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Cartels are in real trouble

What would you have us do differently than we're doing? Should we just basically accept that we're going to have 100K annual deaths from drug overdoses?

For domestic side....continue to educate our population on the dangers. Flood the market with rapid FTS and naloxone.


In Mexico we've got to continue all diplomatic pressure and provide support as needed. That's a tough lift these days, as Mexico basically did what we pushed them to do back under Calderon and sent the Army after the cartels. The outcome has been pretty horrible for the Mexican people.

 
How much for air assets? When I mentioned casualties you suggested that our air is so much better. We have air superiority pretty much everywhere. We have air bases pretty much across South/Central America. If we are talking troops, mass numbers of troops, it matters. But for small teams it seems like it would matter less. Supplying 20 Abrams with fuel and parts is much harder than 12 men in ammo.

But I am not sure if trying it to see if has any success is terrible. I just don't see many ways of dealing with this problem.
I do understand crazed’s interest. Just for comparison we have more fen overdose deaths than gun deaths and car crash deaths combined
 
For domestic side....continue to educate our population on the dangers. Flood the market with rapid FTS and naloxone.


In Mexico we've got to continue all diplomatic pressure and provide support as needed. That's a tough lift these days, as Mexico basically did what we pushed them to do back under Calderon and sent the Army after the cartels. The outcome has been pretty horrible for the Mexican people.

Those things are required pursuant to the settlements. Second largest public health settlement in history with monies restricted to treatment and abatement. Narcan is an obviously approved expense
 
How much for air assets? When I mentioned casualties you suggested that our air is so much better. We have air superiority pretty much everywhere. We have air bases pretty much across South/Central America. If we are talking troops, mass numbers of troops, it matters. But for small teams it seems like it would matter less. Supplying 20 Abrams with fuel and parts is much harder than 12 men in ammo.

But I am not sure if trying it to see if has any success is terrible. I just don't see many ways of dealing with this problem.

Well, we can't adopt a defeatist attitude. Would we do that if some traditional adversary was murdering 100K US citizens each year?

I'm confident in saying this much: what we've been doing has not only failed, we've lost ground. Personally, I'm in favor of trying something different.

It sounds like we're going to be getting it. So let's just see how it unfolds. I'd be surprised if the outcome is any worse than the status quo.
 
I do understand crazed’s interest. Just for comparison we have more fen overdose deaths than gun deaths and car crash deaths combined

I agree it is a problem we have to deal with. But the gun analogy fits at least a little. Isn't some of the arguments against restricting guns is that there are just too many and we'll never succeed? How is it different with fentanyl which is way too easy to make and ship?

On the other hand, I don't see other choices being offered. I have an idea everyone here will hate, but it is simple. Offer Universal Basic Income but require routine drug tests to receive it. The first problem is fentanyl doesn't stay in the system a real long time. But the fear of losing UBI may scare people away.
 
For domestic side....continue to educate our population on the dangers. Flood the market with rapid FTS and naloxone.


In Mexico we've got to continue all diplomatic pressure and provide support as needed. That's a tough lift these days, as Mexico basically did what we pushed them to do back under Calderon and sent the Army after the cartels. The outcome has been pretty horrible for the Mexican people.

No offense, twenty. But this isn't exactly an impressive answer.
 
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I agree it is a problem we have to deal with. But the gun analogy fits at least a little. Isn't some of the arguments against restricting guns is that there are just too many and we'll never succeed? How is it different with fentanyl which is way too easy to make and ship?

On the other hand, I don't see other choices being offered. I have an idea everyone here will hate, but it is simple. Offer Universal Basic Income but require routine drug tests to receive it. The first problem is fentanyl doesn't stay in the system a real long time. But the fear of losing UBI may scare people away.
Why would we need to offer UBI for this?

Couldn't we do it for any of the current public assistance programs?
 
I agree it is a problem we have to deal with. But the gun analogy fits at least a little. Isn't some of the arguments against restricting guns is that there are just too many and we'll never succeed? How is it different with fentanyl which is way too easy to make and ship?

On the other hand, I don't see other choices being offered. I have an idea everyone here will hate, but it is simple. Offer Universal Basic Income but require routine drug tests to receive it. The first problem is fentanyl doesn't stay in the system a real long time. But the fear of losing UBI may scare people away.
I like that in some ways. Want money get clean. The problem I think we learned from Covid is ubi will explode inflation
 
Presupposes they’re all or many on aid
Well, it certainly doesn't presuppose they're all on aid. Once again, let's stay away from all-or-nothing thinking.

If merely half of the drug addicts are on some form of public assistance, it might still be a good thing to utilize that as a screen.
 
Well, it certainly doesn't presuppose they're all on aid. Once again, let's stay away from all-or-nothing thinking.

If merely half of the drug addicts are on some form of public assistance, it might still be a good thing to utilize that as a screen.
That’s why l wrote many. But agree re screening. I think it’s worthwhile to see what impact the almost 100 billion In settlement funds has before initiating military intervention
 
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Coast Guard overhaul first step to combatting cartels.


Goodbye. Don’t let the door hit ya. Hopefully the first of many flag officers thrown out on their ass.
 
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I don't get this logic.

Disrupting the current primary source of supply isn't worth doing because secondary sources of supply will seek to fill their place? Given this reasoning, why devote any resources towards going after a major dealer...given that some other dealer will emerge behind him?

Wouldn't you just...also then go after the new dealer too? Or are we to just take the Hamsterdam approach?

Your argument seems to be that, unless a strategy promises to fully and permanently eradicate the problem, then it's not worth pursuing at all. And that's nonsense.
The funny thing is that many who are against it for reasons such as it being unwinnable, fully support sending all kinds of money to support Ukraine in an unwinnable war & remain unconcerned about Russian retaliation (not just militarily) but fear the retaliation of drug cartels.
Use money to support foreign wars to no direct benefit to the US - ok.
Use money to battle cartels to the direct benefit of the US population, no bueno.
 
How much did you follow the state of Oregon's experiment with decriminalization of pretty much all drugs...in favor of a harm reduction approach?
I'm not really in favor of what Oregon did. They swung the pendulum way to hard. The theory is an interesting one. They did a terrible job at managing that experiment. If they even cared to manage it. Probably could learn some things from it though.

I'm talking treatment over incarceration for addicts. I don't need to Google it for you. Pretty easy to find the rates of recidivism for people who mandated substance abuse treatment vs people who go to jail.
 
The funny thing is that many who are against it for reasons such as it being unwinnable, fully support sending all kinds of money to support Ukraine in an unwinnable war & remain unconcerned about Russian retaliation (not just militarily) but fear the retaliation of drug cartels.
Use money to support foreign wars to no direct benefit to the US - ok.
Use money to battle cartels to the direct benefit of the US population, no bueno.

How is Ukraine "unwinnable"? There is almost certainly going to be an independent Ukraine at the end of this. That was not likely the day of the invasion.

If having Ukraine conquer Russia is the definition of "unwinnable", it sure is unwinnable.
 
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The funny thing is that many who are against it for reasons such as it being unwinnable, fully support sending all kinds of money to support Ukraine in an unwinnable war & remain unconcerned about Russian retaliation (not just militarily) but fear the retaliation of drug cartels.
Use money to support foreign wars to no direct benefit to the US - ok.
Use money to battle cartels to the direct benefit of the US population, no bueno.
OK, but I don't really make a relation between the two things.

I certainly understand trepidation about how successful this strategy would be. But I think it seems pretty clear that nobody has any better answers. And I also think that it's a mistake to view this in an all/nothing fashion. I'm not saying that any and all success is worth any and all cost. But I am saying that some level of success is worth some level of cost.

But, as for alternative, saying we need better education about fentanyl and firmer diplomacy with Mexico sounds an awful lot to me like "We just need to live with it." And there's no way I'm going to favor that approach.
 
How is Ukraine "unwinnable"? There is almost certainly going to be an independent Ukraine at the end of this. That was not likely the day of the invasion.

If having Ukraine conquer Russia is the definition of "unwinnable", it sure is unwinnable.
Ukraine will cede territory to Russia, that’s not winning, that’s losing.
 
I don't know what the number is. But I'm also not sure that it matters.
But we should know what that number is. Data is the most useful tool on the planet. Otherwise........what are we even doing?

I think your second sentence can only be known if we know the answer to the question. Sorry to nail you on a one line post but I trust you'd agree knowing the ansewr would allow us to make better decisions moving forward.
 
How is Ukraine "unwinnable"? There is almost certainly going to be an independent Ukraine at the end of this. That was not likely the day of the invasion.

If having Ukraine conquer Russia is the definition of "unwinnable", it sure is unwinnable.
Hmm, I'm not sure I fully agree with you on this.

I've never gotten the impression that Putin had his designs on taking over the entire country. I could certainly be wrong about that. And I wouldn't trust anything he said, anyway. But my sense has always been that his sights have always been set on Donbas.

That said, I think we've done the right thing in supporting Ukraine.
 
But we should know what that number is. Data is the most useful tool on the planet. Otherwise........what are we even doing?

I think your second sentence can only be known if we know the answer to the question. Sorry to nail you on a one line post but I trust you'd agree knowing the ansewr would allow us to make better decisions moving forward.

OK. My points were that:

A) I'm sure there's a pretty good amount of crossover between drug addition and public assistance.

B) That crossover doesn't have to be 100% in order for this to be something to consider.


But, yes, if it's 5% then the juice wouldn't be worth the squeeze. If it's significantly higher than that, then it probably is. And we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
 
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OK, but I don't really make a relation between the two things.

I certainly understand trepidation about how successful this strategy would be. But I think it seems pretty clear that nobody has any better answers. And I also think that it's a mistake to view this in an all/nothing fashion. I'm not saying that any and all success is worth any and all cost. But I am saying that some level of success is worth some level of cost.

But, as for alternative, saying we need better education about fentanyl and firmer diplomacy with Mexico sounds an awful lot to me like "We just need to live with it." And there's no way I'm going to favor that approach.
While not directly related, comparing the two provides some interesting insight as to how the “who” is making the policy may matter more than the “what” it is attempting to address. Fully agree that a new approach is needed & while education, treatment, etc. is also worthwhile on the demand side, the supply side should be targeted as well
 
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I'm not really in favor of what Oregon did. They swung the pendulum way to hard. The theory is an interesting one. They did a terrible job at managing that experiment. If they even cared to manage it. Probably could learn some things from it though.

I'm talking treatment over incarceration for addicts. I don't need to Google it for you. Pretty easy to find the rates of recidivism for people who mandated substance abuse treatment vs people who go to jail.
Treatment over incarceration has gained a whole lot of favor. I don't necessarily think it's wrong, either.

But I don't think we can argue that doing this has reduced addiction, let alone overdose deaths. OD deaths have kind of flattened in recent years, thankfully. But they're up something like 500% since the 2000. It's catastrophic.

We're going to have to do something more about the supply. And I haven't heard any better ideas.
 
OK. My points were that:

A) I'm sure there's a pretty good amount of crossover between drug addition and public assistance.

B) That crossover doesn't have to be 100% in order for this to be something to consider.


But, yes, if it's 5% then the juice wouldn't be worth the squeeze. If it's significantly higher than that, then it probably is. And we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Agreed on your last point. I'm of the opinion that more militarization in the Drug War is bad. Whether that be police or a, as it appears may happen, actual miliary personnel I don't think violence is going to help the "on the ground" situation. We need to cut the demand problem.

If the supply is illicit it scans that the suppliers will not follow the law. Alcohol is not illegal in the US and the illegal productino fo alcohol is almost non existent. Alcohol kills over 100k people a year (low end) including drunk driving deaths. We are not going to send elite special forces to Anheuser or Coors. Why?

The demand for alcohol is much higher than the demand for drugs but results in fewer deaths. Why? Is is possibly b/c it is both legal and heavily, heavily regulated. I think so. Also, sure, we get alcohol from other countries but most of the alcohol consumed in the US is made in the US.

I'm rambling and I don't have time. I would like to continue. Maybe later.
 
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Hmm, I'm not sure I fully agree with you on this.

I've never gotten the impression that Putin had his designs on taking over the entire country. I could certainly be wrong about that. And I wouldn't trust anything he said, anyway. But my sense has always been that his sights have always been set on Donbas.

That said, I think we've done the right thing in supporting Ukraine.
There was that initial air brigade that seized the airfield that was being followed up by that huge 35-mile armored column we saw get destroyed. Shortly after that, the air brigade left the airfield. That column wasn't there to grab Donbas.

 
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Hmm, I'm not sure I fully agree with you on this.

I've never gotten the impression that Putin had his designs on taking over the entire country. I could certainly be wrong about that. And I wouldn't trust anything he said, anyway. But my sense has always been that his sights have always been set on Donbas.

That said, I think we've done the right thing in supporting Ukraine.
Russia did launch an assault on Kyiv in the early days of the war that was meant to decapitate the government. What Putin would have done had they succeeded is anyone’s guess. Likely installed a puppet government and annexed the eastern territories you mention.
 
Agreed on your last point. I'm of the opinion that more militarization in the Drug War is bad. Whether that be police or a, as it appears may happen, actual miliary personnel I don't think violence is going to help the "on the ground" situation. We need to cut the demand problem.

If the supply is illicit it scans that the suppliers will not follow the law. Alcohol is not illegal in the US and the illegal productino fo alcohol is almost non existent. Alcohol kills over 100k people a year (low end) including drunk driving deaths. We are not going to send elite special forces to Anheuser or Coors. Why?

The demand for alcohol is much higher than the demand for drugs but results in fewer deaths. Why? Is is possibly b/c it is both legal and heavily, heavily regulated. I think so. Also, sure, we get alcohol from other countries but most of the alcohol consumed in the US is made in the US.

I'm rambling and I don't have time. I would like to continue. Maybe later.
It’s a thread full of people who don’t know Valderrama. Let that sink in
 
There was a time when I would’ve agreed with you on this. And our policy has clearly moved in that direction over the last couple decades.

Can anybody honestly say that it’s worked?

US_timeline._Number_of_overdose_deaths_from_all_drugs.jpg
The other part people are missing is you can't ignore this issue forever if it continues it's trend line. It's turning into a national security issue for the country.
 
Agreed on your last point. I'm of the opinion that more militarization in the Drug War is bad. Whether that be police or a, as it appears may happen, actual miliary personnel I don't think violence is going to help the "on the ground" situation. We need to cut the demand problem.

If the supply is illicit it scans that the suppliers will not follow the law. Alcohol is not illegal in the US and the illegal productino fo alcohol is almost non existent. Alcohol kills over 100k people a year (low end) including drunk driving deaths. We are not going to send elite special forces to Anheuser or Coors. Why?

The demand for alcohol is much higher than the demand for drugs but results in fewer deaths. Why? Is is possibly b/c it is both legal and heavily, heavily regulated. I think so. Also, sure, we get alcohol from other countries but most of the alcohol consumed in the US is made in the US.

I'm rambling and I don't have time. I would like to continue. Maybe later.
It could also be because alcohol, when heavily abused is dangerous, but some drugs are just dangerous with even recreational/moderate use.

Domestically, legalize Marijuana and then make the punishments for having anything else draconian up to slapping the death penalty on people caught trafficking internationally.
 
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