John Stossel: The Drug War

[Ian McCracken]

Just a heads up to those interested in the Drug War that John Stossel will have a special on the topic at 10pm on Tuesday on ABC.

[eneste]

Thanks Ian. Should be interesting.

9 out of 10 economists agree, the Drug War sucks.

[Dolemite]

so do 9 out of 10 meth dealers

[Garcia]

News Flash...

It's over...we lost!

Today, the FBI has taken their "drug war agents" and moved them to the "war on terrorism" to ensure their new #1 objective to prevent a new terrorist attack.

That said, the FBI claims that the DEA and the FBI were chasing the same people, obviously getting in each others way fighting over juristiction and having a pissing contest, no that is not a drug test reference either.

But rest assured that actually the FBI agents will be taking a good look at terrorist cells that deal drugs, so the reports on the war's demise could be premature. Yea, and Europe can control their opium demand.

[Garcia]

And let's not forget our friends the Saudi Royal family who are dealing drugs and expensive artworks. 2 tons of coacine are just a drop in the old bucket, right? The Suadi govt will be cooperating, right?

[jamison]

Anyone else think John Stossel is the worst human being on the planet? I f*ing hate that guy.

Everything else crappy about him aside, he did a story on Howard Stern. As part of the story, he goes on Howard Stern (who I don't particularly like, except that he has a decent BS detector and doesn't kiss media ass the way a Larry King does) and Howard asks him if he is married. He says "I won't comment about my family" Moron wouldn't even confirm or deny if he had one. Here Stern is giving this guy the run of the place, letting him interview whoever he wants to do a story for his show, but he gets on Stern's show and he won't even answer simple stupid questions. If Sam Donaldson asked him if he were married, would he stonewall him, too? What does it matter- answer the damn question. Anyone being that secretive and pulling the "safety of my family" jive on routine interview questions is a turd, and deserves to be interviewing mute people for a deaf radio station.

[evilcrossbar]

Originally posted by Dolemite
so do 9 out of 10 meth dealers

Yeah, economists and meth dealers, think alike. They both love unregulated markets. :D

[eneste]

How many commercials were in that show?

Do you think anyone saw that and said hey, maybe the drug war isn't such a great thing?

[Colin Grabow]

Originally posted by eneste
Do you think anyone saw that and said hey, maybe the drug war isn't such a great thing?

That's what I am wondering about. To me ending the drug war is a complete slam dunk, and yet most Americans are in favor of it. I wonder if the public will ever come around on this, and if they do how long it will take.

[GringoTex]

John Stossel and ABC are about three years behind Frontline and PBS.

[Colin Grabow]

FYI:

http://abcnews.go.com/onair/2020/stossel_drugs_020730.html

[eneste]

I was curious about what the American public thought about the drug war and went googling. The only poll that I could really find was about weed decriminalization. Be forewared, this is from the NORML website so while it's most likely accurate I would still like to see it on another website. It was conducted by Zogby in Dec. of 2001:

In light of the increased attention to the threat of terrorism since September 11, do you oppose or support arresting and jailing nonviolent marijuana smokers?

39% - strongly oppose
22% - somewhat oppose
15% - somewhat oppose
18% - strongly support
6% - undecided

That's 61% opposing and only 33% supporting. That more people on the opposing side than I would have thought! So with such clear support from the American public why won't any politican touch the issue? With numbers like that (especially with so many in strongly oppose) you think it would be a slam dunk. Anyone able to find different numbers?

[MNAFETSC]

Originally posted by eneste
[B

That's 61% opposing and only 33% supporting. That more people on the opposing side than I would have thought! So with such clear support from the American public why won't any politican touch the issue? With numbers like that (especially with so many in strongly oppose) you think it would be a slam dunk. Anyone able to find different numbers? [/B]

because bush and whoever the democratic canidate are may need those 33% of peoples vote