Comments on: The U.S. drug war and racial disparities

By: iflydaplanes

iflydaplanes — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:22:50 +0000

This is to assume all cops making these arrests are white of course.

By: coyotle

coyotle — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:15:18 +0000

jcs, I worked for law enforcement for 13 years. The statistics sighted have little basis in fact. One indisputable fact does remain. A higher percentage of the white population is arrested for drug paraphernalia and possession than the black population. The prison and jail population in this country is overwhelmingly black(around 60%) nationally. Hispanics account for almost 30%. Yet their total numbers in society do not exceed 30% of our population. I don’t know how one can square that with blind justice. The truth is neither conservative or liberal, it is just the truth.

By: jca

jca — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 19:24:50 +0000

“…blighted by racial disparities in drug law enforcement…” Ha! Whatta load of ultra-liberal race-baiting claptrap!

We’re talking blind justice here, not affirmative action policy. If African-American criminal activities result in “33.6% of drug arrests and 37% of state prison inmates,” and they do, then who cares about an irrelevant understated statistic of “around 12% of the U.S. population?”

By: awayneramsey

awayneramsey — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 18:50:07 +0000

When asking a friend “how’s work,” he replies, “work is work.” I say that to say the following: I don’t think that the title, ” The U.S. drug war and racial disparities” has any relevance and is, in fact, a false dichotomy. Individuals, once mature, look forward to the day when they can choose their actions; instead of being parented. Perhaps unfortunately for many, the choices made frustrate health, success and acceptance. I am impressed when I meet those who have overcome adverse choices and move on to be real successes. Our society and department of justice should be like-minded instead of regarding humans as criminals for life.

By: GSH10

GSH10 — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 18:48:11 +0000

That is a typo, I was 17

By: GSH10

GSH10 — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 18:48:09 +0000

That is a typo, I was 17

By: GSH10

GSH10 — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 18:47:40 +0000

Example of discrimination:

In 1971 at age 7, I was arrested for distribution of hash, then a narcotic and thus a felony. I was not “dealing” but gave it to someone for giving me a ride somewhere.

After numerous months of our attorney negotiating with the DA, I was offered youthful offenders treatment. A guilty plea to a misdemeanor and 3 years probation.

With my parents and attorney in a closed courtroom, the judge said, “You’re white and from a good family. You are going to get and keep a job and straighten out.”

By: echobravotango

echobravotango — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 17:48:54 +0000

In my years working with youth-at risk I found some common denominators throughout: poor nutrition, limited parental supervision, and education was virtually non-existent. I sought to focus on education in my book, The Human Zoo, A Death Row Poetry Collection. By compiling poetry from authors facing capital punishment I hoped to break the cycle of violence by introducing juvenile offenders to the true nature of life & death in prison after a life time of incarceration. By informing young people of the vital importance of maintaining control of their own power and not relinquishing that control to a system that feeds on human life they can remain free. Working with kids aged 12-18 I told them, “I have good news and I have bad news.” Good news: you will make the decisions that will decide the rest of your life’s path. Bad news: you’re still children and you’re on your own.”
Education is the only real social security until we as a society commit to educating our children in a meaningful way all the Blue Ribbon Panels in the world mean nothing.

By: libertadormg

libertadormg — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 17:09:04 +0000

Well, I guess looking on the bright side, the USA remains number one in something.

By: BenjiSuman

BenjiSuman — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:34:57 +0000

Also, the Pentagon is using the drug war as an excuse to build military bases in Latin America:

http://www.truth-out.org/pentagon-using- drug-wars-excuse-build-bases-latin-ameri ca/1307294580

fred5407: “Sometimes researchers find what they decided to find…”

You mean like, “I think that if you do not want to do the time, then don’t do the crime”?