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June 18, 2010
Public Morality - Private Corruption
Russell Roberts discusses the perverse incentives that motivate politicians. This wiggle room for politicians in a democracy leads to some strange outcomes. It allows politicians to do the right thing and the wrong thing at the same time. How is that possible? We shall see below. Even stranger, the imperfect information available to voters can even allow politicians to do the wrong thing and pass it off as the right thing if we're not paying close enough attention.Which brings me to the drug war. A classic Baptist-bootlegger coalition. And it is not like it is a new thing. The directors of an opium trading company had this to say about the Opium Wars in China: "If the trade is ever legalized, it will cease to be profitable from that time. The more difficulties that attend it, the better for you and us." -- Directors of Jardine-MathesonIt can't happen here. Can it? "The Latin American drug cartels have stretched their tentacles much deeper into our lives than most people believe. It's possible they are calling the shots at all levels of government." - William Colby, former CIA Director, 1995Possible? More like certain or inevitable. Well it is for the children. Of the drug kingpins. For the American children illegal drugs are easier to obtain than beer. The bootleggers are very fortunate to have a whole large government agency devoted to maintaining their profits. The DEA. Not to mention every police force in America. So let me see here. Drug cartel cash flows in America track expenditures on the drug war. Approximate numbers are: $50 billion spent on enforcement (Federal, State, and local). Giving the agents of enforcement a powerful incentive to "save the children." And the cartels? They too reap very roughly $50 billion a year from enforcement. How else can the value of a pile of vegetables be escalated to be worth its weight in gold? So you have very powerful constituencies who depend for their funds on the strong enforcement of the prohibition laws. For the children. Which is why it is very hard to put an end to this stupidity which takes $100 billion a year (or more) out of the American economy. Don't believe me? Here is what the prospect of pot legalization is doing to the market in California. For decades, illegal marijuana cultivation has been an economic lifeblood for three counties in northern California known as the Emerald Triangle.Yep. And that is just from the medical marijuana laws. What will happen when California legalizes pot come November? There is a comment on that article that is so backwards that you would think that some one with an interest in the trade had written it: Mar 24, 2010 10:20pm EDTUh. Dude. When the profits from growing pot approximate the profits from growing wheat the cartels will have NO MONEY to support vast armies of enforcers that make Mexico a living hell. The commenter goes on to say: Oh, just to let you know, my brother died last year because of years of drug and alcohol abuse that started with pot when he was young. I won't allow anyone to go through what he went throught and what we all went through with him, not without a fight.I think that is proof positive that prohibition is not working. I note that he made no mention of people like my brother who got killed in the drug war crossfire. I guess he has no problem with killing my brother (Jeffrey) for a policy that does not work and can not work for its publicly intended purpose. Jeff's death turned my family from strong supporters of the drug war to strongly supporting the anti-prohibitionist position. Well Jeff, this post is for you. RIP. I will not rest until this stupidity ends. Some books on the Opium Wars. H/T Jccarlton Talk Polywell Cross Posted at Power and Control posted by Simon on 06.18.10 at 07:37 PM
Comments
It was 36 years ago and time has dulled the pain some. But I still get an ache in my heart every time I think of him. Thank you. M. Simon · June 20, 2010 08:20 PM Strong article as usual, M. Simon. There are so many things that are said by pro-WOD people that cause me to shake my head. You highlighted one of them by posting the comments made against legalization from the Reuters article. Even though prohibition was in place when this person's brother began using drugs and it didn't save his life, somehow keeping it in place will save someone else's life. And all the costs of prohibition (tax money wasted, gang violence, police militarization, millions saddled with drug convictions, etc.) are all ignored. Randy · June 21, 2010 11:31 AM Post a comment
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I'm a total stranger but, for what it's worth, my condolences for your loss.