March 27, 2009
Why can’t Mexico handle its own problems?
Don’t we do enough for Mexico already? I mean, we allow millions of their citizens to pour over our boarder, annually, take jobs that “Americans won’t do,” and then send their earnings back home to boost their economy. Now, we have to start fixing their drug problems, too?
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Thursday that Mexico and the United States had agreed to develop a “checklist” of tasks for both sides to intensify the fight against Mexican drug gangs engaged in a bloody turf war.
Speaking near the end of a two-day visit, Clinton said the list would include timelines committing the United States to speed up delivery of drug-fighting aid and getting Mexico to move faster on reforming its judicial and law enforcement institutions.
Clinton also said she was “confident” that a trade tiff with Mexico over trucking would be resolved quickly and that Mexico’s recent decision to slap tariffs on dozens of U.S. products “will be withdrawn.”
I’m sorry that Mexico is having experiencing problems related to drugs. And, I’m sorry America has its own drug-ralated problems to deal with. But, drugs aren’t the problem; they are a symptom of the problem.
We pretend to be a culture that is against drugs, yet we are not. We have a “War on Drugs,” as new drugs are advertised every day. At some point, our government made the decision that some drugs were acceptable and others were not. This is where the problem lies.
It’s one big contradiction. Either we’re against drugs, or were for them. Make up your mind. Heroin isn’t acceptable, but clinics hand out methadone, while doctors prescribe Oxycontin (which makes you feel like you’re on heroin from what I’ve been told).
The reason it’s a contradiction is because drugs aren’t inherently bad, just as guns aren’t inherently bad. It’s how people choose to use them. To be quite honest, I don’t see the difference between someone who smokes a joint at the end of the day versus the person who is having a couple martinis. In fact, one could argue, the former is preferable to the latter.
Why aren’t all drugs, legal, though? Whether prescribed or proscribed, all drugs are the same: most offer some benefit when taken in moderation. As of the year 2000, the “War on Drugs” was estimated to cost over $40 billion, annually. I’m sure it’s costing much more, now.
Obama mocked his online audience in his “town hall meeting” yesterday—to the laughter of the elitist DC crowd that surrounded him in the room—for asking about legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana.
You’re right, Mr. President, it may not remedy our economic woes, but why can’t this be taken into consideration? I believe it’s a serious question, with serious implications, and should be seriously addressed. You are not a comedian, Mr. President. Stop trying to be funny!
I don’t smoke pot or do any other illegal drugs. I don’t take many legal drugs, either. Maybe some Tylenol, here and there. Lately, I have been hitting up the Sudafed (I have some cold that I have named The Illness that won’t seem to go away). But, what’s the difference between the person who pops some Xanax for their anxiety and the person who takes a hit from the bong?
All legal drugs are achieving some goal that could be achieved by an illegal drug, they’re just doing it synthetically instead of naturally. Where do you think the drug companies came up with the idea in the first place? Mexico wouldn’t be having the issues it is, and neither would America, if drugs became legal. People are going to use drugs and some of those people will abuse drugs. The legality of the drugs doesn’t matter.
Legalizing drugs would put the Mexican drug gangs out of business a lot quicker and a lot more effectively than anything our two governments can come up with. Put that at the top of you checklist and you should be done.
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The International Mexican Dating Site ad made an appearance on your side bar right as I was reading this. :)
Comment by Dave C — March 27, 2009 @ 4:56 pm
That’s kind of funny. If only I could take credit for having planned that!
Comment by Monique — March 27, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
The most common cause for chronic sinusitis – sinus infection – is acid reflux from the stomach.
Treating with allergy and steroid meds delays healing. The issue is that acids from the stomach have caused acid burns in the throat and sinuses. The throat usually heals – to the point you don’t feel the burn or irritation, roughness of the voice – in hours or weeks. The sinuses often take much longer – days to months. If the acid reflux (often called “heartburn”) continues, the sinuses are re-injured (as is the throat), and the clock starts up again.
Try using a saline nasal mist spray, either with the sudafed or instead. Once an hour, twice in each side with a big inhale each time, and blow. My family doctor told me this could clear up to a sinus infection without antibiotics.
The Yoga practice of Neti-Wash is a more thorough irrigation, and healing of the sinuses. I found a mix of 1 c. warm water, 1/8 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp baking soda the most comfortable. This will never be something to do in front of guests – or family. It may sound funny, but it snot. Some drug stores now sell neti pots made for this practice, and you can find them online. The neti wash practice is described well in many places.
The saline nasal mist approach is about as aggressive as washing your hands – give it a week or two – you would give antibiotics ten days, anyway. And unlike Sudafed, saline mist isn’t addictive, and is really tough to abuse – about like abusing your hands with hand soap.
I have been waiting for coke-snorting Barack Hussein Obama, POTUS, to legalize marijuana, cocaine, heroin, etc. And license it. Then shut down the Drug Enforcement Agency, and turn licensing over to the Treasury Department – and collections to the IRS.
Mexico is claiming that the gangs wouldn’t be buying the heavy weapons, and fighting and killing over turf, if Americans weren’t buying their billions of dollars of drugs. That is – we have to stop worrying about buying shirts from child-labor sweat shops, and start worrying about buying murdering gangs’ drugs. Or maybe we can find time to worry about both. And about acid reflux.
About the reflux again – graham crackers and metamucil will help a lot. And hot green tea (decaf or not) will help an unsettled stomach more than antacids and Prilosec OTC.
Be well.
Comment by Brad K. — March 27, 2009 @ 10:48 pm
I don’t see a contradiction between oxycotin and heroin. Perhaps a comparision of marijuana and alcohol could be considered, but nobody is prescribed oxycotin for recreational use (or at least they’re not supposed to and it’s illeagal to do so). The difference is not so much the concept of drugs but the use for drugs– whether for medical purposes or for recreational use. Since recreational drug use is frowned upon and medical drug use is widely accepted, I don’t see the contradiction.
Allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana for use by patients with advanced cancer is not going to alleviate the drug war in Mexico. They’re not fighting down there to secure the terminal patient corner of the American market.
Comment by yukio ngaby — March 28, 2009 @ 3:52 am
Brad K., I think you may have just explained my problem. Unfortunately, I’m constantly plagued by heartburn. I mean, daily, typically. This is for a variety of reasons. Lately it has been live at five, probably because of additional stress in my life. Without you, I never would have linked the two.
In short, you will be added to the blogroll!
Comment by Monique — March 28, 2009 @ 10:23 pm