38 replies to this topic

[Wild Bill]

Here's the link:

http://news.sympatico.cbc.ca/world/war_on_drugs_not_working_harper_says/43eefecd

"Prime Minister Stephen Harper took Canadian journalists at the Summit of the Americas by surprise when he conceded the war on drugs is a failure. But, he added, that didn't mean he supports legalization."

I always believed that Harper was for the most part a logical fellow but I never expected this. He still doesn't support legalization but admitting the war is a failure is a giant first step!

Now I know that there will be posters on this board who will say that Harper wants drugs to stay illegal because he's a Tory and they enjoy destroying people's lives but we all know the issue is more complicated than that.

Whatever is going on, it sure looks like ol' Vic Toews is no longer calling the shots, which many of us predicted what was going to happen when Vic introduced his Spanish Inquisition crime Bill.

[cybercoma]

Actions speak louder than words. He thinks the war on drugs is a failure and with mandatory minimums for drug-related offences, he has shown that he believes the penalties need to be more severe.

[Wild Bill]

Actions speak louder than words. He thinks the war on drugs is a failure and with mandatory minimums for drug-related offences, he has shown that he believes the penalties need to be more severe.

That was my point, CC! The Bill was not Harper's personal creation. It came from Vic Toew's Ministry. As PM Harper is ultimately responsible but it is naive in the extreme to think that he crafts every Bill himself!

No, this is a distinct break from Vic's position with that Bill. It shows that things may be changing on this issue within the PMO. I'm not expecting to see Mark Emery appointed to the Senate any time soon but still, something is going on.

[cybercoma]

It's not a break from Vic's position. The war on drugs isn't working (that's what Harper said), so the laws need to be stricter (that's what Harper did).

[Vendetta]

It's not a break from Vic's position. The war on drugs isn't working (that's what Harper said), so the laws need to be stricter (that's what Harper did).

Exactly- Harper only thinks its a failure because Canadians will not stand for public executions of pot smokers. Harper is not realistic at all, he thinks ramping up the police state is the only way to succeed. It goes back to his religious convictions as missionary alliance church that pot smoking leads to demonic possession. They must have come up with that while he and stock were "speaking in tongues" about it.

[The_Squid]

Until there are some serious policy changes about dealing with drugs, we can only go by what this government has done (the gov't, not Vic Toews)

Harsher sentencing....

The opposition all they way to the SCC of harm reduction facilities.

These are classic "war on drugs" failures that are perpetuated by the Harper Government.

[dre]

It seems like the reason he thinks its a failure, is because the war on drugs has not been fought aggressively enough, and not enough money has been spent on it, and not enough drug users are in prison?


Ramping up the drug war is a policy unsupportable by anyone with even basic cognitive faculties.

Edited by dre, 16 April 2012 - 11:25 AM.

[Wild Bill]

Exactly- Harper only thinks its a failure because Canadians will not stand for public executions of pot smokers. Harper is not realistic at all, he thinks ramping up the police state is the only way to succeed. It goes back to his religious convictions as missionary alliance church that pot smoking leads to demonic possession. They must have come up with that while he and stock were "speaking in tongues" about it.

Neither you or CC bothered to read the link, did you? It's kinda obvious!

I guess it's easier to castigate your hated Harper for what you think he said rather than deal with what was actually spoken.

Forgive me if I don't participate with you. I like to live in the real world.

[Topaz]

Why do you think the "war on drugs" aren't working? I going to tell you a story I read some years ago when Bush SR was in office. it was during the time when he was VP and they came out with the drug czar and the war on drugs. Remember the Navy Seals going into Panama to get Noriega. Well, apparently the story behind the story was that Bush Sr., and Jeb, being the Governor of Florida were doing drug business with Noriega, where the drugs would come through Panama and into Florida The problem with this came when Noriega decided to keep more of the profits to himself, they peeve off the Bush's and so in went the Seals and to jail for Noriega. I don't think any journalist has had any time with this guy for good reason. So, will the war on drugs ever be stopped no, because the rich are making too much money on them and those people more than likely work in government. Now, is this story true, it may be or not but its not the average guy bringing it in.

[The_Squid]

Neither you or CC bothered to read the link, did you? It's kinda obvious!

I guess it's easier to castigate your hated Harper for what you think he said rather than deal with what was actually spoken.

Forgive me if I don't participate with you. I like to live in the real world.

We all know talk is cheap, especially when it comes to a politician. The rubber meets the road through policies and legislation.

What policies or legislation has the Harper Government enacted to end the "war on drugs"?

[Battletoads]

He likely means that the war hasn't been aggressive enough. I look forward to harper declaring 'total war' on drugs.

[dre]

He likely means that the war hasn't been aggressive enough. I look forward to harper declaring 'total war' on drugs.

I guarantee the result of such a war will be more drugs, more addiction, and more drug related crime.

[eyeball]

He likely means that the war hasn't been aggressive enough. I look forward to harper declaring 'total war' on drugs.

I look forward to anti-gun control Conservatives Libertarians reminding people of the wisdom of arming themselves against the tyranny of the state.

Edited by eyeball, 16 April 2012 - 01:26 PM.

[cybercoma]

Neither you or CC bothered to read the link, did you? It's kinda obvious!

I guess it's easier to castigate your hated Harper for what you think he said rather than deal with what was actually spoken.

Forgive me if I don't participate with you. I like to live in the real world.

What exactly do you want me to read? I saw his comments and I read about it from several different news sources. He said that the war on drugs is not working, but he offered no prescription for it. I can only go by what he has done here at home as a prescription. He increased prison sentences and he tried to shut-down Insite/Onsite. It's not my problem you can't manage to put the two together to see that he believes the war on drugs needs to be more aggressive. There's absolutely no other way to take his comments.

[Wild Bill]

We all know talk is cheap, especially when it comes to a politician. The rubber meets the road through policies and legislation.

What policies or legislation has the Harper Government enacted to end the "war on drugs"?

None! I never said he did any!

In my OP I simply said that Harper was quoted as recognizing that the 'war on drugs' has been a failure. Nothing else!

My point is that a Canadian PM has finally seen the obvious. He himself said that he doesn't know what should be done, since he thinks that drugs are harmful. Me, I say, so what? I've got that Classic Liberal hormone in me that says "What the hell business is it of YOURS if I choose to do drugs?"

I do not and never have agreed that the State has the right to dictate lifestyle choices. Adults should be able to do whatever drugs they want, adopt whatever sexual lifestyle they wish and basically make their own choices. If they screw up, they should also be responsible for their own mistakes. The role of government should be limited to one of education and punishment for harming others or their property. After that, they should keep an effective army to prevent any wolves from getting in to our Shire or harming our national interests.

I don't know if Harper's government will actually do something positive in this area. I do know that as long as governments were in denial about a futile war there was no chance of anything ever happening!

It's only been over 30 some odd years since the LeDain Commission. We Canadians are not a hasty folk!