Eric’s recent article God Bless Pat Robertson, the article it linked to Pat Robertson Blames Liberals for Drug War and Overincarceration, and this New York Times article Drug Policy as Race Policy: Best Seller Galvanizes the Debate suggested by the Drug Policy Forum of Texas list got me to thinking.
What has mass incarceration wrought in America? Well a lot of children grow up fatherless. Or molested (typically done most often by step fathers). This can lead to at least resents and possibly (in the genetically susceptible) to PTSD. Which frequently leads to drug use. Looks like a prime recruiting pool for gangs and The PTSD Party.
What is really going on?
If you look at murder stats and actual policing methods you will find that law enforcement practice since at least the mid 1990s (more likely roll out was started then and was completed by the late oughts) has been to focus efforts on only the most violent gangsters. Take downs of whole gangs are not done any more – it creates too much violence.
In effect the police have declared a limited truce in the drug war. So they tout the occasional fortuitous capture of “a large quantity of” but unless a gang is notorious they mostly get left alone.
So what is left? Rounding up stupid users.
Let me add that they can’t impede the flow of drugs too much or there are turf wars. Violence goes up and the general populace doesn’t like that. So the gravy train keeps running for everyone except those forced to pay black market prices, gang infested neighborhoods (nobody cares about “those people”), and the incarcerated/arrested.
I must say the whole arrangement is even more corrupt than crony capitalism. No – not in terms of deal making. In terms of the profit of all concerned depends on directly harming others. Bast*rds. (I can think of at least two appropriate vowels for *).