Group Forums >> News for the Thinking Class >> Drug Czar: Obama Plan
Drug Czar: Obama Plan
|
Posted about 1 month ago http://www.motherjones.com/blue_marble_blog/archives/2008/12/11117_... Above is a topic of major issue for me...on many levels; but this is interesting article nontheless for anyone to read and comment -- I will like to see how Obama will address this issue --- as no President in the last 10 years has actually sunk his teeth, heart or word into improving this situation in USA with any real merit and legislation, laws or programs of precention or intervention-- : Please have at it Ladies... Also, the website is one of my very favorite for REAL NEWS... A Even A Bird Without Wings Yearns To Fly. |
|
| Posted about 1 month ago Hey A, I love how we never hear about this stuff in the news, at least in Chicago we don't. I never watch the local news anyway, so thanks for sharing this Motherjones site :) As for the article, I do hope that someone in the high seats wakes up and realizes that something and the right thing absolutely must be done to fight the drug war as some may call it. I saw a documentary a few weeks ago about a place in Canada where they had the needle exchange program and it seemed to work a lot better than having people use needles off the streets where it is soooo much easier to pick up deseases. True, drugs should not be used period, but since no body can stop people from using at least make it safer....... |
|
| Posted about 1 month ago I agree that the drug czar method has been ineffective, but I also, if I remember correctly the "Just Say No" campaign by Nancy Reagan was somewhat effective at the time. I have a hard time with this issue. It probably sounds crazy for me to say this, but I am of the opinion that people must be responsible for their own actions. For instance, I do not believe a gun manufacturer/seller should be held liable for selling a gun that is subsequently used for murdering someone IF they have sold the gun by following procedures set forth before the sale. But I DO believe a person who sells a child drugs that subsequently kills them should receive the death penalty. You may not agree and that's ok. It's my opinion. I am at a loss on the issue of providing needles to addicts. I see exactly where you're coming from in that it could save someone's life to employ that method. And I see that you also acknowledge it is wrong to do drugs. But it scares the HECK out of me that to pass something like this will make drug use more prevalent, with a wink and nod from a legislative viewpoint. Shoot, we know people are going to murder no matter how many laws are passed, so should we just arm everyone with a weapon or do we take them off the streets to protect the community at large? Like I said, I understand both viewpoints (the article and my own) so I'm just bouncing this off the top of my head and would love to hear more responses to it. Marie Feazell The greatest thing a man can do in this world is to make the most possible out of the stuff that has been given him. This is success, and there is no other. - Orison Swett Marden The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect springs. - Joan Didion |
|
| Posted about 1 month ago Nothing in this article is new and some of the suggestions made have been discussed and debated. I am NOT in favor of enabling a drug user or a drug pusher any more than I am in favor of enabling an alcoholic, a spouse abuser, or a murderer. To hand out needles to drug users is the same as giving an alcoholic a free shot of Jack D. every morning or giving slasher like Richard Cottingham a new knife everythime he breaks one off inside a victim. To give needles to drug addicts IS NOT A SOLUTION it's enablement. Many people look at this needle passing the same way as handing out condoms in public schools. I can say that it'll yeild the same results. Condoms are being given out in certain public schools and in those areas you have all the stats that go along with it: Rise in teen pregnancy, high drop-out rates, high welfare usage, large classes of the "working" poor and the rise of STD's. Here's a little food for thought: We hear a great deal about AIDS but the number one STD among teens are genital warts and syphillis. You think we have a cure right? WRONG. The diseases that are being contracted now are used to medications. They're stronger and more evolved. Do we really need a stonger more evolved drug user? The position of the Drug Czar was a waste and Regan and everyone else knew it too but he eventually gave into the lobbyist demands via pressure applied by congress. I agree with Marie (Mom) that while Nancy Regan's approach was slow going it was making a difference just like the Truth Campaigns that are aimed at stopping teen smoking and smoking in general. If President Elect Obama wants to initiate "change" he's going to have to bring it in the education department. Our younger generation is all smarts when it comes to distributing, manufacturing and using drugs of all sorts but they're dumb as pot holes when it comes to what it does to the user, his community, his nation and ultimately his world. My mother would not just talk to us about the use and effects of drugs but she'd take us on "long walks" while she talked. She knew that we, her children, were visual learners and as a result would take us to various places around Philly, New York, Delaware, and New Jersey to not just tell us but show us the progression of things. I remember being around 7 years old and my mom walking us down Spruce Street in downtown Philly and while she was talking I looked up an ally and saw a young girl, about my sister's age, with so many track marks that she had to shoot herself in her groin area, the part where your thigh and vagina join. Ever since that day this has been my motto: I Don't Do Drugs...I'm F'ckd Up E'nuff. I actually had that put on a T-shirt. My point is this, We have authorities who'll take this issue on and if President Elect Obama wants to make a change with his Clinton Cabinet then it's going to have to come via education from his end but more importantly education on the family end. sknight |
|
| Posted about 1 month ago Mother Jones - my husband's favorite mag. I don't believe this is a black and white problem - so many gray areas - so I have different feelings about parts of what a drug prevention (???) program - should accomplish. We all know dirty needles adds to the growing problem of HIV - will handing out needles help? I can't say - but I don't think it would hurt to test it someplace for a little while and see (have we done that already?). Medical marijuana - for the life of me I can't understand anyone objecting to the medical administration of marijuana - it's been documented to ease the awful discomforts of many terminally ill patients. There's so much more - how the war on drugs has caused our prison populations to swell - and look at the numbers of who these folks are -- (I think that's horrible) - the targeting of urban areas - flooding them with readily available drugs (???) geez -- it's a mess and more. It's my understanding -- the war on drugs makes tons of money for the gov't -- so my guess would be little will change. But I guess to answer the question - we should go ahead and try and abandon this program in it's current state - it's clear to me it does not serve the public.
|
|
|
| Posted 12 days ago yes: are two favorites for real news junkies...there are a few others but these are regulars... and for the Czar thing...I do know this is more then political...and somethings will never change in some senses and remain in change in others...for real...and the Drug thing is one... A Even A Bird Without Wings Yearns To Fly. |