Re: drug abuse among the homeless

Brother Nate <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Pete nospam Zakel wrote:
> > Brother Nate writes:
> > > 
> > > children with drugs, the fact of the matter is that it's the legal ones 
> > > that pose the biggest problems.
> > 
> > And the illegal drugs are bigger problems than they should be partly 
> > because they are illegal.
> 
> Practically all of the problems they pose can be cured simply by reforming 
> the punishment system - replacing counter-productive vindictiveness with 
> stern compassion.

"Stern Compassion"?  Sounds like one of those military phrases, such
as "Anti-personel devices".  This "Stern Compassion" phrase is just
another way of saying "vindictiveness", as the use of "Stern" suggests
the imposition of Compassion, wanted or not.

Rather, instead, I would suggest the phrase "Conditional Compassion",
which in no way suggests the imposition of Compassion, but does set
rules to obtaining such Compassion.


> > > Throwing them in jail need not be our first response, but legalization 
> > > should clearly be our last.
> > 
> > Actually, I would argue that legalization should clearly be our first
> > response
> 
> Of course you would.  That IS your proposed cure for just about everything 
> from low self-esteem to terminal lung cancer.

And, I would argue that outlawing drugs should have never been our
response.