UK has worst drug problem in Europe

IndependentObserver · 18-04-2007, 06:16 PM

Longer jail sentences for all dealers and users. And to target the middle class users, anyone convicted of any drugs related crime (including possession) has to pay an income tax of 50% on all income over personal allowance (this could easily be done through adjustment of PAYE code-numbers). As an incentive to stay drug free, those with convictions, at their own expense, could opt to take annual drug tests; if they are clean the tax rate is reduced to 45% (it never goes back to normal rates) for that year. This would get the message across to the recreational users in the professional classes that if they get caught, they will be living in poorer houses, taking fewer holidays, and having poverty-stricken retirements. The extra tax could be used to reduce the overall burden for the rest of us, and to build more prisons.

eublues · 18-04-2007, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Prescisely. Drugs are far too harmful to ever be sanctioned by the State. It hardly sends out a moral, respectable message does it?

"Here kids, take drugs because the PM says it ok".

Can't follow that argument. There are plenty of dangerous addictive substances around anyway (eg glue, alcohol, butane). It's the one's that are glamorised by being illegal that cause most of the problems.

Hereward77 · 18-04-2007, 06:54 PM

The root of this problem is quite easy to find. Since the 1950's, pop culture in the US and UK has promoted inter-generational conflict (i.e. the self-obsessed 'teenage rebel') more than it has on the continent.

eublues · 18-04-2007, 06:55 PM

Exactly, and how better to 'rebel' than behave outside the law. (Of course, 'rebel' is really conform.)

g hall · 18-04-2007, 10:40 PM

Presumably all those in favour of restricting drug availability are teetotallers and non-smokers and don't touch caffeine.

Many of the problems around "illegal" drugs are because they are illegal.
There is no quality control, you mix with a criminal element and they are taken in the wrong place

Westcountryman · 18-04-2007, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Presumably all those in favour of restricting drug availability are teetotallers and non-smokers and don't touch caffeine.

No, because none of those things are remotely as dangerous as for example, heroin is.

Quote:

There is no quality control, you mix with a criminal element and they are taken in the wrong place

Tough ****. If you choose to do it despite it being illegal, then boo hoo for you.

18-04-2007, 06:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
Hereward77 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,159	The root of this problem is quite easy to find. Since the 1950's, pop culture in the US and UK has promoted inter-generational conflict (i.e. the self-obsessed 'teenage rebel') more than it has on the continent. __________________ "The social experiment in China under Chairman Mao's leadership is one of the most important and successful in history." David Rockefeller, New York Times, August 10, 1973

18-04-2007, 10:40 PM	#15 (permalink)
g hall Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: erewhon Posts: 5,628	Presumably all those in favour of restricting drug availability are teetotallers and non-smokers and don't touch caffeine. Many of the problems around "illegal" drugs are because they are illegal. There is no quality control, you mix with a criminal element and they are taken in the wrong place __________________ "That government is best which governs least." "This is a sharp Medicine, but it is a Physician for all diseases and miseries". "To be "matter of fact" about the world is to blunder into fantasy --and dull fantasy at that, as the real world is strange and wonderful." TANSTAAFL TANJ

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18-04-2007, 06:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
IndependentObserver Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 54	Longer jail sentences for all dealers and users. And to target the middle class users, anyone convicted of any drugs related crime (including possession) has to pay an income tax of 50% on all income over personal allowance (this could easily be done through adjustment of PAYE code-numbers). As an incentive to stay drug free, those with convictions, at their own expense, could opt to take annual drug tests; if they are clean the tax rate is reduced to 45% (it never goes back to normal rates) for that year. This would get the message across to the recreational users in the professional classes that if they get caught, they will be living in poorer houses, taking fewer holidays, and having poverty-stricken retirements. The extra tax could be used to reduce the overall burden for the rest of us, and to build more prisons.

18-04-2007, 06:55 PM	#14 (permalink)
eublues Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,128	Exactly, and how better to 'rebel' than behave outside the law. (Of course, 'rebel' is really conform.)