Hard News: Drugs and human rights
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linger, in reply to
“the gangs” grand plan is actually hand to mouth
Mostly true. Levitt & Dubner, in Freakonomics Ch.3 “Why Do Drug Dealers Still Live With Their Moms?”, show that gang-related drug trade tends to operate as a pyramid scheme, with most gang members involved barely subsisting, while profits are mostly diverted to the top of the hierarchy. Possibly NZ gangs are more egalitarian than those in Chicago, but even so, the income is not going to support lavish lifestyles for all involved.
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Bigger picture: once again, National is involved in victim-bashing — in this case, victims of National’s own policy settings making more conventional employment less available and less attractive (e.g. 90-day trials, exceptions to minimum wage…), making education or upskilling harder to access, and making accommodation unaffordable for relatively unskilled young adults, and perverting the welfare system to prioritize cutting benefits over providing meaningful assistance into employment. Surprise, some of those worst affected by this negligent government are gang members. (Which still does not establish that most drugs are supplied by gangs! Rather, gangs are just a conveniently visible “other” minority, from within that marginalized subset of NZ, for bullies like Bennett to attack.)
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Lynn Yum, in reply to
I object to calling Bennett a "class traitor". Her callousness and vindictiveness is a matter of public record. There is no need for name calling.
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Neil, in reply to
There’s a well established network of gangs trading in weed and P. Not hard to see how that flow of trade works geographically.
Any idea what those specific risks are?
The risks of THC, opiates, E and psychedelics are mainly minor and to the user. They can be mitigated by harm reduction based on quality control and addiction treatment.
P’s main and common side effect is a paranoid rage that places others in serious risk. Lives are being destroyed by P in a ways that other drugs simply do not do because of the very nature of the drug effects.
I’m perfectly fine with heroin being legal and there being a regulated supply as the effects of heroin on the user and others are relatively benign. No one gets cut up with swords.
I’ve seen people come off various drugs. There’s nothing more frightening or heart rendering than watching someone come off a P binge. It is truely the worst type of experience. And then they will have to face the damage they have done to their life, friends and family.
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Now where have I heard that before ...
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." -
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