Budget hits the "poorest" hardest!!

[EternalOptimist]

I think you have hit the nail on the head.

Everyone can see that the current approach to tackling drugs is a complete waste of time and no-one could credibly claim that doing more of the same thing is the effective thing to do.

However, the societal problems caused by the current approach do not effect the ruling classes so they are quite happy for things to continue as they are because it keeps the criminals out of their hair.

I disagree. We have a cracking real-life experiment in what happens when you crack down on one of the ills of society, the massive problems that spring up overnight, then the decades it takes to solve those problems. Just look at prohibition in the USA, its a real lesson. no one in their right mind would suggest bringing back prohibition to give the baddies something to occupy them

[Gonzo]

I disagree. We have a cracking real-life experiment in what happens when you crack down on one of the ills of society, the massive problems that spring up overnight, then the decades it takes to solve those problems. Just look at prohibition in the USA, its a real lesson. no one in their right mind would suggest bringing back prohibition to give the baddies something to occupy them

Exactly.

[doodab]

The Swiss seem to have the most effictive system for tackling drugs.

Clinics where addicts can get their drugs and use them on the premises combined with medical staff who will help them come off drugs if they want. Many addicts do want to come off drugs and have done so.

This combined with education about the danger of drugs has I believed been effective there.

I think it's also a question of perception, and that's partly down to the way they handle addicts as well. Rather than associating drugs with rock stars and being cool and rebellious the younger Swiss people I have met (not a huge number, to be fair) seem to view drugs as something that sad middle aged people do.

[xoggoth]

A daft analogy. Prohibition cracked down unecessarily on a drug that the vast majority of people can imbibe sensibly, which is not addictive for most and which, in moderation, causes no major health issues.

Is it really comparable to crack cocaine that leaves addicts craving for the next fix at any cost, with skunk cannabis or LSD or speed that can cause major psychiatric problems, with a whole range of drugs whose effects can trigger heart attacks even in the healthy?

[original PM]

oh plz ngga

having just come back from my holiday I thought I would add my thrupence.

1) On the original topic - yes budget cuts will hit the poor and yes a significant proportion of the poor are lazy gets who do not wish to work. However (and I have first hand experience of this) many people who are born into 'poor' families still manage to get an education and become 'not' poor. Like wise there are many people who are born into a 'not' poor family and end up poor because they are bone idle.

As the argument seemed to say - you have to cut the welfare so people do not see it as a viable option to having a job but they know uf they do fall on hard times they will not starve death.

2) Drugs - yawn yawn yawn how many times are these fact/factoids etc trotted out about drugs. You need to legalise cannabis which would generate revenue. It would also remove the need to score off dealers who will also be able to seel you something else (harder normally!).

Any way it's great to be back off holiday and offer my ill informed opinion.

and as for single mothers - well lets be honest if you pull one you normally get proper filthy sex

erm allegedly