With gay marriage decided, what will be the next big left-led social change?

[doctorquant]

So, what's happened to the folks who used to smuggle marijuana into the US from Mexico. Have they all gone out of business?

They're driving for Uber. #grandmothersknowbest

 

[Ace]

Let's take a look at what's already happening with the decriminalization of marijuana. Domestic marijuana, even with its higher prices, is more desired that Mexican marijuana.

So, what's happened to the folks who used to smuggle marijuana into the US from Mexico. Have they all gone out of business?

Should I tell you what's happened, do you already know, or do you want to guess?

They're mowing your yard?

 

[Ace]

I'm on board with this.

That's what I'm talking about. Kumbaya!

 

[YankeeFan]

Speaking of "high," the other point I was trying to make was the more important one. If we're talking about drug offenses, a vast majority of (white) drug offenders never see prison time, and many are never even arrested, while almost two-thirds of (black) drug offenders do and are, for an average sentence of almost 5 years.

I'm all for arresting, and jailing, drug buyers. If you lower the demand, you lower the supply.

As long as we do nothing about the demand, people will break the law to supply it.

heck, I'm for programs like this one. Take away daddy's car, and junior probably won't be driving into Washington Heights to score again:

When law-enforcement officials stopped 43 people whose cars were cruising last week in areas of Manhattan where drugs are widely sold, they not only arrested them on charges of possessing crack. They also seized their cars.

In the latest wrinkle in the battle against the potent cocaine derivative, the police and Federal drug agents have expanded their use of a 16-year-old Federal law that allows the confiscation of property used in drug transactions. In the four-day period that ended Saturday, 30 cars were taken, the majority from middle-class suburban communities in New Jersey.

''If you come to New York to buy crack, bring car fare and be prepared to take the bus back,'' Police Commissioner Benjamin Ward said yesterday afternoon as he and other officials announced the seizure of the vehicles, which ranged from a 1971 Chevrolet van to a 1986 two-door Pontiac Fiero.

In the past, the 1970 civil statute used as the basis for the seizures has been applied mostly to drug dealers, according to Rudolph W. Giuliani, the United States Attorney in Manhattan, who appeared with Mr. Ward yesterday at a news conference at a Manhattan garage where the vehicles are being stored. But he said a recent review of the law had confirmed that it could be applied equally to any property used as an instrument in drug transactions.

Mayor Koch said he thought officials should set a goal of confiscating 5,000 vehicles during the program. He said the city would provide garage space if Federal space proved inadequate.

NEW YORK POLICE NOW SEIZING CARS IN ARRESTS FOR POSSESSION OF CRACK - NYTimes.com

But, this kind of thing has been shut down by judges, and viewed as too harsh by many.

 

[Songbird]

You've mentioned that before.

Isn't that an argument for longer prison terms? Keep 'em off the streets until they've "aged out".

When we turn a gang banger loose, while he's still in his prime, isn't he highly likely to reengage in criminal activity?

Speed of light, fast
it's like walking
bare feet over broken glass
it's like jumping rope
on a razor blade
all lightning fast
decisions are made ...

 

[Dick Whitman]

Maybe I'm crazy, but those all sound really high. These are the people we want to let out sooner?

What's that going to do to crime rates, to our court system?

They're going to be right back in jail unless we just stop deciding to send them to jail.

Remarkably, every other civilized nation doesn't have a sky-high crime rate, despite a lower incarceration rate.

 

[SpeedTchr]

I wish I could wave a magic wand and wipe out the ridiculous idea that one can compare the U.S. to other nations for any reason. It's a bullshirt comparison in almost every case due to demographics and a host of other reasons.

 

[Dick Whitman]

"Due to demographics."

Please keep going.

 

[YankeeFan]

Oh! deck thinks you were about to say the "N" word!

 

[Mr. Sunshine]

#bringbacknewdick

 

[Ace]

I wish I could wave a magic wand and wipe out the ridiculous idea that one can compare the U.S. to other nations for any reason. It's a bullshirt comparison in almost every case due to demographics and a host of other reasons.

It wouldn't be much fun to compare things that are exactly the same would it?

 

[YankeeFan]

If young people who get out of jail are likely to commit additional crimes, and end up back in jail, it seems we have only a few options:

1. Just arrest them and release them more often
2. Find some alternate punishment to prison
3. Decriminalize certain activities

Anyway you look at it, it would seem that the only way crime rates would go down would be if you, in a Baronesque move, redefine what you consider a crime.

Which of these things will help communities?

So, what, now we just let folks sell loosies in front of a convenience store?

If a guy steals some cigarellos from a convenience store, do we just let it go?