The year is young and the news already a comedy north of the border, and even more predictable Shakespearian tragedy south of the border.
The dead body of a man, wrapped in a blanket, is seen lying near the wall of a private school in the municipality of Ecatepec on the outskirts of Mexico City on Jan. 3, 2012.
Mexico is not really a 3rd-world country, and the big sign hints touchingly at school choice and hope for a better future. The body tells us that the "War on Drugs" is a disaster, and is dragging Mexico back down because too many Gringos want to "recreate" chemically.
Posted by: Don Rodrigo at January 5, 2012 9:01 AMThe problem is not that Gringos recreate chemically, it is that the illegality of that recreation creates a socioeconomic situation which leads to violent gangs controlling the drug trade, fighting over turf and suborning government/law enforcement (con plomo o plata) to protect their business.
Posted by: JD at January 5, 2012 4:31 PMTrue that, JD, but guess what? When the American government decides to "legalize" this drug use, they will make such a hash of it that most users will still have to resort to the illegal market for their supply anyway. Users share the largest part of the blame, no matter what.
Remember, prostitution is legal in Nevada, yet Vegas and Reno vice squads are plenty busy busting prostitutes. Why is that?
Posted by: Don Rodrigo at January 6, 2012 10:49 AMThe photo is a tragedy worthy of the Bard himself. More tragic is what our doubleminded leaders are bringing this country to.
Posted by: Davey at January 6, 2012 1:55 PMDon Rodrigo,
Vegas and Reno vice cops are busy busting prostitutes because those cities continue to make prostitution a crime, mostly for PR reasons, to fit the "family friendy" image they try to project.
I don't expect the U.S. to legalize drugs any time soon. There is a large lobby against it, which includes those with religious/moral objections, the drug gangs/cartels and law enforcement agencies which get huge funding to fight the "War on Drugs".
At this point if the U.S. did legalize drugs, the narco-gangs would switch over to other types of crime (which some are already doing) and cause a lot more trouble.
I don't agree that the users have the greatest part of the blame, prohibition causes the distorted market forces that make it extremely profitable to transport and sell drugs. If a truckload of weed or coke or heroin was worth the same amount as a truckload of roma tomatoes, no one would be decapitating people by the dozens to control their shipment.
Posted by: at January 6, 2012 2:06 PM"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated to combat spam and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.
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