The Mexican Drug War

[Netto Azure]

Well to give a background:

The Mexican Drug War is an armed conflict taking place between rival drug cartels and government forces in Mexico. The crackdown has resulted in the arrest of some high-level figures in the drug trade, but as cartels are dismantled or left without leaders, violent power struggles erupt over who will take their place.
Mexico is the main supply route for cocaine and other illegal drugs entering the United States, Colombia being the main cocaine producer.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Drug_War#cite_note-21The Mexican cartels commonly use automatic and semi-automatic assault rifles, hand grenades, and a variety of other military caliber arms.

Clinton: US shares blame on drugs

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said the US must take part of the blame for drug-related violence in Mexico on a visit to the country.
She said the US appetite for drugs and inability to stop arms crossing the border were helping fuel violence.
Mrs Clinton's visit comes a day after the Obama administration announced new measures to boost border security.

Well I live in LA so this certainly scares me a bit. If this problem spills over the US-Mexican Border...I'm afraid all of this "Homeland Security" stuff will be for naught.

What do you guys think? Legalize the drugs and then regulate them? More Border Patrol?

"While were at it let's boot out the "illegals"? [/sarcasm]

>.>

 

[Hector]

I think the simplest solution is to increase the border patrol by a huge amount. But we also need to increase Coast Guard presence as well to help with the water routes.

I don't think there is any way to legalize and regulate drugs like cocaine. Even if it were the best solution (which I personally do not think is the case), anyone who called for this action would quickly see the death of their political career from the negative backlash.

 

[Lethal Carnivine]

What in the hell would legalizing drugs do? Make it easier for drug dealers and the like to get their fix..... I mean, with tobacco and alochol, most people know what they might be4 getting into. With drugs, most people who try it are for experimental purposes.

What we need to do is have better border control. We should ONLY allow those who have the proper, authentic papers with them. What are they even doing over there, that so many have escaped?

 

[evkl]

What in the hell would legalizing drugs do? Make it easier for drug dealers and the like to get their fix..... I mean, with tobacco and alochol, most people know what they might be4 getting into. With drugs, most people who try it are for experimental purposes.

What we need to do is have better border control. We should ONLY allow those who have the proper, authentic papers with them. What are they even doing over there, that so many have escaped?

Legal drugs destroys drug dealers and cartels by dropping the drug's prices below the levels the dealers are willing to sell them at. A huge portion of drug prices are the premiums consumers pay on secrecy.

 

[Misty]

I'm okay with legalizing weed, and I think it's becoming close to politically possible, but there is no way in hell that cocaine will be legalized any time soon.

 

[domesticshorthair]

They could, like, have the military look over the border, as well as the border patrol.

And, of course, you've got to consider that the problem isn't just the drug dealers. I mean, also, if no one bought the drugs, there would be no point in selling them. That's also part of the problem, imo. I mean, maybe if people were more educated, and all that, that would help. I don't mean to say no one talks to their kids, or you don't learn in school, but, you know, maybe a little more effort into that as well.

 

[the gadfly]

...but there is no way in hell that cocaine will be legalized any time soon.

Once upon a time it was legal. Along with opium, morphine, LSD, marijuana and just about every thing. Did you know Bayer had a patent on heroin and sold it as a cough medicine in the US?

Need I mention the rumor that cocaine was in the original formulation of Coca Cola?

We didn't have these problems until we decided they were bad for us. Sorta like Prohibition. We couldn't stop people drinking alcohol and look at the criminal activity it caused. We certainly aren't stopping people using drugs. Might as well admit defeat and figure out a way to tax it.

I mean, maybe if people were more educated, and all that, that would help.

About as much as warnings about alcohol prevent alcoholism.

 

[domesticshorthair]

Once upon a time it was legal. Along with opium, morphine, LSD, marijuana and just about every thing. Did you know Bayer had a patent on heroin and sold it as a cough medicine in the US?

Need I mention the rumor that cocaine was in the original formulation of Coca Cola?

We didn't have these problems until we decided they were bad for us. Sorta like Prohibition. We couldn't stop people drinking alcohol and look at the criminal activity it caused. We certainly aren't stopping people using drugs. Might as well admit defeat and figure out a way to tax it.



About as much as warnings about alcohol prevent alcoholism.

Wow, I didn't know anyone had had a patent on heroin. Although I have heard some people do get high on cough medicine. Most people I know can barely stand to take it when they have a cough, but all the time. Ugh. How can you start that?

True. Get at least some money, and control over it. At least maybe they might sell 'pure' drugs, instead of like adding powdered sugar and stuff to make it seem like there's more.

 

[Zeta]

We didn't have these problems until we decided they were bad for us.

And most of the reasons we decided they were bad for us was due to racism, so . . .

 

[Netto Azure]

Obama to back Mexico's drugs war

US President Barack Obama has arrived in Mexico for a visit during which he is expected to express support for its war on drugs cartels.

Mr Obama is to hold wide-ranging talks with his Mexican counterpart, Felipe Calderon, on topics including the economy and cross-border smuggling.

Analysts say Mr Obama wants to show solidarity with Mr Calderon.

Hours before he arrived, 15 gunmen and one soldier were killed in a shoot-out in southern Mexico, officials said.

Mexico's defence department said soldiers on a drugs patrol came under fire from gunmen in a vehicle in the remote, mountainous state of Guerrero.

Sorry for just quoting. But at least this administration is showing signs of ACTUALLY knowing the culture of the nations they visit. =P

 

[JB88]

And most of the reasons we decided they were bad for us was due to racism, so . . .

Yep. Could be why Bonds answers "It's cause I'm black, isn't it."