2008 Soap Box Archives

Drugs

The world is in such turmoil. There are the Wars on Terror we're fighting on two fronts, the price of gasoline, the topsy-turvy presidential race, the overall economy, frustration at our politicians for their reticence to do anything about solving the myriad of problems which effect our lives and a blue million other things to absorb our mental capacity for recognizing and dealing with problems, and what our order of domestic priorities should be.

I think we'd all agree that crime is a major problem in the USA. I have often made the statement that a big problem is usually a series of little problems all rolled together to make a big problem.

Such is the crime problem, we all know some of the causes, the breakdown of the American family, illegal immigration, the limits of permissiveness in today's society, the decline of the father figure in the family unit, and so many other causes which all fuel crime in our times.

These conditions turn out a lot of young criminals on the street, but the thing that makes crime profitable for the most part is drugs. More crime is committed in the distribution and the consumption of drugs than any other single factor.

The amount of money to be had in manufacturing and selling drugs is unbelievable, and the business is totally rotten from top to bottom. While the drug lords hide away in their mansions in foreign countries; the street flunkies and middlemen face betrayal and murder every day, while the users are on a one-way street to the graveyard.

But there is no conscience in the drug trade and no loyalty. The only thing that matters is turf and profit. The lives of the dealers and users mean no more to the drug cartels than the swatting of a fly. There is no regret and no remorse and there's always another fool to stand on a street corner and sell their products and the supply of unfortunates who are willing to get themselves hooked seems to be endless.

Drugs are probably the leading cause of corruption in politics and police forces around the world, certainly the deciding factor in so many young girls going in to a life of prostitution.

Drugs also support terrorism. The heroin being made from the poppy fields in Afghanistan supports the activities of the Taliban.

So what do we do about the problem? I truly wish I had the answer. I don't. But I have some suggestions. How about letting our DEA and law enforcement officers take the gloves off? The people they are dealing with are ruthless and reckless and sometimes it's necessary to shoot first and ask questions later.

An no, my dear cherry pickers, I am not suggesting that law enforcement should cowboy into every situation with both barrels blazing or shoot down some lowly street dealer, but in a life-threatening situation, where criminals are brandishing guns they should be authorized to use any degree of fire power they deem necessary to take these people off the streets.

The media is quick to condemn brave men and women who in the course of duty and the defense of their lives are forced to draw and use a fire arm but I wonder how these same media people would like to walk out on the street and defend themselves against the thugs and muggers without the protection of the people they are so quick to criticize.

Our local and federal police forces face the dregs of the world on a daily basis. They deserve our support and our respect.

There's a war going on in the streets of America. If you don't believe it just pick up a newspaper, and they next time you see a cop you might want to just say thank you.

What do you think?

Pray for our troops

God Bless America

Charlie Daniels

June 16 , 2008