From: David Weber 
Subject: [illusions] Drugs Anyone? Or maybe some common sense?
Date: 5 May 2001 11:26:06 -0400
To: Illusions 

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Drugs, Downey, Strawberry,
Junkies, And Hypocrites
By Harry Browne
http://www.wnd.com
5-2-1

The actor Robert Downey, Jr. was arrested for drug use again last week.
He could get a 4-year prison sentence, so it's obvious he didn't take the
drugs for pleasure. He took them because he's an addict. They aren't a means
of entertainment for him, they're a curse.
The same appeared to be true of Daryl Strawberry -- who was booted out of
Major League Baseball because he couldn't stay off drugs. He was an addict
-- not a person who simply refused to "say no."
Productive People
In any discussion of the Downey and Strawberry cases, one point seems to be
overlooked: Even though both are addicts, they're quite able to perform
their jobs properly.
Drugs haven't kept Downey from showing up for work, from cooperating with
his fellow workers, or from acting well enough to win numerous awards. And
Daryl Strawberry managed to hit home runs even while plagued with drug
problems.
If these people can function so well, why do they get hustled off to jail?
They're already living in private hells -- unable to shake the drug habit.
Once a person is addicted, giving up drugs is far harder than giving up
smoking or fatty foods. There are very few examples of addicts shaking the
habit and remaining clean ever after.
So what is gained by having the police hound them?
Productive People
The Downey and Strawberry cases should remind us that prior to the drug laws
many addicts were productive members of society. They bought morphine,
opium, or heroin at the local pharmacy, showed up for work every day, and
lived otherwise normal lives.
The difference between them and today's "junkies" is that earlier addicts
lived in a society where drugs were legal. They didn't buy from black-market
criminals who laced drugs with unknown substances. And they didn't have to
steal to pay astronomical prices for black-market drugs. They bought safe,
inexpensive drugs marketed by well-known companies. They could survive and
prosper.
But today's addicts devote enormous amounts of time, money, and attention to
acquiring drugs, live in fear of being caught, and sometimes die from taking
bad drugs.
Role Models
We're told we must make examples of people like Downey and Strawberry
because they're "role models."
But I don't understand why actors or ball-players must be held to such a
high standard.
After all, what kind of role model is George W. Bush? He boozed it up, was
arrested for drunk driving, apparently did drugs, and became President of
the United States. Now he puts people in prison for 5 or 50 years for doing
what he did -- and he gets to call himself "compassionate."
What kind of role model was Bill Clinton? He admits smoking marijuana, but
he signed laws increasing the prison terms for people who do what he did.
What kind of role model was Ronald Reagan? He claimed to be for the
Constitution, but decided the 4th and 5th Amendments were unnecessary. He
stepped up the Drug War, imposed new intrusions on your privacy, signed
oppressive mandatory sentencing laws, and instituted asset-forfeiture
programs that can take your property without accusing you of a crime.
Anyone concerned about role models ought to take a closer look at the people
they hold up as heroes -- and leave Robert Downey and Daryl Strawberry alone
to work out their problems.
What's the Point?
And tell me whose life is better because of the drug laws -- other than
black-market drug dealers, politicians, and law-enforcement agencies that
get to steal your property.
We don't make life easier for the children who get harassed by drug dealers
at school, or who die in drive-by shootings when criminal gangs fight over
drug territories.
We don't provide better role models when we disgrace honest actors and
ball-players while honoring hypocritical politicians.
And we don't turn addicts into better people by throwing them in prison.
Or would George W. Bush and Bill Clinton be better people today if, for
their "youthful indiscretions," they had spent 10 years in prison?


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Drugs, Downey, Strawberry, 

Junkies, And Hypocrites 

By Harry Browne 

http://www.wnd.com


5-2-1



The actor Robert Downey, Jr. was arrested for drug use again last week. 

He could get a 4-year prison sentence, so it's obvious he didn't take the 

drugs for pleasure. He took them because he's an addict. They aren't a means 

of entertainment for him, they're a curse. 

The same appeared to be true of Daryl Strawberry -- who was booted out of 

Major League Baseball because he couldn't stay off drugs. He was an addict 

-- not a person who simply refused to "say no." 

Productive People 

In any discussion of the Downey and Strawberry cases, one point seems to be 

overlooked: Even though both are addicts, they're quite able to perform 

their jobs properly. 

Drugs haven't kept Downey from showing up for work, from cooperating with 

his fellow workers, or from acting well enough to win numerous awards. And 

Daryl Strawberry managed to hit home runs even while plagued with drug 

problems. 

If these people can function so well, why do they get hustled off to jail? 

They're already living in private hells -- unable to shake the drug habit. 

Once a person is addicted, giving up drugs is far harder than giving up 

smoking or fatty foods. There are very few examples of addicts shaking the 

habit and remaining clean ever after. 

So what is gained by having the police hound them? 

Productive People 

The Downey and Strawberry cases should remind us that prior to the drug laws 

many addicts were productive members of society. They bought morphine, 

opium, or heroin at the local pharmacy, showed up for work every day, and 

lived otherwise normal lives. 

The difference between them and today's "junkies" is that earlier addicts 

lived in a society where drugs were legal. They didn't buy from black-market 

criminals who laced drugs with unknown substances. And they didn't have to 

steal to pay astronomical prices for black-market drugs. They bought safe, 

inexpensive drugs marketed by well-known companies. They could survive and 

prosper. 

But today's addicts devote enormous amounts of time, money, and attention to 

acquiring drugs, live in fear of being caught, and sometimes die from taking 

bad drugs. 

Role Models 

We're told we must make examples of people like Downey and Strawberry 

because they're "role models." 

But I don't understand why actors or ball-players must be held to such a 

high standard. 

After all, what kind of role model is George W. Bush? He boozed it up, was 

arrested for drunk driving, apparently did drugs, and became President of 

the United States. Now he puts people in prison for 5 or 50 years for doing 

what he did -- and he gets to call himself "compassionate." 

What kind of role model was Bill Clinton? He admits smoking marijuana, but 

he signed laws increasing the prison terms for people who do what he did. 

What kind of role model was Ronald Reagan? He claimed to be for the 

Constitution, but decided the 4th and 5th Amendments were unnecessary. He 

stepped up the Drug War, imposed new intrusions on your privacy, signed 

oppressive mandatory sentencing laws, and instituted asset-forfeiture 

programs that can take your property without accusing you of a crime. 

Anyone concerned about role models ought to take a closer look at the people 

they hold up as heroes -- and leave Robert Downey and Daryl Strawberry alone 

to work out their problems. 

What's the Point? 

And tell me whose life is better because of the drug laws -- other than 

black-market drug dealers, politicians, and law-enforcement agencies that 

get to steal your property. 

We don't make life easier for the children who get harassed by drug dealers 

at school, or who die in drive-by shootings when criminal gangs fight over 

drug territories. 

We don't provide better role models when we disgrace honest actors and 

ball-players while honoring hypocritical politicians. 

And we don't turn addicts into better people by throwing them in prison. 

Or would George W. Bush and Bill Clinton be better people today if, for 

their "youthful indiscretions," they had spent 10 years in prison?





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