Which is worse - Islam or Wonga?

[DodgyAgent]

The service that wonga gives has a great deal of moral virtue. It is the fact that they have decriminalised money lending just as decriminalising drug sales would take the criminals out of the industry. Likewise prostitution. The pious self righteous (you know who you are) ars*holes who pretend that they know what is good for everyone else will of course harrumph as usual, but drug taking money borrowing and prostitution are facts of life.

Wonga is giving people access to lending that removes the need to use loan sharks. If they cant pay the loans back then they are allowed to come to an arrangement that is within the law. If they pay them back they build up their credit ratings and are able then to borrow more.

These people should be congratulated not villified.

[Mich the Tester]

...decriminalising drug sales would take the criminals out of the industry...

...and into something even worse.

[DodgyAgent]

...and into something even worse.

That's an interesting philosophy. If I follow the implied logic of this then I suppose we could legalise burglary in order to keep criminals occupied in something that is relatively harmless in case they move on to drug dealing.

[Mich the Tester]

That's an interesting philosophy. If I follow the implied logic of this then I suppose we could legalise burglary in order to keep criminals occupied in something that is relatively harmless in case they move on to drug dealing.

No, because I responded to your idea that decriminalising drug sales would take criminals out of the drug business. It might; but many criminals will remain criminals and will move on to some other scheme that whereby they can use fear and violence to make money for themselves. Decriminalising drug sales does not reduce organised crime; it just pushes it into other sectors.

[DodgyAgent]

No, because I responded to your idea that decriminalising drug sales would take criminals out of the drug business. It might; but many criminals will remain criminals and will move on to some other scheme that whereby they can use fear and violence to make money for themselves. Decriminalising drug sales does not reduce organised crime; it just pushes it into other sectors.

Good. Eventually they will have nowhere to go and as crime would become increasingly more difficult to make money from. They may even cross train to become recruitment agents.

My door is always open (as long as they dont nick anything)

[gingerjedi]

I've said it before, if the government are prepared to let these loan companies operate why don't they do it themselves?

Benefits given in one hand and straight back with the other, welfare bill slashed and it would also raise cash from stupid lazy people who could get credit at a lower rate but cant be bothered.

Win win win.

[speling bee]

No, because I responded to your idea that decriminalising drug sales would take criminals out of the drug business. It might; but many criminals will remain criminals and will move on to some other scheme that whereby they can use fear and violence to make money for themselves. Decriminalising drug sales does not reduce organised crime; it just pushes it into other sectors.

I think (don't have any evidence) that the organised crime in the drug trade is demand led. While there is a demand, a supply will appear and that supply chain will be organised and the organisers are criminals. Legalise the demand and it's hard to see where that level of profit will be obtainable by the criminal fraternity. It would be interesting to know what happened when Prohibition ended. Does anyone know?

[Mich the Tester]

I think (don't have any evidence) that the organised crime in the drug trade is demand led. While there is a demand, a supply will appear and that supply chain will be organised and the organisers are criminals. Legalise the demand and it's hard to see where that level of profit will be obtainable by the criminal fraternity. It would be interesting to know what happened when Prohibition ended. Does anyone know?

Well, some of the petty criminals stopped, but the gangs are still there; they moved on from alcohol to drugs. There will still be plenty of sources of profit for criminals; human trafficking, child pornography, organ trade and so on.

[vetran]

I feel a song coming on:


Wonga Wonga Wonga

If you are a capitalist, they do nothing wrong-a.

You can borrow cash for a week or even longer
but if you don't pay back in time you owe the GDP of Tonga.

If you are muslim its a matter of honour. (work with me here)

Of course being a footballer you are normally only
interested in being a bonker



Agree with DA in his attitude its legal so why not, but the question is should those interest rates & charges be legal when the people using this service aren't in a position to survive without.

[Robinho]

We had better legalise drugs,

Agreed

all forms of prostitution

Provided it is consenting yes. Prostitution is legal in the UK anyway.

and contract killing then. People are doing it after all...

No, because that involved violence

It's the non aggression principal i subscribe to, do what you want so long as it doesn't encroach on any else's rights.