tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7982472831794132383.post1474714539177638621..comments2023-10-29T07:44:49.963-04:00Comments on Worshipping at the Church of Non-Realism: Afghanistan and the Drug WarPete Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17003978838276701270noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7982472831794132383.post-44060457416122129732009-08-31T12:27:14.576-04:002009-08-31T12:27:14.576-04:00Mr. Kaker and Franklyn,
Thank you for your thought...Mr. Kaker and Franklyn,<br />Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Mr. Kaker, I wasn’t clear about the first part of your comment; the second part about helping farmers grow something other than poppies doesn’t seem very likely, given the high costs of eradicating the poppy crops. Poppy farming is now too profitable for the Taliban to give it up. I think the only way to turn farmers from poppies to ordinary crops is to decimalize drugs and give them to addicts in clinics, as Franklyn suggests. When there is no money in growing drug-producing plants, farmers will be more likely to grow food crops.<br />PetePete Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17003978838276701270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7982472831794132383.post-77962473532291112822009-08-30T14:22:45.601-04:002009-08-30T14:22:45.601-04:00The Afgans survived for many centuries without dep...The Afgans survived for many centuries without depending on the cultivation of poppies. Drugs and the crime it causes is the result of the great profit it brings. The way to stop it is to eliminate the profit and that is accomplished by making small quanties of the drugs available at low cost to registered addicts. Drug dealers will go out of business if there is no money in the game.Franklynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7982472831794132383.post-8819599752589290962009-08-29T21:23:44.790-04:002009-08-29T21:23:44.790-04:00I believe that the real problem when it comes to d...I believe that the real problem when it comes to drugs; albeit in Afghanistan or the streets of London or America is based on the users lack of opportunity cost. This is the reason to encourage initial usage. The lack of a significant reason to stop is the long term problem. I did once, whilst at university study the idea of legalizing drugs as a cure for the effects they are having on crime. The article of origin which the study was based on evades me but I do recall the author providing reasons to do what it seems you are favoring: if legalized it removes the criminal control and moves it to the hands of authorities.<br /><br />My concern is firstly who can honestly be trusted with such control? Governments or organizations and if so how do they best manage such a responsibility? Profits vrs ethics come to mind here.<br /><br />Secondly if one wants to truly eradicate such a problem in a sustainable manor then the logical solution is to provide national stability. Give the people, the farmers in Afghanistan an alternative and they will naturally move away. I say this as I have done some work with Afghan Aid who firstly, indirectly introduced to me a documentary on the drug problem in Afghanistan where the local's of Kabul were themselves seeking to find an alternative to the drugs. Very shocking documentary!!! <br /><br />Giving people at the ground something to do that does not involve drugs is the only long term solution. Farming normal food products such as wheat with a view to supply and sell locally and maybe nationally (the second thing AfghanAid introduced me too). Right now they have no infrastructure to farm normal produce. And if these drug lords are giving them the tools needed to farm and feed their families then they farm ... albeit a globally illegal product. <br /><br />(sorry for the long comment, something I am very opinionated about apparently ...)Mr_Kakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17287845432485931570noreply@blogger.com