I was happy to see Maduro of Venezuela taken down for the sake of the People of Venezuela. Hopefully (and it’s a toss up) they can now elect someone rational rather than another Socialist. Not holding my breath…

Having been in law Enforcement and earlier doing some work in Drug Treatment I have to express my thoughts on this.

As a success in the “War on Drugs”… no. Total waste or time and money. My ex-Brother in Law was a highly respect PhD Economist and led a team of Economists and Law Enforcement folks many years ago in a deep study for the Feds on the Drug Trade. One of the most important conclusions reached that was unanimous was that Drug Interdiction, seizing drugs being transported, did nothing whatsoever to hurt the Cartels, that Demand was the issue. That study was read and then dropped in a file cabinet. No political gains, votes or money in treating drug addicts.

When you seize drugs in shipment the price immediately adjusts for all other drugs and the Cartels make pretty much the SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY. At the same time the amount being seized is such a small percentage of the drugs being moved that there is not a single city in the U.S. where there is even the most minimal shortage of drugs.

Destroy one Cartel and either a new rises to take it’s place or another Cartel expands to fill the market opening. They are Businesses competing for market share and not adverse to using violence rather than advertising.

The foundation of the situation is that there is a fixed (and some say growing) DEMAND for drugs in the U.S. Just as during Prohibition when there is a Demand someone will Supply that Demand and get rich doing so especially if you have the government helping destroy your competition. Unlike other products drug shortages do NOT reduce Demand. Shortages, when they do occur, which is rare, simply drive up the price because Users WILL satisfy their Demand at ANY price.

Until the U.S. gets serious and puts some percentage of that money towards Treatment to DECREASE the Demand we will continue wasting Money and Lives in a fruitless effort to drain the sea with a teaspoon.

Tragically there are far too many who address the problem by providing drug users with food, money, clothing, housing, medical care and in some places drug paraphernalia and even drugs themselves… essentially subsidizing and enabling Drug Abuse. This is the kind of sick, twisted “compassion” that serves only to make the givers feel virtuous while dooming those they are purportedly “helping”. That’s one of the reasons the Demand is growing.

Another problem is that the “War of Drugs” is politically sexy. It makes for great TV. It makes for great movies with heroes eradicating Cartels and evil doers. Makes for great sound bites at Press Conferences. Sadly it does nothing to help the country. I’m 74 and I expect that when I die the “War on Drugs” will still be going on with the same waste of lives and money.

So Maduro’s capture will probably help Venezuela. As far as Drugs though the other Cartels are already rushing to fill the gap left by his early retirement.

The Librarian