What an appropriate Monday morning thread GIF; gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!1!
G’day, GN!
Several local news websites here and in Cleveland had articles this morning about the (alleged) “heroin epidemic” hitting middle- and upper-class suburbs; wondering if any other Gerbs are seeing the same stuff from their local media today.
Good morning, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, BrendaSleddingK, Fatwa, and Jerry!
I recharged the A/C system in my vehicle and it is now colder than it ever was! I had enough left over in the can to top off the charge in Mrs. Paddy’s car and when Teh Older gets home later today I’ll check out the pressure in his A/C.
I’ve got today off, so I’ll try to get my taxes done -- what fun!
Jerry -- sorry about all your upcoming trips to Chicago. On the plus side, you might take the opportunity to crop-dust the mayor’s office.
Well, kind of. She tipped the domino over sideways, so I would think it’s more of an exercise in lateral thinking. Har -- see what I did there? I crack myself up.
Seems it’s only an epidemic/tragedy when it happens to the upper-class (liberal as they see themselves).
The War on Drugs People is one of the issues I follow fairly closely. A lot of the spread of heroin use into the ‘burbs and small towns is driven by people who were previously “using” pharmaceutical opiates either legitimately or illicitly.
The DEA, along with prosecutors and LEOs have made it increasingly difficult to obtain these medications. Were/are some folks “abusing” them? Yes. Were/are some docs “enabling” them. Yes.
However, things have become very difficult for 100% legit pain docs and their equally legit patients, because gummint tools with no medical training are increasingly making decisions -- backed by men with guns and dogs -- upon appropriate amounts and dosages of medications.
As a result, genuine pain patients are not being properly treated and are increasingly turning to the black market because when you’re in horrible pain, you’ll pretty much do anything you can to obtain relief. But hey, screw the collateral damage, right? Because “drugs”!!1!!
And then there’s all the other WoD ills like civil asset forfeiture (aka “policing for profit”), at least two states where it’s a felony to have a “hidden compartment” in your vehicle even if you’re not using it for any illegal activities and other serious abrogations of basic civil liberties.
I’ve believed for decades the whole mess needs to fixed by simply re-legalizing all drugs. Yes…legal heroin, cocaine, pot, pills, whatever -- just as it was about a century ago in America. While there will still be problems, when folks no longer have to rob and steal because they can obtain whatever their “poison” is legally and knowing the strength / purity, we will see an amazing reduction in related crime and accidental overdoses.
Doing this would also reduce corruption and violence in LE, eliminate a significant chunk of organized crime and gang violence, plus go a long way toward restoring basic civil liberties. Not perfect by any means, but a large net gain to our country, IMHO.
It is NOT, nor should it EVER be, the gummint’s job to protect you from yourself.
FWIW anecdotally: Being involved in music professionally since before I could drive, I have seen a fair amount of drug “use” but very little actual “abuse”, as I’d define that term. I’ve seen far more problems caused by alcohol. (In part because folks using pot, opiates or other “downers” tend not to be inclined toward violence of any sort caused by the psychoactive effects of those substances.)
I’m with you, Fatwa. We would also save money on judicial process and incarceration.
Editor
Kate
10 years ago
For a Monday, it was quite productive and teh weather truly Spring-like. and only a few of my dominoes fell sideways. Perhaps because the government was closed today?
Ok, I laughed. I’ll just sit in the corner over there, being a pariah who didn’t affirm the big-eyed, adorable child.
And good morning to all y’all!
What an appropriate Monday morning thread GIF; gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!1!
G’day, GN!
Several local news websites here and in Cleveland had articles this morning about the (alleged) “heroin epidemic” hitting middle- and upper-class suburbs; wondering if any other Gerbs are seeing the same stuff from their local media today.
Seems it’s only an epidemic/tragedy when it happens to the upper-class (liberal as they see themselves).
Oh, manners, manners. BrendaK stole them with her morningK posts.
I’m holding them for ransom.
Good morning, Gerbil Nation!
Good morning, BrendaSleddingK, Fatwa, and Jerry!
I recharged the A/C system in my vehicle and it is now colder than it ever was! I had enough left over in the can to top off the charge in Mrs. Paddy’s car and when Teh Older gets home later today I’ll check out the pressure in his A/C.
I’ve got today off, so I’ll try to get my taxes done -- what fun!
Jerry -- sorry about all your upcoming trips to Chicago. On the plus side, you might take the opportunity to crop-dust the mayor’s office.
I like that the little girl is exploring the relationship between length and proximity. Good for her!
And good morning!
Well, kind of. She tipped the domino over sideways, so I would think it’s more of an exercise in lateral thinking. Har -- see what I did there? I crack myself up.
A GIS on the word har got the following, among other truly unfortunate images:
No.
OH-oh-oh! The Mystery of
…dun-dun-duuuuuuun…
HAR Jewelry
Because who doesn’t want a cobra necklace (with brooch, bracelet and earrings, natch)?!
The War on
DrugsPeople is one of the issues I follow fairly closely. A lot of the spread of heroin use into the ‘burbs and small towns is driven by people who were previously “using” pharmaceutical opiates either legitimately or illicitly.The DEA, along with prosecutors and LEOs have made it increasingly difficult to obtain these medications. Were/are some folks “abusing” them? Yes. Were/are some docs “enabling” them. Yes.
However, things have become very difficult for 100% legit pain docs and their equally legit patients, because gummint tools with no medical training are increasingly making decisions -- backed by men with guns and dogs -- upon appropriate amounts and dosages of medications.
As a result, genuine pain patients are not being properly treated and are increasingly turning to the black market because when you’re in horrible pain, you’ll pretty much do anything you can to obtain relief. But hey, screw the collateral damage, right? Because “drugs”!!1!!
And then there’s all the other WoD ills like civil asset forfeiture (aka “policing for profit”), at least two states where it’s a felony to have a “hidden compartment” in your vehicle even if you’re not using it for any illegal activities and other serious abrogations of basic civil liberties.
I’ve believed for decades the whole mess needs to fixed by simply re-legalizing all drugs. Yes…legal heroin, cocaine, pot, pills, whatever -- just as it was about a century ago in America. While there will still be problems, when folks no longer have to rob and steal because they can obtain whatever their “poison” is legally and knowing the strength / purity, we will see an amazing reduction in related crime and accidental overdoses.
Doing this would also reduce corruption and violence in LE, eliminate a significant chunk of organized crime and gang violence, plus go a long way toward restoring basic civil liberties. Not perfect by any means, but a large net gain to our country, IMHO.
It is NOT, nor should it EVER be, the gummint’s job to protect you from yourself.
FWIW anecdotally: Being involved in music professionally since before I could drive, I have seen a fair amount of drug “use” but very little actual “abuse”, as I’d define that term. I’ve seen far more problems caused by alcohol. (In part because folks using pot, opiates or other “downers” tend not to be inclined toward violence of any sort caused by the psychoactive effects of those substances.)
[/rant]
I’m with you, Fatwa. We would also save money on judicial process and incarceration.
For a Monday, it was quite productive and teh weather truly Spring-like. and only a few of my dominoes fell sideways. Perhaps because the government was closed today?