A note of sympathy for Rush.

I know Rush Limbaugh has called for the heads of everyone involved in the drug trade for years. I was frankly, reminded by this story that no matter the hypocracy, the galactic stupidity, or anything else Rush might be accused of, we should apply the same standard to him that we want to apply to anyone... ANYONE... else.
The fact is, the drug user is usually relatively low in the chain, and aside from that, barring DUIs, drug use is a victimless crime. For people like myself who have argued for rehabilitation over incarceration for years as the most benefitial and cost-effective solution, it is tempting to say, throw away the key on Rush.
But much like freedom of speech means defending the people you don't agree with, rehabilitation means living with the Rush's of the world. I would point out, however, if he was dealing in the quantities alledged, he still doesn't face the same charges as someone dealing crack in the same doasages. Moreover, I saw some GOP jackass talking about how "He wasn't dealing on the street corner," as though the country-club addicts should be immune from the "real" War on Drugs.
I have, personally, dealt with a drug addition, and it is hard as hell. I wish Rush all the best. But we need to stop hiding behind prosecution as a solution to the drug problem and treat it as a "Health" issue.
"Whitey" treats drug addiction much like alcoholism. It's "cute" when its the funny Mom on that 70's show, but tragic when it turns up as the Native-American on COPS. We should be treating all these cases for what they are, an illness and a social health problem, rather than a federal felony.

Comments

Re: A note of sympath for Rush.

agreed and well put. the "war" on drugs is insanity. we need to be helping people deal with addictions rather than criminalizing the behavior of human beings using euphoriants (which they have done for millenia and therefore is a natural thing, IMHO) regardless of who said people are.

also the legality of drugs should be considered. i mean the line of what is a "harmful" substance is pretty ambiguous. we say that marijuana is illegal because of all the "damage" it can do and we even have taxpayer funded ad campaigns against it. stupid. how "harmful" is a big mac or a taco grande or beer or tobacco or you get the idea. some things are legal and some arent and its entirely stupid that ANY ARE ILLEGAL. the government does not need to be in the business of telling people what to consume beyond making guidelines and recommendations about safety (note GUIDELINES, not laws, if the govt says "thats not safe stupid" and people still take it then thats is their prerogative in a "free" society).

imagine the good that could be done with the money we would save if we let law enforcement people, judicial people, legislative people and so on work on actual crimes with actual victims rather than arresting, convicting, housing, feeding, etc, people using substance X which is arbitrarily illegal.

Re: A note of sympath for Rush.

While I wholeheartedly agree on your sentiment I think Rush Limbaugh is a very obvious special case. In a more reasonable word this would be cause for everyone to revisit his opinionsrants and come to a new understanding of the need for human compassion.

He could do a lot of good by publically admitting his own humanity and pride before the fall. Its especially true of addictive drugs -- there are only victems and criminals who profit from them.

I don't really condone it but, he's stood judgement on so many people that I dont pity him when he gets his own back.

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