Premise the 1st: Given the nature of the state...The state will either prohibit or Tax drugs.
Premise the 2nd: If the state taxes drugs, they will make lots of money from taxing drugs.
Premise the 3rd: If the state makes lots of money doing something...it will attempt to maximize revenue ahead of most other goals.
Conclusion: Legalizing drugs would cause lucrative drug taxes, which would increase the number of addicts based on observed behavior of governments.
Thought from this post @ CoyoteBlog, and liberal consumption of Offsetting Behavior's frequent smoking analyses.
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Government taxes profitable business, so following this same logic government will result in more growth and profit.
Taxing profitable businesses makes them less profitable...and tax rates primarily impact rate of business formation, I think. Different model.
It's best not to model the state as a unitary actor in this kind of mess. In tobacco, at least in NZ, I get the feeling that Cabinet likes excise increases because of the revenue, but that there are tons of true believer folks who support all kinds of policies that might curb use and would reduce tax revenues. Some indulgence of those other policies gets to be part of the mix to buy the continued moral veneer on the excise moves.
Per Eric's comment, I'd modify your premises to include gov't penchant to quash and destroy their geese.
The likely result is drugs being suppressed, sold, subsidised and heavily taxed by different branches of government at the same time.
Well said drpat.
With the cluster$%*& that we call the federal government...that is exactly what will happen.
Besides, they have used the war on drugs as a premise to militarize our local police forces for well over 30 years. It is the only thing the media is able to demonize to such an extent that the mass populace will actively support watching our law enforcement become the para-military organization that it is today. Martial law, here we come!
Alias,
Dr Pat's always extending my ideas in interesting and often better ways.
Welcome to the blog. And...I'm not pro-drug war...just thinking that this is the best argument for the drug war that I've heard.
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