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Totally agree. War on Drugs is a failure and Ivory trade ban would be another failure. Government wants to ban something which people want and some people will

by tn13 10y ago

Totally agree. War on Drugs is a failure and Ivory trade ban would be another failure. Government wants to ban something which people want and some people willing to supply. Unless someone has strong private property right over elephants I don't see how these people are going to change. Ban might increase cost and risks and might lead to serious exploitation of the foot soldiers in this business but it is not going to be good for animals. China could have imported 1000 elephants and could farmed them for their ivory.

adamnemecek 10y ago
> Totally agree. War on Drugs is a failure and Ivory trade ban would be another failure. They are more dissimilar than similar. Not all illegal goods have the same economics as illegal substances. Kinder Surprise eggs are illegal in the US, yet there isn't much of a market for them. > Government wants to ban something which people want and some people willing to supply. The situation is really different. When people go buy ivory, they are buying it to show off their wealth. Similarly, few rich people would buy a Faberge egg from a shady guy on the street, esp. if being seen with it in public (you know, the reason why you might be buying it in the first place) might raise question about the product's origin. People want luxury goods, not necessarily ivory in particular. If you ban Ferraris, people will buy Lamborghinis. If you ban sports cars, they might buy yachts. > China could have imported 1000 elephants and could farmed them for their ivory. Do you know much about elephant husbandry? Disregarding ethical issues, it's not possible for financial and ecological reasons.
- tn13 10y ago
  > Not all illegal goods have the same economics as illegal substances Dont see your point. Kinder would not have much demand even if it is illegal as it competes with many other similar products easily available. Ivory appears to me something very similar to marijuana or cocaine than Kinder eggs to me. > When people go buy ivory, they are buying it to show off their wealth. You don't have much idea about illegal trade. What makes you think the black market only has shady guys on street peddling smuggled items. Rich people extensively deal in illegal items and get them home delivered in armored car if needed. > People want luxury goods, not necessarily ivory in particular. I don't see much of logic. On the contrary Ivory might get far more desirable and much bigger status symbol once it is made illegal. You should remember that every illegal thing in a society eventually has exceptions for powerful. A hand-gun is a big status symbol in India and UK where gun control is hysterical. Same is likely to happen with Ivory.

by tn13 10y ago

adamnemecek 10y ago

> Totally agree. War on Drugs is a failure and Ivory trade ban would be another failure. They are more dissimilar than similar. Not all illegal goods have the same economics as illegal substances. Kinder Surprise eggs are illegal in the US, yet there isn't much of a market for them. > Government wants to ban something which people want and some people willing to supply. The situation is really different. When people go buy ivory, they are buying it to show off their wealth. Similarly, few rich people would buy a Faberge egg from a shady guy on the street, esp. if being seen with it in public (you know, the reason why you might be buying it in the first place) might raise question about the product's origin. People want luxury goods, not necessarily ivory in particular. If you ban Ferraris, people will buy Lamborghinis. If you ban sports cars, they might buy yachts. > China could have imported 1000 elephants and could farmed them for their ivory. Do you know much about elephant husbandry? Disregarding ethical issues, it's not possible for financial and ecological reasons.

tn13 10y ago
> Not all illegal goods have the same economics as illegal substances Dont see your point. Kinder would not have much demand even if it is illegal as it competes with many other similar products easily available. Ivory appears to me something very similar to marijuana or cocaine than Kinder eggs to me. > When people go buy ivory, they are buying it to show off their wealth. You don't have much idea about illegal trade. What makes you think the black market only has shady guys on street peddling smuggled items. Rich people extensively deal in illegal items and get them home delivered in armored car if needed. > People want luxury goods, not necessarily ivory in particular. I don't see much of logic. On the contrary Ivory might get far more desirable and much bigger status symbol once it is made illegal. You should remember that every illegal thing in a society eventually has exceptions for powerful. A hand-gun is a big status symbol in India and UK where gun control is hysterical. Same is likely to happen with Ivory.