crazymf

And the other side of the story is??.....

So you would then admit that decriminalization shouldn't have any effect on demand? No, I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying that because I don't use, I'm biased against the law and because you are a dopehead, you are probably in favor of it. However, because you are the one with the altered mind, I can probably give a less biased opinion than you. ...easy now. Poking fun at you only.

My friend runs a major pipeline company out of Nisku. Anyway, we were sitting around last night drinking legal drugs and talking about work, etc. The topic of Mexican illegal workers came up and he stated to me that right now, up in Fort Mac, there's a company that uses a Chinese contractor, who in turn has flown all their own workers in from China or wherever. These dudes are flown in to a private airfield up there and are segregated from all western people and live in a separate camp until they finish their stint, and are then flown straight back out of the country. My friend also stated that this is significantly cheaper labor and the Canadian labor unions have no say in the matter whatsoever. Anybody heard of this going on here? It was news to me.

.....oh man. This country is down the toilet. Don't bother responding. It's just my humble opinion.

BD, that's a lovely fantasy, but it puts the onus (spelling?) on the individual. Well, if that individual is a poor uneducated dirt farmer type from nowhereville, Mexico, what do you think is going to happen? I think he's going to fall into the black hole of addiction at a young age. No, I think the answer is a long term one of education in the schools. We have one in Alberta called the 'DARE' program. Both my kids took it as gospel and barring any future problems, both are drug and smoke free at 17 and 18 years old. If the kids see their parents use drugs, what's to stop them from using? Back 30 or even 40 years ago, everyone smoked. Why? The answer was simple, 'because everybody does it'. As far as being biased, I don't use drugs and can't see how a stupid law in Mexico can affect me. I would be all in favor of it if I was a dopehead such as Bubber as I could see my next Mexican vaction being a GREAT time.

Interesting thread twist. From Mexico to our apparent misuse of prescription drugs on our own children by our federally certified drug dealers (doctors). I frankly don't see the comparison, but whatever. Come clean guys, of everyone here who condones the Mexican drug law, who uses illegal drugs themselves? I oppose the idea, but then again I don't use them. Could the use of illicit drugs perhaps change your unbiased perspective regarding the issue? I think so, just as I am biased against any legalization.

Why should whether or not something is "good for you" determine wheter or not you get thrown in the clink for doing it? Obviously eating junk food is bad for you, but no one is seriously considering criminalizing it (I know it's an imperfect anaolgy, but the point is clear). That's not the point. I'm hearing people state that most people can use drugs responsibly. I question that. Not dope, but the hard drugs.

Am I missing some kind of point here?????? I'm getting a tune from some of you guys that sounds an awful lot like 'if you can't beat em, join em?'. Never have I heard that moderate use of heroin or ecstacy or crystal meth or even good old acid is good for you. Can someone try to enlighten me??? I'm not argueing the old thing about dope leading to harder drugs here either. Mexico is basically decriminalizing personal amounts of most hard chemical type drugs. Most of them are devastatingly addictive and damaging to your body. WOOHOO!!! Free for all in Mexico!! This can't be good IMO no matter how you cut it.

Criminalization creates a black market that, among many other negative things, creates an economy that is unregulated, guaranteeing access to minors. So are you being sarcastic here or what? If so, I would suggest using one of the wide assortment of clever emoticons at our disposal because, based on what you wrote, I'm still not sure what you meant. ***Yes, I was being sarcastic. Alcohol is harder for youngsters to get than dope(generalization word for illegal drugs). Legalizing possession alone doesn't regulate anything nor does it control the supply. Therefore, I believe not only will drugs become easier to get for children, but with no penalty for having them, more kids will fall into the habit. I think it's a slippery slope.** And in this case: You're saying Mexico shouldn't create rational laws because then the Americans might? Please explain. **Ok, we disagree on your statement before I even can rebutt. The law Mexico is proposing is not rational to me, but one of desperation of a losing battle and tight budget.** And then you say: Is this an argument in favour of decriminalization? It seems like it to me. That's what I meant when I said incoherent. I just don't know where you're coming from. **It's just a possible fantasy scenario, small as the chance is, that if the police actually do what the law is meant for, and squelch the supply, then the demand, which will have increased, will become unbearable, causing general unrest. The druggies won't have any drugs and will get pissed off at the government for taking them away. A stretch, granted, but possible.**

No, some addict's lives may collapse into chaos (well, even further into chaos), but try to criminalize booze and see what happens.It is my view that all natural plants should be legal (with accompanying laws of standards), while refining them should be 'severely illegal'. The poppy, the mushroom and the weed all occur naturally (or by God's will, if that is your bent), so banning (or rendering 'illegal') a part of nature seems a bit silly. Like demanding all the 'phallus plants' be hidden from sight, or covered appropriately. It is a question of "Use versus Abuse", because they are already so well established, it has long been proven that most people can use some intoxicants responsibly. I think the line can be drawn at the refineries. I read a great 'comic book' by some weird 'adult' artist, where that notion was given a couple of pages...'robot cops' that did such a good job they had to produce 'robot robbers' to keep them from harrassing everyone. T, In my rambling and incoherant post(according to Bubber Miley), the point I was getting to is that legalizing drugs will even further enhance a lifestyle of younger people. It will perpetuate the habits as I believe it's generally accepted that kids do what they see their parents do. While you state that most people use responsibly, that bar will be raised as to what is acceptable in Mexico. Who will teach the kids what is responsible? Dope has been around and generally accepted forever and it's not going to stop. I don't believe that's the threat. Coke, heroin and whatever chemical they come up with next will all be legal in personal amounts from what I understand, and THAT is plain wrong.

Oh, I see. You should have said that in the first place. You have a vested interest...

So I guess I'm not qualified to be here with the likes of you. Newsflash!!!!! Pull your head out of your (orifice of your choice). I said what I had to say and if you merely want to get on my case because of my opinion, move along.

Hello all, I was away for a while working off a drug charge,....not. Anyway, I come back to this topic and find some of the attitudes absolutely unbelievable to me. My position is against any decrim or legalization of any more drugs than are already legal. ie- booze Why can't people just go get pissed if they want out of reality?? 1. Perhaps because drugs are easier to get for minors? There's a real reason for decriminalizing illicit drugs. 2. Perhaps it's harder to detect some drugs on a roadside breath test. Therefore people can be impaired and not get caught. Lovely. No, opening the door to legalizing more drugs will just lead to more drugs IMO. With all the illegals crossing the border into the USA, the lightheaded Mexican will infiltrate into American society and pressure an already losing battle in the wrong direction. I guess I'm old fashioned. I view this move by Fox to be a severe degradation of their society. Oh, and flea, to further your train of thought... What would happen if the cops actually catch all the drug dealers? They'd have a whole bunch of unhappy addicts on their hands and the country may collapse in chaos. ...unless you are visioning a perpetual motion machine of more cops chasing more dealers and so on.....

Ask yourself this... How can we possibly know if an offender will reoffend? We can't get inside his head to have a look, so a registry seems a good alternative. I think voluntary castration would be a good way to get an offender to be considered for exemption from the registry.

Ok, here's what gets me about this argument. On one side there's innocent children freely mingling in society. On the other side there's sex offenders having free access to the children, theoretically. All you're worried about is some filthy scums rights? Those people have a sickness or perversion that has criminal consequences. A known sex offender should not have all the rights as the rest of us because they have proven that they can't keep their hands off of innocent children. Would you put the fox back into the chicken house? A violent criminal killing sex offenders is an isolated incident. Sex offenders reoffending is not. A registry is a good idea and frankly, I'd never hunt them down myself, but I don't shed tears for them when some other whacko does.

I'm all for the death penalty when it warrants. However, I do not agree with it in this case. The guy had info that he did not share about 911. What would be his crime if 911 hadn't happened? That's like saying that the end justifies the means. He did not take part in 911 and only had info regarding a plan that hadn't played out yet. If they execute him, then they have to execute everyone at Guantanimo for the same reasons. They all have plans in their heads to kill Americans. Nope, I say lock him up for life, no parole, toss the key.

What a load... Those theories are fine with the exception of the oil angle. Why would the States merely cut and run unless they were going to drop a few neutron bombs? The tribes running around warring against each other are merely cannon fodder to the larger powers in the world and are an 'inconvenience' and an irrelevant obstacle to the stored energy which the rest of the world needs. If push came to shove, my theory is as believable as the one presented above. Make a parking lot out of the place and give it to the Isrealies. ....as long as we're fantasizing, why not look at every scenario?

.........of women.

Iraq is just like Vietnam on one account. We get all the deserters and dodgers.

I travel the States 1-2 times a year and have many friends there. They are no different than us and the border thing just ticks me off. I wish it was all one country. I guess you could say I don't hate the States. They have more in common with us than Quebec does.

Good stuff. Keep it coming guys and gals.

Argus, I think you're on to something there, only I think we should get rid of both the queen, quebec and all ties to our cultural past so we may forge ahead onto a new future unencumbered by old ways and standards. I'm still a believer in a united single North American country. That would be the ultimate free trade deal. Seal up North America, quit importing people and to hell with the rest of the world.

It's my understanding that individual state governments have much more control over their regional laws than provinces do. I travelled throught the south both last fall and a couple weeks ago and it's always a surprise for instance whether you can buy a beer in a county or even a town. The next state down the road will have completely different laws regarding booze, motorcycle helmets, guns, etc. The death penalty is by state as well. I didn't think our provincial governments have that power.

Well, to me it makes more sense to go with a political system much more like the Americans, which is a truly unique model. With such a sprawling country such as ours, I'd like to see more regional power such as the states have.

I'm going to give myself a day off with pay. HalleluhhhhhYYYYAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's how I'll remember him.....