Just listening to the CBC report on the current crisis in Mexico…
which is more of an American fueled crisis.
The war on drugs.
Seems America is going to crack down on drug traffic between Mexico and the U.S.A
…and between Canada and the U.S.A.
…and everywhere else and the U.S.A.
Some facts. One in every 32 American adults—are either incarcerated, on parole or probation or under some other form of state or local supervision. And 1 in 100 are behind bars… largely for non-violent drug related offenses.
The U.S. is the World leader in incarceration. China is second at 4 times the population but 18% of the rate of incarceration.
Why? Why put pot dealers in prisons?
American prisons are run by private firms. Privatized. For profit. There is money to be made with full prisons. Upwards of 2 Billion dollars (US) of profit are generated annually in these private incarceration “businesses”.
No war on drugs. No labor ready folks to be put in prison.
Here is how Canada and Europe differ on its perception of drug addition… versus the U.S. of A.
In Europe and to a much lesser extent, Canada, drug addiction is treated like a disease… a sickness. Which should be treated with sympathy, caring, empathy and treatment.
In America, it is a terrible, terrible crime and a blight on society. Watch an American news hour or an episode of Dog the Bounty hunter if you doubt my word.
But are soft drugs like marijuana a hazard to society?
I have never used illicit drugs. Never smoked marijuana. No desire.
Marijuana prohibition costs U.S. taxpayers an estimated $10 billion annually and results in the arrest of more than 829,000 individuals per year—far more than the total number of arrests for all violent crimes combined – including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
And although I have never been a big fan of stoners – I did grow up in the 70’s and had my fill of harassment from pot heads and L.S.D. dropping school mates, none of whom ever posed any kind of threat to me and my family…
Other than breaking into my locker and stealing my Cheetos.
In the year 2010, the big prison eagle and the U.S. administration is eying Canada to make sure it keeps toeing the line – even our own Prime minister has spoken of building bigger and better prisons and getting tough on the rampant crime in Canada.
Canada does not have rampant crime. Violent crime is on a steady decline. In the Netherlands for instance, they are closing prisons… not enough bad people it seems. Good thing the U.S.A does not influence sensible Dutch folks.
Meantime, what we do is often what the big bad bald eagle wants us to do. With little wiggle room.
But there is always public opinion… and knowledge… and social action. – The War on crime and drugs in Canada and the U.S.A.
Keep your eyes on it.