Our War on Drugs Killed Another 13 People
Sun Apr 27, 2008 at 07:36:38 AM PDT
The real border problm is not meek little factory and farm and maintenance workers swimming, crawling, climbing or hiking across our border, when you look at the scheme of things. Though some of these people die every year because of our immigration policies.
Our borders are a mess because we have a drug problem, and appetites for human trade.
The latest human sacrifice to supposed morality, xenophobia and government power is only a drip into a giant sea of gore, and the stink is nauseating.
Two standoffs killed 12 people, and a 13th body showed up.
"TIJUANA, Mexico - Massive gunbattles broke out between suspected drug traffickers who fired at each other while speeding down heavily populated streets of this violent border city early Saturday, killing 13 people and wounding nine."
Some people say the loss of a drug trafficker is none great. I'm going to take the bible-thumping bullshitters at their word, however, and say thou shalt not kill, and that all life is sacred, whether those who lose it because of our criminal economic policies and the great Charybdis of our War on Drugs. Not only do the gang members, traffickers and police get hurt, hundreds of people in Mexico and the U.S. are killed every year as innocent bystanders in a deranged crusade that undermines its own stated benefit--to protect the innocent and conserve community.
You see, it's an interesting thing. Whether its' an historical town, an agricultural community, an indigenous population that has totally rejected typical drugs and commerce or just plain old wilderness with an odd coyote or jaguar, all suffer indiscriminately. The hand that strikes them is like a plague, bringing economic turmoil and destruction.
The border's been a mess for a long time, but these people weren't killing each other over bootleg videos, or the spoils of a mugging.
We could end this. We must end this.
Decriminalize every drug, make it available at market cost with government oversight and clear labeling as to the effects of the drug. If someone thinking of taking ecstasy reads that their body could overheat and go into shock, at the least they have the decision as educated moral agents in their hands. I'm no genius here, it's been said before, notably by Gore Vidal. Because it's human to recognize depravity and carnage and take exception to it. If we do that the body count will dramatically decline. Maybe we'll have a few less pregnant gringos playing around with inhalants trying to cause a miscarraige.
The excuses always sound like good points, but ultimately never add up to the vision of something that isn't needlessly destroying lives at taxpayer expense.
You want to be an idiot and do a drug which can fuck up your life? Go ahead. Get your cheap thrill. I don't want my tax payer money creating a shadowy black market extracting its market capitalization in human blood, or S.W.A.T. and police teams gunning down more 94 year old women, babies and ruining families on "accident". I don't care whether your justification is God, your fucking honor student or the voices in your head. It's all pretty darn crazy.
I'm done with this addiction to idiotic and reckless moral grandstanding and war-mongering. End NAFTA. Get out of Iraq. Stop the War!
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