- Joined
- Jan 23, 2013
- Messages
- 30,608
War on drugs has gone on long enough
SCOTT CAWELTI
3/22/2015
Conservatives’ rampant anti-science attitude began, I think, when curious and smart souls (aka scientists) began gathering data that shook long-established beliefs.
It’s certainly not new.
Galileo and Darwin, in 1610 and 1859, respectively, shifted the very ground upon which most people’s beliefs were anchored. The Earth moves around the sun? Species appear and disappear depending on whether they adapt? All of nature constantly changes, including humans? Say it ain’t so, people said, and still say, though thankfully not a majority worldwide any more.
Except hard-right conservatives, who seem intent on maintaining their own ignorances.
In spite of mountains of data, conservatives refuse to believe what science plainly reveals. What they do instead: ignore, deny or re-interpret data to fit their delusional beliefs, roughly in that order.
Scientists search for facts grounded in research using a method that yields truths that can be replicated and therefore used worldwide for all manner of applications and theories. This “scientific method” deserves respect partly because it works and partly because anyone with tools and knowledge can use it to make further discoveries -- and have now for centuries.
Though hardly perfect, it’s the best means we have of finding reliable and valid facts. We ignore and deny it at our peril.
That’s the malady of all true believers: certainty. Scientists, if they stay true to their calling, admit new facts that change their world view.
A case in point: the drug “war” that has ruined millions of lives world-wide. Two recent books make a powerful case against current anti-drug policies. “Chasing the Scream” by Johann Hari and “High Price” by Carl Hart reveal that hysteria rules this country’s attitude toward addictive substances, not science.
America’s Prohibition (1920-1933) was the first result, which developed into a full-blown national disaster. Gangsters, bootlegging, mob killings, turf wars and an enormous uptick in prison populations ruled that era.
As Mark Thornton, professor of economics at Auburn University, notes:
“Although consumption of alcohol fell at the beginning of Prohibition, it subsequently increased. Alcohol became more dangerous to consume; crime increased and became "organized"; the court and prison systems were stretched to the breaking point; and corruption of public officials was rampant.”
If that sounds familiar, it should. Our current drug policies have become a full-blown national disaster as well. Drug lords, smuggling, gang killings, turf wars and an enormous uptick in prison populations rule our era.
Prohibition is not working, and never has.
The most compelling account comes from Hari’s “Scream,” a highly readable account of how we’ve failed to either eradicate or control addictive drugs. Hari reveals how politicians have ignored or dismissed solid research that points toward an entirely different approach.
The source of addiction is only partially chemical “hooks.” In fact, addictions exist with no chemical hooks at all — take gambling, for one example. Feeling alone, outcast, berated and punished does more to create addictive behavior than actual drug chemistry.
So what do we do to addicts? We abuse, punish, imprison and berate them.
We need a national awakening on drug policy, and it won’t come from conservatives. A solution that has already worked once in this country needs to be brought back.
End prohibition. When alcohol prohibition ended, so did the crimes committed because of prohibition.
The same would happen, both Hari and Hart insist, if we ended prohibition of banned substances. This doesn’t necessarily mean legalization, but it could mean decriminalization. It has begun with both Colorado and Oregon’s easing of marijuana restrictions. That should continue nationwide.
It won’t come easily or quickly, but it has to come. Science will help show the way, and a few enlightened conservatives might step up to help.
One can always hope.
http://wcfcourier.com/news/opinion/...cle_ae9ad48b-a976-504b-9a66-1e6fb4b52ad4.html
.................................................................................
Scott Cawelti
SCOTT CAWELTI
3/22/2015
Conservatives’ rampant anti-science attitude began, I think, when curious and smart souls (aka scientists) began gathering data that shook long-established beliefs.
It’s certainly not new.
Galileo and Darwin, in 1610 and 1859, respectively, shifted the very ground upon which most people’s beliefs were anchored. The Earth moves around the sun? Species appear and disappear depending on whether they adapt? All of nature constantly changes, including humans? Say it ain’t so, people said, and still say, though thankfully not a majority worldwide any more.
Except hard-right conservatives, who seem intent on maintaining their own ignorances.
In spite of mountains of data, conservatives refuse to believe what science plainly reveals. What they do instead: ignore, deny or re-interpret data to fit their delusional beliefs, roughly in that order.
Scientists search for facts grounded in research using a method that yields truths that can be replicated and therefore used worldwide for all manner of applications and theories. This “scientific method” deserves respect partly because it works and partly because anyone with tools and knowledge can use it to make further discoveries -- and have now for centuries.
Though hardly perfect, it’s the best means we have of finding reliable and valid facts. We ignore and deny it at our peril.
That’s the malady of all true believers: certainty. Scientists, if they stay true to their calling, admit new facts that change their world view.
A case in point: the drug “war” that has ruined millions of lives world-wide. Two recent books make a powerful case against current anti-drug policies. “Chasing the Scream” by Johann Hari and “High Price” by Carl Hart reveal that hysteria rules this country’s attitude toward addictive substances, not science.
America’s Prohibition (1920-1933) was the first result, which developed into a full-blown national disaster. Gangsters, bootlegging, mob killings, turf wars and an enormous uptick in prison populations ruled that era.
As Mark Thornton, professor of economics at Auburn University, notes:
“Although consumption of alcohol fell at the beginning of Prohibition, it subsequently increased. Alcohol became more dangerous to consume; crime increased and became "organized"; the court and prison systems were stretched to the breaking point; and corruption of public officials was rampant.”
If that sounds familiar, it should. Our current drug policies have become a full-blown national disaster as well. Drug lords, smuggling, gang killings, turf wars and an enormous uptick in prison populations rule our era.
Prohibition is not working, and never has.
The most compelling account comes from Hari’s “Scream,” a highly readable account of how we’ve failed to either eradicate or control addictive drugs. Hari reveals how politicians have ignored or dismissed solid research that points toward an entirely different approach.
The source of addiction is only partially chemical “hooks.” In fact, addictions exist with no chemical hooks at all — take gambling, for one example. Feeling alone, outcast, berated and punished does more to create addictive behavior than actual drug chemistry.
So what do we do to addicts? We abuse, punish, imprison and berate them.
We need a national awakening on drug policy, and it won’t come from conservatives. A solution that has already worked once in this country needs to be brought back.
End prohibition. When alcohol prohibition ended, so did the crimes committed because of prohibition.
The same would happen, both Hari and Hart insist, if we ended prohibition of banned substances. This doesn’t necessarily mean legalization, but it could mean decriminalization. It has begun with both Colorado and Oregon’s easing of marijuana restrictions. That should continue nationwide.
It won’t come easily or quickly, but it has to come. Science will help show the way, and a few enlightened conservatives might step up to help.
One can always hope.
http://wcfcourier.com/news/opinion/...cle_ae9ad48b-a976-504b-9a66-1e6fb4b52ad4.html
.................................................................................
Scott Cawelti
