Rethinking the War on Drugs - WSJ.com
Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work?
By Maia Szalavitz
Portugal, which in 2001 became the first European country to officially abolish all criminal penalties for personal possession of drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
The paper, published by Cato in April, found that in the five years after personal possession was decriminalized, illegal drug use among teens in Portugal declined and rates of new HIV infections caused by sharing of dirty needles dropped, while the number of people seeking treatment for drug addiction more than doubled.
"Judging by every metric, decriminalization in Portugal has been a resounding success," says Glenn Greenwald, an attorney, author and fluent Portuguese speaker, who conducted the research. "It has enabled the Portuguese government to manage and control the drug problem far better than virtually every other Western country does."
Compared to the European Union and the U.S., Portugal's drug use numbers are impressive. Following decriminalization, Portugal had the lowest rate of lifetime marijuana use in people over 15 in the E.U.: 10%. The most comparable figure in America is in people over 12: 39.8%. Proportionally, more Americans have used cocaine than Portuguese have used marijuana.
The Cato paper reports that between 2001 and 2006 in Portugal, rates of lifetime use of any illegal drug among seventh through ninth graders fell from 14.1% to 10.6%; drug use in older teens also declined. Lifetime heroin use among 16-to-18-year-olds fell from 2.5% to 1.8% (although there was a slight increase in marijuana use in that age group). New HIV infections in drug users fell by 17% between 1999 and 2003, and deaths related to heroin and similar drugs were cut by more than half. In addition, the number of people on methadone and buprenorphine treatment for drug addiction rose to 14,877 from 6,040, after decriminalization, and money saved on enforcement allowed for increased funding of drug-free treatment as well.
America has the highest rates of cocaine and marijuana use in the world, and while most of the E.U. (including Holland) has more liberal drug laws than the U.S., it also has less drug use.
Read more:http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html#ixzz1skId6cgz
Sunday, April 22, 2012
LIVE-AND-LET-LIVE: Rethinking the War on Drugs - WSJ.com
Rethinking the War on Drugs - WSJ.com
Legalization would work - in particular if much of society would change it's mindset that individuals really aren't responsible for their actions!
The religious right turns to their god-determined (but man designed) views of righteous living. On the left, Obama and the democrats want to provide equally for people whatever their effort, circumstances or initiative and personal values.
A supply and demand society in which people aren't automatically entitled to 'opportunity' and then allowed to live with the consequences of their choices would be much more fair.
Some of the noted efforts to constrain individuals - e.g. the perpetual DUI people - might make sense. Many parts of Europe could well teach America about a kinder live-and-let-live attitude that seems so anathema to both the right and left in the US.
Legalization would work - in particular if much of society would change it's mindset that individuals really aren't responsible for their actions!
The religious right turns to their god-determined (but man designed) views of righteous living. On the left, Obama and the democrats want to provide equally for people whatever their effort, circumstances or initiative and personal values.
A supply and demand society in which people aren't automatically entitled to 'opportunity' and then allowed to live with the consequences of their choices would be much more fair.
Some of the noted efforts to constrain individuals - e.g. the perpetual DUI people - might make sense. Many parts of Europe could well teach America about a kinder live-and-let-live attitude that seems so anathema to both the right and left in the US.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
THE CHEAP DEBT CAMEL: Market Seers Envision Dark Clouds - Barrons.com
Market Seers Envision Dark Clouds - Barrons.com
Our dear writer posits "Rather, we feel obliged to point out that it's rarely a prelude to a serious bear market when the air is thick with forebodings."
However, one does ponder whether Obama has serious forebodings in relation to his fiscal and social entitlement and anti-business policies; and, one can't help but wonder how quickly the maelstrom descended on the Greek economy just after an election in which politicians continued to hand out jobs and other benefits as though there was no end in sight.
Somehow the idea of no problem with French or US deficits and burden all the other sovereign debt represents where 'austerity' really means 'higher taxes' and (only hoped for but stifled) growth - well, its sure seems like a bubble; and, like all bubbles there's a great feel-good feeling until the bubble quickly starts to deflate. Or, in this case, the camel being loaded down with cheap debt finally decides enough is enough and it sits down.
We've seen it with Greece, Portugal, Spain has been really in the headlines.
Our dear writer posits "Rather, we feel obliged to point out that it's rarely a prelude to a serious bear market when the air is thick with forebodings."
However, one does ponder whether Obama has serious forebodings in relation to his fiscal and social entitlement and anti-business policies; and, one can't help but wonder how quickly the maelstrom descended on the Greek economy just after an election in which politicians continued to hand out jobs and other benefits as though there was no end in sight.
Somehow the idea of no problem with French or US deficits and burden all the other sovereign debt represents where 'austerity' really means 'higher taxes' and (only hoped for but stifled) growth - well, its sure seems like a bubble; and, like all bubbles there's a great feel-good feeling until the bubble quickly starts to deflate. Or, in this case, the camel being loaded down with cheap debt finally decides enough is enough and it sits down.
We've seen it with Greece, Portugal, Spain has been really in the headlines.
Friday, April 20, 2012
"AUSTERITY" IS THE WRONG WORD TO BE USING: Europe's Elections Question - WSJ.com
Europe's Elections Question - WSJ.com
Let's recognize that the term "austerity" as used and applied in most of Europe means "higher taxes" and, at best "modest changes to socialist and union-centric policies".
We need another term something encompassing the fact that socialist can't understand that it is the high-tax, anti-growth, pro-regulation, pro-union policies that are destroying employment opportunities in a free market and that government jobs cost far more than the value they return to society. If they at least returned their cost, then taxes to support them would be unnecessary.
Like Obama in the US and his Democrats, the socialists in Europe are like a family happily living on credit cards. At some point they reach a debt limit.
In addition to the debt limits, interest rates rise. Greece was the canary in the fiscal/economic coalmine of socialism. And, Greece's lessons have largely been ignored because socialists and unions don't see the natural result of their policies - all of which discourage hard work and excellence and instead encourage taking from those who do work, save and invest.
Let's recognize that the term "austerity" as used and applied in most of Europe means "higher taxes" and, at best "modest changes to socialist and union-centric policies".
We need another term something encompassing the fact that socialist can't understand that it is the high-tax, anti-growth, pro-regulation, pro-union policies that are destroying employment opportunities in a free market and that government jobs cost far more than the value they return to society. If they at least returned their cost, then taxes to support them would be unnecessary.
Like Obama in the US and his Democrats, the socialists in Europe are like a family happily living on credit cards. At some point they reach a debt limit.
In addition to the debt limits, interest rates rise. Greece was the canary in the fiscal/economic coalmine of socialism. And, Greece's lessons have largely been ignored because socialists and unions don't see the natural result of their policies - all of which discourage hard work and excellence and instead encourage taking from those who do work, save and invest.
COMMENTS: Sarkozy in Hot Seat as Election Nears - WSJ.com
Sarkozy in Hot Seat as Election Nears - WSJ.com
As a French friend wrote in relation to needed welfare cutbacks and the French election,
"...The other priority should be cutting back the obscene amount of money spent by the state to make people believe it really works (limousines, jets, official trips, summits, dinners, useless departments, etc)... But it is exactly what they have been reluctant to do. When he was elected in 2007, Sarkozy was expected to be a kind of Margaret Thatcher, at least enforce his strong economic and social measures. On the contrary, he kept backing up at the first sign of a protest, he did not suppress what the left had started before he was elected, did not fulfill his promises, he hired ex socialists or left wing people (he even married one, by the way). Paradoxically, opinion polls show that a majority of French people wish a right oriented policy, but they are so fed up with the dwarf (one of Sarkozy's knicknames) and so eager to get rid of him, that they are ready to elect the socialist loser, even if they don't like him."
As a French friend wrote in relation to needed welfare cutbacks and the French election,
"...The other priority should be cutting back the obscene amount of money spent by the state to make people believe it really works (limousines, jets, official trips, summits, dinners, useless departments, etc)... But it is exactly what they have been reluctant to do. When he was elected in 2007, Sarkozy was expected to be a kind of Margaret Thatcher, at least enforce his strong economic and social measures. On the contrary, he kept backing up at the first sign of a protest, he did not suppress what the left had started before he was elected, did not fulfill his promises, he hired ex socialists or left wing people (he even married one, by the way). Paradoxically, opinion polls show that a majority of French people wish a right oriented policy, but they are so fed up with the dwarf (one of Sarkozy's knicknames) and so eager to get rid of him, that they are ready to elect the socialist loser, even if they don't like him."
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Europe's Rescue Plan Falters - WSJ.com
Europe's Rescue Plan Falters - WSJ.com
Let's see? The governments keep up social spending and support for inefficient state enterprises. They raise taxes (VAT and corporate). Thus, individuals have less disposal income, companies have less income.
The banks are forced to buy government bonds, not loan money to businesses. Rates are kept low so, even if people were inclined and able to save money, they are discouraged from doing so.
So, the prices of goods and services are artificially raised by the VAT charges tacked on (think economic utility of consumption).
Where is the growth supposed to come from? Where are the funds for investment - let alone the desire to invest - supposed to come from (the banks are being forced to buy government bonds).
If government picks winners or losers in the economy, it's going to get it wrong!
Would it be worth considering long-term plans to reduce the share of the economy going to government. Would lower taxes on those who can grow and invest in the economy not be better than higher and higher taxes on them?
Why not give young people a chance? They need lower taxes and support for entrepreneurship, new ideas, saving and investment.
Let's see? The governments keep up social spending and support for inefficient state enterprises. They raise taxes (VAT and corporate). Thus, individuals have less disposal income, companies have less income.
The banks are forced to buy government bonds, not loan money to businesses. Rates are kept low so, even if people were inclined and able to save money, they are discouraged from doing so.
So, the prices of goods and services are artificially raised by the VAT charges tacked on (think economic utility of consumption).
Where is the growth supposed to come from? Where are the funds for investment - let alone the desire to invest - supposed to come from (the banks are being forced to buy government bonds).
If government picks winners or losers in the economy, it's going to get it wrong!
Would it be worth considering long-term plans to reduce the share of the economy going to government. Would lower taxes on those who can grow and invest in the economy not be better than higher and higher taxes on them?
Why not give young people a chance? They need lower taxes and support for entrepreneurship, new ideas, saving and investment.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Wild Cards, Logic and the Fiscal Cliff: A Summer Slump Would Shape Election - WSJ.com
A Summer Slump Would Shape Election - WSJ.com
The fiscal cliff noted in the article is clearly part of the picture.
In Europe, the cliff is shown in the fact that the banks have bought all this sovereign debt which has less and less value (rates going up); no one is saving because rates and returns on saving are non-existent; as taxes go up there is less many for consumers and what they buy costs more; etc.
As a result, the banks really don't have money to lend.
Obama and the Senate Democrats think 'tax fairness' is an appealing slogan and so show the polls (60% per Bloomberg this am). But what's fair about 1% of taxpayers footing more than 50% of the tax bill? (How many people might order dessert at a meal if they knew someone else was picking up the tab - or, maybe a better bottle of wine?)
Socialists don't say "you go your way, we'll go ours" because they know they can't go 'their' way without 'your money'. With 42 cents out of every federal dollar spent being borrowed and dithering about everything (like Simpson Bowles) except politics (tax fairness), either a recession or reworked numbers are almost surely in the cards. The low natural gas prices are a wildcard but then again, their are lots of wild cards.
The fiscal cliff noted in the article is clearly part of the picture.
In Europe, the cliff is shown in the fact that the banks have bought all this sovereign debt which has less and less value (rates going up); no one is saving because rates and returns on saving are non-existent; as taxes go up there is less many for consumers and what they buy costs more; etc.
As a result, the banks really don't have money to lend.
Obama and the Senate Democrats think 'tax fairness' is an appealing slogan and so show the polls (60% per Bloomberg this am). But what's fair about 1% of taxpayers footing more than 50% of the tax bill? (How many people might order dessert at a meal if they knew someone else was picking up the tab - or, maybe a better bottle of wine?)
Socialists don't say "you go your way, we'll go ours" because they know they can't go 'their' way without 'your money'. With 42 cents out of every federal dollar spent being borrowed and dithering about everything (like Simpson Bowles) except politics (tax fairness), either a recession or reworked numbers are almost surely in the cards. The low natural gas prices are a wildcard but then again, their are lots of wild cards.
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