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1. That does not mean that heroine is a positive influence in the world that helps nourish people’s physical and emotional health. 2. It isn’t about whether yo

by hosh 6y ago

1. That does not mean that heroine is a positive influence in the world that helps nourish people’s physical and emotional health. 2. It isn’t about whether you can adapt and find a different crop to grow. It is that you are growing something that helps things go into a degenerative, rather than a regenerative feedback loop.

dsr_ 6y ago
You're making ethical arguments. That's good for discussing what people should do. However, we live in a world where entities often do not make ethical decisions. They make practical decisions: should I grow coca or coffee beans? The gang with guns wants me to grow coca, and they are willing to kill people who don't work for them... so I guess I grow coca. You can wish for them to be dead heroes, but that's not how you should bet. At a larger scale, ethics don't win over profits. There are for-profit prison corporations. I bet they have very well thought-out corporate mission statements. If you want to talk about why people make the decisions they do, you need to think about psychology and economics. If you want to talk about how people can be supported to make better decisions, you need to talk about politics and economics.
- hosh 6y ago
  I think if I were talking about small groups of people where much of the food production is done onsite, and there is a higher cooperation locally, this can be done. It has been done, even in just a regular neighborhood. I am not necessarily talking about changing large agricorps or policy changes.
slickQ 6y ago
Growing poppies has been consistently profitable for decades and is likely to remain profitable for the foreseeable future as the demand has yet to decrease. It is true, however, that as the supply increases the likelihood that some consumers (namely addicts) won't be able to purchase any future batches increases as well (due to overdose, loss of income, etc). The market will likely reach an equilibrium eventually. Increases in supply have been met with increases in sales so the equilibrium hasn't been reached. This hasn't been a relevant consideration so far and there is no indication that it is now relevant. As such, it is hardly irrational or dumb to grow poppies at the moment. The morality of the practice is another concern entirely. It is notable, however, that they do have legitimate medicinal applications.

by hosh 6y ago

dsr_ 6y ago

You're making ethical arguments. That's good for discussing what people should do. However, we live in a world where entities often do not make ethical decisions. They make practical decisions: should I grow coca or coffee beans? The gang with guns wants me to grow coca, and they are willing to kill people who don't work for them... so I guess I grow coca. You can wish for them to be dead heroes, but that's not how you should bet. At a larger scale, ethics don't win over profits. There are for-profit prison corporations. I bet they have very well thought-out corporate mission statements. If you want to talk about why people make the decisions they do, you need to think about psychology and economics. If you want to talk about how people can be supported to make better decisions, you need to talk about politics and economics.

hosh 6y ago
I think if I were talking about small groups of people where much of the food production is done onsite, and there is a higher cooperation locally, this can be done. It has been done, even in just a regular neighborhood. I am not necessarily talking about changing large agricorps or policy changes.

slickQ 6y ago

Growing poppies has been consistently profitable for decades and is likely to remain profitable for the foreseeable future as the demand has yet to decrease. It is true, however, that as the supply increases the likelihood that some consumers (namely addicts) won't be able to purchase any future batches increases as well (due to overdose, loss of income, etc). The market will likely reach an equilibrium eventually. Increases in supply have been met with increases in sales so the equilibrium hasn't been reached. This hasn't been a relevant consideration so far and there is no indication that it is now relevant. As such, it is hardly irrational or dumb to grow poppies at the moment. The morality of the practice is another concern entirely. It is notable, however, that they do have legitimate medicinal applications.