An issue of Culpability, not Cannabis

I have seen a bevy of articles concerning the legalization of marijuana in Colorado recently and thought I could add my perspective on the legalization of drugs in general. The issue I have most with many opposers to the new law is the train of thought that many anti-drug figures have on the issue. Proponents of the ban on illicit drugs assume that if drugs were legalized everyone would run out to start using drugs. I believe that is far from a given, I for one, have never been near the stuff and would not have any desire to become an addict if the opportunity were presented to me in the form of Colorado's cannabis. If somebody woke up one morning and decided they wanted to start regularly taking illegal drugs, I'm not sure there would be much stopping them in this community specifically and elsewhere. That is testament to the war on drugs and my belief that it has caused more negatives than positives.
Before the US had any federal regulation of drugs, most people remained productive members of society and handled what we call illegal drugs, just like nicotine and alcohol. That is, until the prohibition of alcohol which further proves my point. Gangsters like Al Capone became very rich as a result of trafficking the newly outlawed substance and looking at the power of the cartels today, it appears the same relationship has formed with illicit drugs and kingpins. Billions poured into drugs by American consumers and all of it going to violent criminals. Imagine none of it going to outlaws and a percent going to the government in the form of taxes. Add on the money saved on nonviolent drug offenders being absent from jails and the national deficit looks much less intimidating. The most important aspect of nonviolent offenders being released is that as a result the prison system has become unsustainable is simply wrong in its current state as we learned in class. Three minor drug crimes equating to a life sentence is simply ridiculous, many rapists and murders do not serve that kind of time. Moreover, many nonviolent convicts become violent in jail as a result of the abuse they endure while locked up; not quite the rehabilitation that the pamphlet advertises.
Knowing that this a very sensitive topic and that many people have a strong opinion on I feel the need to counter many common criticisms of the legalization of drugs. The main concerning of the Colorado law is that cannabis is a gateway drug that leads to more harmful drug use eventually. I would retort that alcohol and nicotine are just as much of gateway drugs as any other illegal substance. Also the argument that driving high will be a huge problem has been posited and to that I would say the same procedure that is used with alcohol will ultimately be applied to drugs.
The turning point for me in this debate was when Ron Paul was asked about his extreme belief that all drugs should drugs during a presidential debate and he boiled the argument down to the simple question of do I need the government to tell what I have to put in my body or can I be accountable for what I choose to do or not do to myself. That really struck me because for all the health classes and school sponsored seminaries about drug use, it still seems like the legislation is crafted with the assumption that all of us are incapable of taking care of ourselves. What is to stop the government from telling me that I can't have a Twix bar, you know it causes diabetes so why let that product continue to flood the streets with sugary consequences. If people truly believe they can't let themselves be culpable for their own actions, then I think the debate has to larger than drugs could ever be.    
       

Compulsory Conscription: An Avenue for Peace

     The discussions about the military industrial complex in class have brought up some disturbing realizations about the relationship between the United States and war. Still obviously every sane individual on this Earth wants permanent world peace and though it may sound like pie in the sky to many, I firmly believe there is a step that can taken to promote less military action by the United States. When you look at the constant state of war that the US has been in for the past 50 years it is almost impossible to imagine the US government halting its extensive military operations. All kinds of movements have sprung up trying to reach policy makings in an attempt to temper the war mongering that takes place on Capitol Hill. Yet I think the real issue is the lack of empathy between politicians and the families of service members who lose there lives. Everybody knows the saying its a 'rich man's war and a poor man's fight' and that rings just as true today. My method of slowing down the war machine would be to re-institute the draft from the past century.
Bring the impact of war to those dispensing the blessing of conflict by the possibility that even their family members will be made to wear the uniform.
     No parent wants their children to be harms way, especially if they are the President. I don't think it's a stretch believing that President Bush would not have given the go ahead to invade Iraq if his daughters were enlisted in the Armed Forces. The innate reluctance to let danger near a son or daughter can be used to create a sort of deterrent. The chickenhawks in Congress who did not serve and can't serve now, will have to put the possibility of their family member being drafted on their conscience.  
    An article in the Guardian looks at Greece's system of a mandatory stint in the army for every adult male in the country. Greece stayed out of the Iraq for the most part and many attribute it to the fact that every voter and politician would have to feel the consequences of deploying troops. It forces every citizen to be intimately involved with the blow-back that follows conflict. In contrast, most Americans are far removed from the suffering caused by the nations wars. I would even be in favor of something as small as a rationing of food similar to during World War II, simply to make sure everyone is aware that troops are fighting aboard.
    It has become clear to me that their is a lack of remorse while the US is waging war. War is not about ideologies and as much as it is about dollars and votes to these powerful figures. The clearest way to put accountable on politicians is to challenge them at home. It is a cynical route but what other recourse is there? To hold these decision makers back from conflict, we have to involve a precious third party.    

Guardian Article Link:http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/30/bring-back-military-draft