SCN: Correlation between drug use and terrorism

[Scot Harkins on scn.org]

People use drugs for a variety of reasons, most of them arguably in
response to socio-economic conditions, many more because of social
acceptance of recreational use of harder drugs (elevating to addiction
and associated supportive behavior).

People drive vehicles to move themselves and a variety of other things
around, much of it in support of economic activities necessary to our
society.

I'd say our consumption of oil far exceeds our consumption, in dollar
terms, of illegal drugs.  Whether that contributes directly to
terrorism is the question.  If we prop up regimes that suppress
freedom in order to keep our oil flowing then we might well be working
harder to create and support terrorism than all the addicts in the
world.

If we want to suppress possible terrorism and save our own wilderness
resources filled with mere drops of oil then we should take
conservation seriously, but then I fear I'm preaching to the choir in
this arena.

If we want to suppress drug use, at least as escape from social and
economic ills, then we need to address those areas, and not with
simple (read idiotic) programs that do not actually solve anything.

Oh, dear...I feel the slippery slope of continuing arguments and the
bewailing of our ills and how to fix them (God, no, wait, Allah, no,
wait, Mother Earth...).

I know what.  Let's all do our best.  Use less, re-use more, support
those in need, including helping them evade the trap of drugs and
addiction.  Be good.  Fight evil.  Don't let the big corps win at
ruling the world (even if they don't realize what they're doing on an
individual level), and don't let the governments of the world continue
bullying...wait, I'm getting beyond the power of individuals.  Back to
use less, re-use more, help others.


Ciao!
sh

--
Scot Harkins (KA5KDU)
Greenbank, WA, US
Phone: 360-678-5880
Email: scoth at bigfoot.com
URL <http://www.bigfoot.com/~scoth>
--

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Loring" <design at eskimo.com>
To: <scn at scn.org>
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 12:04 AM
Subject: RE: SCN: Correlation between drug use and terrorism


> Well, I suppose one could find a correlation between everything and
> everything else, but that won't get us too far....
>
> With that in mind, David makes an interesting point about buying
gasoline
> and supporting terrorism.
>
> A great deal of wealth has flowed into many of the Gulf States from
the
> West's addiction to petroleum-based products. If one accepts that
much of
> that wealth hasn't really been distributed equitably in many of the
Gulf's
> economies, what sets of reforms can (or should) the oil importing
countries
> make.
>
> Jim


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