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Yeah, like Google is into much more than advertising now. Taking out drug money would be a massive crimp in their style. In fact, I'd be surprised if it wouldn'

Yeah, like Google is into much more than advertising now. Taking out drug money would be a massive crimp in their style. In fact, I'd be surprised if it wouldn't pretty much destroy their style, and suggestions to the contrary are just given by the government to continue the drug war.

btian 12y ago
Should we also legalize protection racket, human trafficking, kidnapping, contract killing?
- MichaelGG 12y ago
  If they're done between consenting adults, sure.
  - krapp 12y ago
    Surely you don't expect that the targets of these crimes ever consent to them?
    - MichaelGG 12y ago
      I'd guess not. Which makes it quite a bit of a different category than unlicensed drug use.
- click170 12y ago
  No, of course not. But choosing to smoke a joint is a victimless crime, as is choosing to abuse cocaine or any other substance. Most of the problems with these substances are caused by the fact that they are illegal and are forced into black markets. We could discuss the social harms of substance abuse all evening, but at the end of the day I'm not harming anyone when I take a puff in the comfort of my own home.
  - a3n 12y ago
    > But choosing to smoke a joint is a victimless crime, Well, except for all the murder involved in growing and shipping it. But except for that, yeah. I guess if you live in a legal or medical state it's possible to get murder-free pot. But I haven't smoked pot for 25 years for this and a small handful of other reasons.
    - click170 12y ago
      > except for all the murder involved in growing and shipping it Those are artifacts of it being illegal, if it was legal those wouldn't be problems.
a3n 12y ago
I'm not saying we shouldn't legalize drugs; we should, for this and other reasons. But that's not going to kill the cartels, they have other interests. I don't even think it would affect their style all that much because it wouldn't happen suddenly, it will be state by state, with the Fed finally going along after it's de facto legal everywhere. While that gradual process plays out, as it is in fact doing right now, the cartels will just shift their focus elsewhere. Gradually. I think what's more likely is that the Mexican oil industry, and other cartel interests, will long for the days of illegal drugs.

btian 12y ago

Should we also legalize protection racket, human trafficking, kidnapping, contract killing?

MichaelGG 12y ago
If they're done between consenting adults, sure.
- krapp 12y ago
  Surely you don't expect that the targets of these crimes ever consent to them?
  - MichaelGG 12y ago
    I'd guess not. Which makes it quite a bit of a different category than unlicensed drug use.
click170 12y ago
No, of course not. But choosing to smoke a joint is a victimless crime, as is choosing to abuse cocaine or any other substance. Most of the problems with these substances are caused by the fact that they are illegal and are forced into black markets. We could discuss the social harms of substance abuse all evening, but at the end of the day I'm not harming anyone when I take a puff in the comfort of my own home.
- a3n 12y ago
  > But choosing to smoke a joint is a victimless crime, Well, except for all the murder involved in growing and shipping it. But except for that, yeah. I guess if you live in a legal or medical state it's possible to get murder-free pot. But I haven't smoked pot for 25 years for this and a small handful of other reasons.
  - click170 12y ago
    > except for all the murder involved in growing and shipping it Those are artifacts of it being illegal, if it was legal those wouldn't be problems.

a3n 12y ago

I'm not saying we shouldn't legalize drugs; we should, for this and other reasons. But that's not going to kill the cartels, they have other interests. I don't even think it would affect their style all that much because it wouldn't happen suddenly, it will be state by state, with the Fed finally going along after it's de facto legal everywhere. While that gradual process plays out, as it is in fact doing right now, the cartels will just shift their focus elsewhere. Gradually. I think what's more likely is that the Mexican oil industry, and other cartel interests, will long for the days of illegal drugs.