Thank you for the feedback. I think Matt is completely correct: the day that people start seeing "upstanding" white people arrested and put in prison, the drug laws will immediately change. Almost all of our drug laws have racist roots and were intended to prevent minorities from corrupting white women and children. I recommend that everyone read the district court opinion in United States v. Clary, 846 F.Supp. 768, as it lays out a history of U.S. drug policies and makes a compelling case as to why the continued enforcement is horrendous.
I think that many people are aware that our laws are ineffective, but would like to believe that they work because they seem "moral." Moving people away from this belief would allow for changes to occur. I think a stronger paper would provide ideas on how this could be done. Any suggestions?
-- JohnAlbanese - 23 Mar 2010 |