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Toby Muse explores why conservative pols in Colombia are becoming sceptics about the war on drugs.
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|6.6.05 @ 5:21PM|#
People really need to start looking at Bernard Mandeville. Pornography paid the early development bills of the internet and made it economically viable for other corporations to operate, who knows how many public benefits we would derive from cocaine(or other drug) legalization? I am tired of the same old lock em' up strategy, we need to try something new....
|6.6.05 @ 5:43PM|#
Vaccinate!
|6.6.05 @ 6:15PM|#
I agree with the tactic, Jared, and have proposed it myself in circles. It's completely logical, and rational.
|6.6.05 @ 8:31PM|#
The second Colombia legalizes, Uncle Sam cuts off the funding (and the assistance against the rebels). Ain't gonna happen.
|6.6.05 @ 8:45PM|#
phocion-
The second Colombia legalizes, the rebels lose their competitive advantage in cocaine production. If cocaine can be legally grown anywhere in Colombia without need for protection from the law, coca growers will be able to ply their trade without the protection of rebels and/or cartels and/or right-wing paramilitaries. (Really, all 3 groups are drug dealers, it's just that the cartels make no pretense of being anything other than gangsters, while the rebels and paramilitaries pretend to be fighting for some cause other than protection of drug turf.)
Cocaine farmers will, of course, lose money, but maybe their losses will be partly compensated by reduced risk. Also, the collapse of the civil war and the restoration of the rule of law will almost certainly be better for economic opportunity than living in a state where most territory is under the de facto control of gangsters of various stripes.
If I weren't concerned about being prosecuted under the Patriot Act I'd send a donation to a Colombian candidate who supports legalization. But sending money to anybody who could be construed as a terrorist is dangerous, and it's safe to assume that any political party advocating legalization in Colombia would be put on that list.
|6.6.05 @ 8:45PM|#
To be clear, cocaine farmers will lose money from the bump in supply that drives down prices.
|6.6.05 @ 9:01PM|#
thoreau,
My point isn't that Colombia is better off without legalization; that's certainly not the case. My point is that the US is sufficiently invested in the status quo there that our nation would tighten the screws and put immense political and financial pressure on Colombia if it made any serious steps toward ending the drug war. I wouldn't even put it past Bush to embargo them and put them on the Axis of Evil if they legalized growing coke. As desperate as they are, I don't see Colombia willingly pissing off Washington that much.
|6.6.05 @ 9:03PM|#
-"This drug war has moved beyond a question of crime," says Apolinar Salcedo, the mayor of Cali, Colombia's second largest city and the scene of much of the killing. "This is now a question of national security."
Holy Shit! who would have thought an action like declaring war might involve national security. Idiot politicians!
|6.6.05 @ 9:15PM|#
phocion-
True. On the optimistic side, maybe even the Colombian government would be better off with legalization: If the rebels are broke the government doesn't need Uncle Sam's aid to suppress them.
Then again, you make a good point in that loss of military aid wouldn't be the only form of pressure applied. No doubt there would be sanctions.
And who knows what might be done in secret? I hope this is just a paranoid fantasy, but I can see the US trying bribery, blackmail, or even assassination to stop Colombian politicians from legalizing. I hope it's just a paranoid fantasy, but given how much insanity the Drug War has spawned, one can't rule it out.
|6.6.05 @ 10:02PM|#
How much do the farmers get for coca production? I wouldn't imagine they get a lot since the real danger comes higher up in the supply chain (although they are at risk of being targeted for eradication).
Legalization might prove to be good for the farmers. They'd be able to worry a lot less about avoiding eradication, which would allow them to produce in better locations that would result in better quality product and higher yields. There would probably be an increase in demand, which should push up prices on raw coca.
|6.7.05 @ 8:34AM|#
"I hope this is just a paranoid fantasy, but I can see the US trying bribery, blackmail, or even assassination to stop Colombian politicians from legalizing. I hope it's just a paranoid fantasy, but given how much insanity the Drug War has spawned, one can't rule it out."
Dr. T - I think that's exactly what's going on. We have Team America over there tearing the fucking place apart. What else would these assholes do if they didn't have their secret wars?
|6.7.05 @ 3:58PM|#
What's so rational about vaccination? Sure, vaccinating against disease makes sense because a disease will most likely permanently harm you or kill you. Not so with drugs.
Drugs against drugs is like a war on war - completely irrational.
Larry A|6.7.05 @ 6:07PM|#
Drugs against drugs is like a war on war - completely irrational.