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Prohibition cut alcoholism rates nearly in half in the states and also greatly reduced domestic violence rates, especially among poorer people. I'm not advocati

Prohibition cut alcoholism rates nearly in half in the states and also greatly reduced domestic violence rates, especially among poorer people. I'm not advocating for a return to this particular approach to societal management but the idea that it was some kind of obvious catastrophe is nothing short of ridiculous.

rpmisms 3y ago
It also literally created the mafia. Single-factor analysis is really not smart.
- DinaCoder99 3y ago
  No, that's just not true. And besides, that seems like a small concern compared to the enormously destructive effects alcohol has far from any organized crime. A wildly entertaining effect to be sure, but not one that touches the lives of every day people like alcohol does.
  - rpmisms 3y ago
    Here's an article about how it did: https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/how-prohibition-created-the-mafia-video https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/how-prohibit... And another from the literal mafia museum: https://prohibition.themobmuseum.org/the-history/the-rise-of-organized-crime/the-mob-during-prohibition/ https://prohibition.themobmuseum.org/the-history/the-rise-of... Don't move the goalposts. > the idea that it was some kind of obvious catastrophe is nothing short of ridiculous It was literally an unmitigated catastrophe, which is why it was the only constitutional amendment to be overturned. It also led to government agents spiking ethanol with methanol, leading to blindness. Pure evil.
    - DinaCoder99 3y ago
      [flagged]
      - rpmisms 3y ago
        I'm not going on an academic deep dive to prove that the mob in America was catapulted to power by prohibition. It's self-evident, and continues to be so as you go deeper.
- saaaaaam 3y ago
  This is simply untrue. The mafia started outside the US long before prohibition came along. It may have given the mafia an opportunity to accelerate and expand but it certainly did not “literally create” the mafia.

rpmisms 3y ago

It also literally created the mafia. Single-factor analysis is really not smart.

DinaCoder99 3y ago
No, that's just not true. And besides, that seems like a small concern compared to the enormously destructive effects alcohol has far from any organized crime. A wildly entertaining effect to be sure, but not one that touches the lives of every day people like alcohol does.
- rpmisms 3y ago
  Here's an article about how it did: https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/how-prohibition-created-the-mafia-video https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/how-prohibit... And another from the literal mafia museum: https://prohibition.themobmuseum.org/the-history/the-rise-of-organized-crime/the-mob-during-prohibition/ https://prohibition.themobmuseum.org/the-history/the-rise-of... Don't move the goalposts. > the idea that it was some kind of obvious catastrophe is nothing short of ridiculous It was literally an unmitigated catastrophe, which is why it was the only constitutional amendment to be overturned. It also led to government agents spiking ethanol with methanol, leading to blindness. Pure evil.
  - DinaCoder99 3y ago
    [flagged]
    - rpmisms 3y ago
      I'm not going on an academic deep dive to prove that the mob in America was catapulted to power by prohibition. It's self-evident, and continues to be so as you go deeper.
saaaaaam 3y ago
This is simply untrue. The mafia started outside the US long before prohibition came along. It may have given the mafia an opportunity to accelerate and expand but it certainly did not “literally create” the mafia.