I had to read
this
Economist article twice to make sure I hadn't missed
something that actually made sense. Then I double-checked the calendar to
make sure the date didn't read April 1.
Nope, it's apparently true — some 20 of our U.S. states tax
illegal drugs, and print stamps, like the one shown here, that
illicit drug dealers and users are supposed to affix to their contraband.
Doing so would of course likely bring a swarm of cops upon
any druggie who for some unfathomable reason might attempt to comply with this
law.
Yet our politicians have trouble finding ways to cut
government spending while printing presses continue to churn out these stamps.
A small expense compared to the size of our state budgets to be sure, but don't
you just know there are thousands of similar boondoggles out there that add up
to megabucks.
By: Annette
Posted: April 9, 2010 4:13 PM
So, in examining the economics of the law, a state pays for a one-time printing of stamps (since they are rarely, if ever, used) and then collects over $10.3 million in fines because of the law and it sounds like a pretty good ROI to me.
By: Jim Olsztynski
Posted: April 13, 2010 2:43 PM
In any case, I appreciate you taking the time to think this through and respond.
By: Weezbo
Posted: June 1, 2010 3:37 PM
Education is too slow of a process and at present we have no clearly defined philosophy of education across the board for all countries . It is however agreed upon my many that something MUST be done, not later....Now!
Every effort that is made in Reaction rather than as part of a preventive plan that is supported by enough families, communities , states, countries, continents, will simply never catch up to the efforts inclined to continue destroying our world.
While it may be laughable that this measure is being employed at the moment ,( on first perusal) it at least is a sign that someone somewhere at least Recognizes that the problem exists.
Had something been done at a much earlier time maybe people suffering from the consequences of decision by indecision would be in a much happier state of being. Thank you for bringing this article that you read to more members of the community .
Awareness of a problem is at least somewhere to start. What this effort is analogous to is some one standing at the bottom of a dam with his finger in a leak of a 20 foot wide section standing and water flowing by on both sides where the wall has been destroyed . not a pretty picture. to me it is almost a suicidal attempt by the individual calling out the need to repair the dam.
This is a huge problem that needs right thinking people to supply right efforting to begin to correct the flow.
Antics with semantics and tunnel vision simply will not work to bring about a solution.
our entire reading viewership would likely not number the amount of young peoples lives that were destroyed this year alone.
thank you one more time for bringing it to our attention . to take liberty of a hazily recalled quote " Even a Mutton can Pay attention". luckily there are people here who can and do involve themselves in right actions.