling its use much like alcohol is controlled today. Today's laws are "Reefer Madness."
It would be a good thing to end the current approach to the drug war. Throwing people in jail for the drug of their choice is pure hypocrisy while cigarettes and alcohol are legal.-you will never see me speaking against either of those 2 anymore. There are much more important fish to fry. Mainly spreading out the wealth in these latter days we are living in by building Unions back up. That in a way would fulfill Isaiah 23:17-18 and 24:21-24 where the profits of the world are used for those who need it. At this point in time, anything which limits personal Liberty is oppression of the poor.
I'm a doctor of polititcal ailments.
You seem to have an extreme case of-
Romneyitis.
I'm glad you finally realized that Big Brother government telling free citizens what substances they can or cannot ingest is pointless and counterproductive. Now, take the next step and understand that allowing Big Business to take on that role is just as tyrannical. Tyranny is tyranny, private or public.
Drugs are a health and education issue, not a criminal one.
We should take the money spent on jails, courts, parole, etc. and invest it into treatment and socialized medicine.
If we cared about treatment as much as punishment we could mitigate the damage caused by drugs.
We will not do it because people are making money on the current system and we do not care about our fellow man enough to demand a national healthcare like every other developed country in the world.
Education could prevent children from involving themselves in drugs. Of course that would require an honest discussion including the fact that weed is not dangerous. The alcohol lobby does not want that to happen so it will not. We could make a real documentary about meth and cocaine use that would scare every 8th grader from ever making that mistake. However they choose to just say "just say no". Once a child sees that weed is not a danger they think that they have been lied to about the dangers of the other drugs. Couple this with the "invincibility" of youth and you have a recipe for disaster.
Keeping drugs illegal instead of as a health issue also creates a veil of secrecy due to fear of punishment.
We should pity the user instead of punish. Let's give them non-judgemental help for their sickness.
The war on drugs. I thought it was the war on bugs. And I thought it wasn't working. Silly me.
THAT'S your epiphany? Wow. Makes me think the bar is pretty low. Let us know when you get another one about the economy or elections or energy. Can't wait.
Odd when someone thinks personal liberty is a low bar. Don't let the media distract you with the actual meaningless stuff while they strip us of our liberties. McCain Feingold went through without a whimper.
This is not complicated. All you have to do is answer the question:
Who most wants the War on Drugs ? Here are some answers
1) Drug producers and dealers because it keeps the profit margin huge.
2) Law enforcement organizations because it requires more people, bigger budgets, etc.
3) The prison industry.
The USA refuses to learn from other countries that have dealt with the problem in different ways with different results. The attitude in this country seems to be: If the war is not working, make it bigger. If that does not work, it still is not big enough. Keep increasing the war and punishment until the addicts stop.
Surely, alcohol is the most abused drug in this country causing misery and tens of thousands of deaths every year. Should we make it illegal ? Oh yeh, we tried that once. The War on Booze should have taught us something.
yep, it is a failure and it always will be Bob. But theres alot of money being made trying to stop what never will be stopped so it will continue...... but what do liberals know, right?....your better off banging your skull against the wall...
This is a none story for me right now! Where paying 4 a gallon for gas, and 4 a gal for milk. It's our economy, stupid! It's the war in iraq stealing our loved ones lifes and our billions in dollars that could be helping us dig out of this recession were in! we will fight the drug problem in due time! Now our main concern is to make sure people have jobs, can eat, can afford gas to get to work, and basicly survive. Some of our Vet's are liveing in the streets with no medical care or a roof over their head. Our food Pantry is being hard hit, and the welfare line is getting longer. Bush has distroyed this country. the next President will have his hands full, and a load on his plate. it won't happen over night, and will take a lot of patience from us the american people. Right now the Congress don'lt have no leader ship from the white house and aren't able to get any thing done.
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