Articles Posted in War on Drugs

Yesterday, I had two cases on the docket in the 422nd District Court in Kaufman. I quickly browsed through the courts docket and noticed that around 15 criminal cases were set to be heard that afternoon. A quick glance at the State’s file bucket showed that roughly 8 of those cases were for drugs.

Plea Negotiation Conferences

In the 422nd a common court setting is a Plea Negotiation Conference, or PNC. I had two of those today. I spent time talking to a prosecutor on the various aspects of my cases. Both cases were reset.

One reason I prefer freedom over government is accountability. If a business does not provide the goods and services the public wants customers take their money elsewhere and the business fails.

Government is the opposite. Failing programs see their budgets increased and almost never close. DARE is one such program. By all accounts DARE HAS BEEN A COMPLETE FAILURE. DARE has shown no efficacy in keeping kids from using drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes. Yet the government continues to waste over a billion dollars a year on DARE.

This week, President Bush issued a proclamation declaring DARE day. Do we really need a day to celebrate government propaganda? Really? Surprisingly,Pushingback.com is the only place I could find this moving declaration from our Commander in Chief.

Pushingback.com is the “blog” for ONDCP, the Office of National Drug Control Policy. They are a full time propaganda outlet for the War on Drugs. Unlike real blogs PB does not allow user comments. PB also rarely creates any original content. They mostly link and post to articles they see as supporting Prohibition.

I have a fairly low of opinion of Prohibition propagandists. They are humorless moral busybodies with a skill set that makes them only fit for government work.

PB reinforces my beliefs almost daily. Today’s post is a classic. Here it is, verbatim

American Drug War is a briliant documentary now playing on Showtime. ADW exposes the history and hyprocrisy of the drug war. It is a much see for any drug war supporter, or opponent.

CIA/Cocaine

I have always taken CIA/Cocaine conspiracy theories with a grain of salt. I believe that government power is almost certain to be corrupted, and the drug war is morally bankrupt. However, the idea that the CIA would actually work with drug cartels struck me as impropable if not incredulous. ADW investigates this dark alliance.

The Dallas Morning News Editorial board has a troubling history of drug war cheer leading. Today’s editorial calls for supporting Bush’s new Plan Meridia. Plan Meridia aims to fight the drug cartels in Mexcio by sending billions in cash and equipment to the Mexican government. Bush foreign policy combined with billions in federal giveaways- how could that not work?

Seriously, this editorial is such drivel that Pushingback.com has proudly linked to it. ( is there not a law that prevents federal agencies from lobbying for specific bills etc?)

Bush foreign policy combined with billions in federal giveaways- how could that not work?

A wonderful discovery by DrugWarRant. Just watch the video. I can not add anything to the thoughtful discussion.

My wife is sick, so no new material until tomorrow. Until then go to the FWST and comment on this story. It is a typical federal drug bust. ATF and the Arlington Police waste time busting drug dealers who are going to be instantly replace. One of the defendants gets a 17 year sentence. Great use of tax dollars. I guess the DEA couldn’t find an medical marijuana patients or pain doctors to harass.

Make sure and comment below the story. There are some typical “tough on crime” knee jerk comments. Make your voice heard.

From the Economist- An amazing story from Texas on the Prison Entrepreneurship Program. PEP teachers prisoners how to be successful business leaders and entrepreneurs. The War on Drugs is a tragedy for many reasons. One is the incarceration of human potential for consensual crime.

Why would drug dealing felon convicts make good businessmen? Let’s ask today’s hero Catherine Rohr, a venture capitalist who founded PEP after visiting several Texas prisons. From the Economist

Ms. Rohr’s premise is that criminals are intelligent people with good heads for business and healthy appetites for risk, and that these traits can be put to productive use. She is particularly interested in people who have already demonstrated these skills—for example by running a successful drug business or achieving a high rank in a gang

The rigorous program has a 50% dropout rate. The students in PEP meet MBA students and business leaders to develop business plans. 40 graduates already have businesses up and running. PEP also slashes recidivism (5% among graduates) and produces qualified applicants for employment.

The Drug Free America Foundation is a non profit group that advocates for the War on Drugs. I actually support this group financially because they are a recipient of large annual grants from the federal government. It’s not bad enough the feds arrest and incarcerate millions of Americans, they also waste tax dollars on redundant propaganda.

Survey Says- Drug Use Is Victimless

DFAF has an online survey on drug use. Here are the results

The President released the National Drug Control Strategy today. I don’t have time to read 80 pages of garbage propaganda. Instead, let us focus on the intro by George W. Bush.

From George W’s introduction-

My Administration published its first National Drug Control Strategy in 2002, inspired by a great moral imperative: we must reduce illegal drug use because, over time, drugs rob men, women, and children of their dignity and of their character.