Seems that most things we call wars end up harming poor people both here and abroad. they also seem to provide well paid employment with great benefits for lots of Republicans.

"This is not a Repub/Dem story and your partisan hackery has no place in this thread."

You going to pretend that agencies like DEA, etc. aren't mostly populated by Republicans? I'm not sure I could prove the assertion but I strongly believe it is true. Most people who like authoritarian type jobs tend to be Republicans.

And, I'm sorry, but the drug was is a jobs program for those types of people.

"However, if she read the story, or any report on this story, then she would know the 4 former Drug Czars have been appointed by both parties; including Bubba Clinton."

I read it and I know that but it has always been my belief that the War on Drugs was known to be a complete failure decades ago and ever since has really existed because of the financial benefits it provides to drug warriors, attorneys, rehab centers, etc. It's a huge industry which is unnecessary and even destructive to our society. The drug warriors make great salaries, get great benefits but do our country little good. If there wasn't such a huge an profitable industry surrounding the illegality of drugs there we would have decriminalized them long ago.

"Bottom line is, the war on marijuana should pretty much be dead within the next ten years or so."

It should be tomorrow.

"The War on Drugs has been a bi-partisan failure, which is why its so refreshing to see most DR members support its defunding. At least we can all agree on SOMETHING here, even if DAnni wants to continue this as a partisan issue."

I would agree with that but I believe that the actual police type agencies are populated primarily by folks who consider themselves Republicans, probably the attorneys defending drug defendants are mostly Democrats as probably are the rehab employees. There is a ton of people making tons of money off of an unnecessary war.

My only reason for bringing political party into the thread was that many of the same people who vote for Republicans and say "It's the Spending!!!" are themselves gaining their incomes from the drug war which is just as big of a waste of money as any welfare program, etc. Think about it too, in most right to work states the only groups still covered by collective bargaining are usually the police and fire departments. There is huge waste among our redundant levels of police agencies.

"So you are saying welfare is a waste of money since you have said repeatedly that the war on drugs is a waste of money and now have said it is "just as big" as welfare."

I didn't actually mean to say that, all I meant was that paying for a drug war is just as wasteful as some on the right would say welfare is.

"Amazing the lengths one will go to justify bringing partisan politics into everything."

I wasn't actually making it partisan, sure I say that most of the DEA types are Republicans but I also said most of the attorneys profiting also are probably Dems. I just find all of those so decrying "spending" to be hypocritical when they are also getting their living from the drug war.

Is it surprising that 8 people who headed an agency that chased those who use or sell drugs would need to continue justifying their actions? If they admitted that we should stop criminalizing drugs it would undercut the basis of their careers. Generally speaking, most people decide that the basis for their career choices, be they military, police or business, even doctors who specialize in unnecessary plastic surgery, are important and necessary for socieity. Very few ever admit to themselves that society would be just as well off without their services or, even worse, better off without their services. Our society would be better off today had we never had the War on Drugs and had we never employed these a******s to conduct it for us. There would be more people alive, fewer in prison and fewer addicted.

If it were the only issue GOTTRUTH that would make voting a simple choice, unfortunately there are many issues and SOMEONE is going to be elected, thus we vote for those who may not share our views exactly but who come the closest to them. You can wait for that perfect candidate to vote for but I think I'll keep voting for those who I think will move us towards the goals I think are important even if it isn't a direct course.