Home » Are Politicians Really That Stupid – Drugs and Plastic Bags

Are politicians just plain stupid?

Those in Chicago have hit upon the perfect scheme to stop drug usage. They propose a ban on the little plastic bags in which the drugs are delivered.

Wow! What genius! Under this plan, possession of the little plastic bags is a crime.

What will they think of next?

I'm certain the plastic-bag ban will eliminate drugs. After all, what self-respecting drug dealer would break the plastic-bag law? Wait a minute, now that I think about it, aren't drugs already illegal, anyway? I'm kind of thinking a person who would break the law against dealing drugs might also ignore the baggie law.

Never mind that small 2"x2" plastic bags have many other uses. Spices, buttons, jewelry items, screws, washers and small machine parts are delivered in these same bags.

So what am I missing?

Banning guns doesn't prevent criminals from using them. Putting "Drug Free Zone" signs around schools doesn't keep drugs out of schools. Think about it. If drugs are already illegal, a drug-free-zone sign is an admission of defeat. What it says is, "drugs are really, really, really illegal in this area. We have given up trying to control them outside this area, but please don't bring them in here because they are REALLY illegal in here, and we MEAN IT." Logic says that if drugs are illegal in a state, that entire state is a Drug Free Zone, and putting up a sign doesn't make drugs any more illegal.

Can't you just see grandmother with her little plastic button bag testifying in court? The sad fact is this: If this law is passed, grandma would be guilty and might go to prison, especially if she was arrested in a BAG FREE ZONE.

Instead of going after the tools of the trade, politicians should go after the traders. Tougher penalties, fewer slap-on-the-wrist sentences, and more education to young potential users about drugs and their affect on the human body and on society would help, also.

Barre , VT , Mayor Thomas Lauzon wants to execute drug dealers as they do in some foreign countries, where, by the way, they have almost zero drug problems. Some advocate legalization of drugs, vis--vis alcohol.

The war on drugs has failed, and attacking plastic bags won't help. Let's face facts; the only way to reduce drug dealing is to persuade Americans to stop buying.

If you have buyers, you'll have dealers.  It's called SUPPLY AND DEMAND ECONOMICS.  It's powerful.  It's the American way. And no amount of silly legislation will change that. 

 

 

Marty RicKard Bio
Marty RicKard attended William Penn College , Iowa State University and University of Southern Mississippi , from which he holds a BS degree in journalism and photojournalism. He also has a Masters Degree in photography, in addition to the Craftsman, CPP, and A-ASP degrees. Marty spent two years as a technical writer for White Motor Company, and has worked for the Charles City Press, Mason City Globe-Gazette, and Davenport Times-Democrat. He was co-owner of the weekly New Sharon Star, where he was twice named Iowa Master Columnist for his article, which was syndicated in twenty Iowa newspapers. For more than a decade Marty's regular column appeared in the Professional Photographer magazine. He has been published in many other magazines and newspapers, including Writer's Digest, Writer Advice, Golf Digest, Resource Magazine, Picture, Range Finder, and Darkroom. In addition to his writing credits, Marty has won numerous photography awards, has lectured in 48 states, and has traveled internationally as lecturer, and judge. He was one of thirty from the U.S. to participate in the first cultural exchange with China in 1986. He currently is a regular columnist for Lens Magazine, and a full-time writer of fiction and poetry. He is the author of two poetry books and one volume of short stories. He is an entertaining speaker.