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> Drug violence is rarely about cartels vs cops -- more often it's cartels vs cartels and dealers vs dealers. Precisely the point: If the cartels come to intim
by chbarts 16y ago
> Drug violence is rarely about cartels vs cops -- more often it's cartels vs cartels and dealers vs dealers.
Precisely the point: If the cartels come to intimidate grandma, she calls the police, because her operation is legal and the intimidation is not. The police, because her operation is legal, then go after the cartel and shut them down.
Additionally, contract laws and theft/burglary laws and so on work in grandma's favor, because the legal system is at least potentially on the side of her legal operation. This alone greatly reduces the need for violence.
- Qz 16y agoThe police...then go after the cartel and shut them down. Hah, if it were that easy we wouldn't still be in this 'War on Drugs'.
- Symmetry 16y agoNo, the critical difference is that as things currently stand none of the people involved in the drug trade have any reason to cooperate with the authorities. And really, once alcohol was legalized look at how quickly the mob violence around it disappeared.
- Vivtek 16y agoRight. Prohibition created the Mafia - before Prohibition they were a bunch of petty Italian thugs, but America's real desire for alcohol made them rich and powerful. Prohibition never works. You'd think a bunch of free marketeers like American conservatives would get that.
- RevRal 16y agoFor another take on the how prohibitions don't solve anything, take a look at alcoholism in Native American reservations with an alcohol prohibition.