We all know you don't know. It's called spell check and it's in the top right hand corner of the box. Yeah the abc over the check mark. Don't fear it Dave, it won't steal your soul or anything. Did you even go to school?
Panhandlers
- Thread starter CBC News
- Start date
We all know you don't know. It's called spell check and it's in the top right hand corner of the box. Yeah the abc over the check mark. Don't fear it Dave, it won't steal your soul or anything. Did you even go to school?
Panhandling is something permissible during hard times. If it's a chronic condition of city life then you've got yourself a problem. I live near a small city. Panhandling is commonly seen on the streets. Employment is obviously available for those lacking education or specific skills. They choose to panhandle instead. Begging is hardly an admirable human activity. At some point you've got to stand up on your own two feet. Maybe today's a good start.
What is it about panhandling that makes it an alternative for some people?
Flexable hours to an extent.
Probably pays better than the minimum jobs available.
Location.
Act as your own boss.
Anyone else?
That stuff only tells part of the story, and doesn't really say much of anything. What caused the same rate of increase from 1906 to 1918 as 1919-1934? Just talking about prohibition? Did the "war on drugs" stop in the 80's and 90's? What accounts for the dramatic downturn in that period?
It doesn't matter if cops crackdown or not. The existing justice system fails to keep them off the streets. The cops are just flogging a dead horse.
Oh boy.
The incarceration rate in the U.S.(mostly pot offences) is twice as much in Canada and we have lower usage rates of drugs in general. I think you want to lock people up just so it makes you feel better even though it does nothing to solve the real problems.:roll:
Try again.
The whole concept of the "war on drugs" is delusional.
Marijuana vs Heroin et al
Delusion: All drugs are the same (deadly, addictive, family destroying, etc) and should be treated as such.
Fact: Cannabis is a herb, not a drug. And not "addictive" in of itself. Millions of people around the owrld use it and function (excel, even) productively in society.
Foreign and Domestic Policy
Delusion: That we have the right to dictate policies in foreign countries or terrorize and victimize their people (and our own locally).
Fact: In a "free" society as we and the US claim to be, there will be drugs (heroin/coke, etc) available because the level of policing required to eliminate it violates one person or another's "freedom" (either locally, or in the producing country Kreskin would have us bomb).
Eliminating the Source
Delusion: That if we remove the drugs, the problem will go away.
Fact: There will always be addictive personality types who gravitate towards addictive substances and otherwise mess up their own lives. Remove one, they'll usually find another.
Solutions
So what are the solutions? The truth is, there really are none! If there were, we'd have figured them out centuries ago, because it's been around that long.
You either go with the police state and use brute force to try and plug all the holes and kill all the sources (who are replaced as fast as you kill them) or you go the liberal "damage control" option.
The martial arts tactic is to redirect the great force of an incoming blow and use it to an advantage.
At the source, negotiate supply contracts with producing countries like Afghanistan to legitimize their centuries-old opium production industry and use it for producing opiates for pharmaceutical use worldwide.( This assumes we continue to provide aid to some countries in the form of goods, of which pain relievers/narcotic prescription/methadone drugs would be line items on the manifest).
In other words, the source is redirected from organized crime into harm reduction and treatment
On the street, create programs to make heroin available at addiction management centres (created with the savings from the WOD) to remove the black market locally. No "legal" but available and controlled. What addict wouldn't prefer to get their fix in a safe, clean, caring environment with some hope of finally kicking the habit. Yes, fact is some people DO get off the horse for life.
Create a handgun bounty to get guns off the street. OK, different yet related to the harm reduction topic. Is it worth $500 and no questions asked to take an illegal gun off the street? Sure it is! Ask any cop.
To summarize, Kreskin, your approach is akin to bidding the sky not to rain rather than simply putting on a raincoat. The problem lies in human nature and the elements (substances) that exist around us.
There's no "solving" the addiction problem and all of the spin-off industries.
You can only strive to control and manage the problem.
Muz
Marijuana vs Heroin et al
Delusion: All drugs are the same (deadly, addictive, family destroying, etc) and should be treated as such.
Fact: Cannabis is a herb, not a drug. And not "addictive" in of itself. Millions of people around the owrld use it and function (excel, even) productively in society.
Foreign and Domestic Policy
Delusion: That we have the right to dictate policies in foreign countries or terrorize and victimize their people (and our own locally).
Fact: In a "free" society as we and the US claim to be, there will be drugs (heroin/coke, etc) available because the level of policing required to eliminate it violates one person or another's "freedom" (either locally, or in the producing country Kreskin would have us bomb).
Eliminating the Source
Delusion: That if we remove the drugs, the problem will go away.
Fact: There will always be addictive personality types who gravitate towards addictive substances and otherwise mess up their own lives. Remove one, they'll usually find another.
Solutions
So what are the solutions? The truth is, there really are none! If there were, we'd have figured them out centuries ago, because it's been around that long.
You either go with the police state and use brute force to try and plug all the holes and kill all the sources (who are replaced as fast as you kill them) or you go the liberal "damage control" option.
The martial arts tactic is to redirect the great force of an incoming blow and use it to an advantage.
At the source, negotiate supply contracts with producing countries like Afghanistan to legitimize their centuries-old opium production industry and use it for producing opiates for pharmaceutical use worldwide.( This assumes we continue to provide aid to some countries in the form of goods, of which pain relievers/narcotic prescription/methadone drugs would be line items on the manifest).
In other words, the source is redirected from organized crime into harm reduction and treatment
On the street, create programs to make heroin available at addiction management centres (created with the savings from the WOD) to remove the black market locally. No "legal" but available and controlled. What addict wouldn't prefer to get their fix in a safe, clean, caring environment with some hope of finally kicking the habit. Yes, fact is some people DO get off the horse for life.
Create a handgun bounty to get guns off the street. OK, different yet related to the harm reduction topic. Is it worth $500 and no questions asked to take an illegal gun off the street? Sure it is! Ask any cop.
To summarize, Kreskin, your approach is akin to bidding the sky not to rain rather than simply putting on a raincoat. The problem lies in human nature and the elements (substances) that exist around us.
There's no "solving" the addiction problem and all of the spin-off industries.
You can only strive to control and manage the problem.
Muz
Impetus
Good post - lots of common sense there.
I have one point I'd like to offer - not in argument with what you have written but a caveat to your statement regarding Cannabis. Whether it is an herb or not is irrelevant as to its effect upon the human physical, neurological and mental makeup.
Every human is different - some are more prone to addiction no matter the substance taken.
Cannabis often opens the door to heavier abuse of more dangerous drugs. Therefore I consider it
a basic introduction to finding the easier, more pleasing way out in dealing with the problems in our life... taking a soothing remedy. Unfortunately with terrible consequences.
Whether you like to give it another more honorable name, it is still able to change the basic human...and we can only leave it to fate to see whether it had beneficial or detrimental outcome.
Good post - lots of common sense there.
I have one point I'd like to offer - not in argument with what you have written but a caveat to your statement regarding Cannabis. Whether it is an herb or not is irrelevant as to its effect upon the human physical, neurological and mental makeup.
Every human is different - some are more prone to addiction no matter the substance taken.
Cannabis often opens the door to heavier abuse of more dangerous drugs. Therefore I consider it
a basic introduction to finding the easier, more pleasing way out in dealing with the problems in our life... taking a soothing remedy. Unfortunately with terrible consequences.
Whether you like to give it another more honorable name, it is still able to change the basic human...and we can only leave it to fate to see whether it had beneficial or detrimental outcome.
I'd like to point out that there are two common forms of addiction. One physical and the other psychological.
While one is based on the tendencies of the drug, the other on the tendencies of the person.
While one is based on the tendencies of the drug, the other on the tendencies of the person.
Thanks,
Yeah, I was going to elaborate upon the herb thing, but in the interest of brevity left it open. Thanks for raising the point.
I made that point to differentiate it from the processed "drugs" like heroin and cocaine.
Not to negate its psychoactive properties. I consider a drug something processed to the point where a lethal dose is possible.
As for the gateway drug thought, I'd say that is irrelevant. My experience was alcohol first, LSD second, then I tried a toke. I don't think it is any more a gateway drug than alcohol is. Once you experience a high of any sort it's natural to wonder about others.
The problem with "causality" theories is they typically go like "most heroin users tried marijuana first, therefore marijuana is the gateway drug." Well, most marijuana users I know (myself included) don't do heroin and never have. I'd wager the ratio of marijuana users to heroin/coke users in the world is staggering. So the relationship between the two types of users is invalid.
I don't believe I've seen any studies confirming marijuana's long-term effects on changing the basic human positive or negative. I wouldn't doubt there are, but none negative that I can report.
I've smoked it more or less every day since I was 14 and I have a responsible, white-collar consulting position.
Muz
Yeah, I was going to elaborate upon the herb thing, but in the interest of brevity left it open. Thanks for raising the point.
I made that point to differentiate it from the processed "drugs" like heroin and cocaine.
Not to negate its psychoactive properties. I consider a drug something processed to the point where a lethal dose is possible.
As for the gateway drug thought, I'd say that is irrelevant. My experience was alcohol first, LSD second, then I tried a toke. I don't think it is any more a gateway drug than alcohol is. Once you experience a high of any sort it's natural to wonder about others.
The problem with "causality" theories is they typically go like "most heroin users tried marijuana first, therefore marijuana is the gateway drug." Well, most marijuana users I know (myself included) don't do heroin and never have. I'd wager the ratio of marijuana users to heroin/coke users in the world is staggering. So the relationship between the two types of users is invalid.
I don't believe I've seen any studies confirming marijuana's long-term effects on changing the basic human positive or negative. I wouldn't doubt there are, but none negative that I can report.
I've smoked it more or less every day since I was 14 and I have a responsible, white-collar consulting position.
Muz
Thanks for your reply Impetus - a good one as expected.
Consider yourself one of the lucky people who possess the makeup to enjoy and resist increased use for the same 'high' or effect.
As I wrote earlier - there are some who will escalate their need - and whatever differences they have compared with some as you are able - who can enjoy and put away - is as fleeting and unknown as the wind.
I think I have dealt with too many of the unlucky and feel compelled to remind people it isn't always a positive trip - only the beginnings - and for some it will never be disneyland.
The lucky ones often make use of variant drug experimentation to increase their gifts of artistic or intellectual excellence. Ten years down the line - is the great answer. Some should never make the journey. The others - many benefit from their work.
Consider yourself one of the lucky people who possess the makeup to enjoy and resist increased use for the same 'high' or effect.
As I wrote earlier - there are some who will escalate their need - and whatever differences they have compared with some as you are able - who can enjoy and put away - is as fleeting and unknown as the wind.
I think I have dealt with too many of the unlucky and feel compelled to remind people it isn't always a positive trip - only the beginnings - and for some it will never be disneyland.
The lucky ones often make use of variant drug experimentation to increase their gifts of artistic or intellectual excellence. Ten years down the line - is the great answer. Some should never make the journey. The others - many benefit from their work.
Yeah, I'm lucky alright, I figure.
I did try smoking a rock once (out of curiosity) and really felt the compulsion to do more. Scary stuff...never again since. I know what you mean about escalating need.
What's the expression they use? "Chasing the dragon's tail" or something...
I believe those people are destined for destruction regardless of the route they choose.
I do know some people who never kicked the downward spiral and others who absolutely hate the pot high...
Incidentally, I should mention I'm a medmar user for glaucoma and spinal lipoma.
I knew it was good for my spinal condition before it became legal to talk about it. (remember those laws about distributing marijuana information?)
Nice to have the freedom to discuss it here!
Muz
I did try smoking a rock once (out of curiosity) and really felt the compulsion to do more. Scary stuff...never again since. I know what you mean about escalating need.
What's the expression they use? "Chasing the dragon's tail" or something...
I believe those people are destined for destruction regardless of the route they choose.
I do know some people who never kicked the downward spiral and others who absolutely hate the pot high...
Incidentally, I should mention I'm a medmar user for glaucoma and spinal lipoma.
I knew it was good for my spinal condition before it became legal to talk about it. (remember those laws about distributing marijuana information?)
Nice to have the freedom to discuss it here!
Muz
Doc
Good points there too - the problem with drugs is they create an avoidance of life. This is apart from some of the damage they can do to us as functioning organisms... but that's played up a great deal...sometimes we forget about the denials and the fears and the reasons why the drugs become important...
I think negatives happen to us for a reason - to test our strengths - to reaffirm our view of what we wish to happen down the way a bit - for the future.
Sure people get creative and drugs enhance for a person 'the moment' in time when they are high - but they have no comparisons about being 'high' without the drugs in that same situation. By knowing drugs will make the high happen - nobody bothers trying the natural way.
With drugs paving the highway - we'll never learn how well we could actually handle the bumps or potholes - because we managed to find something to use which carefully avoided living our real lives.
Like being a kid and never putting that first foot into a pool of water - ever.... and eventually learning that water felt great.... and the next leg..... and dunking up to our neck.... and submerging completely under water.... that first gangling kick trying to swim when our legs felt like lead.... and finally two strokes.....then five.... then floating on our back....
...if we had never put our foot in - we would never know.
Good points there too - the problem with drugs is they create an avoidance of life. This is apart from some of the damage they can do to us as functioning organisms... but that's played up a great deal...sometimes we forget about the denials and the fears and the reasons why the drugs become important...
I think negatives happen to us for a reason - to test our strengths - to reaffirm our view of what we wish to happen down the way a bit - for the future.
Sure people get creative and drugs enhance for a person 'the moment' in time when they are high - but they have no comparisons about being 'high' without the drugs in that same situation. By knowing drugs will make the high happen - nobody bothers trying the natural way.
With drugs paving the highway - we'll never learn how well we could actually handle the bumps or potholes - because we managed to find something to use which carefully avoided living our real lives.
Like being a kid and never putting that first foot into a pool of water - ever.... and eventually learning that water felt great.... and the next leg..... and dunking up to our neck.... and submerging completely under water.... that first gangling kick trying to swim when our legs felt like lead.... and finally two strokes.....then five.... then floating on our back....
...if we had never put our foot in - we would never know.
Impetus
I like that freedom too .... I like that people can speak up...try things on for size... get their ideas organized....do some research on something which gets their interest going.... lotta positives....
I hope the internet will always have more positives than negatives.
I like that freedom too .... I like that people can speak up...try things on for size... get their ideas organized....do some research on something which gets their interest going.... lotta positives....
I hope the internet will always have more positives than negatives.
One small clarification...drugs like heroin destroy the liver. Any drug that floats through the blood will be cleaned by the liver and these are considered toxic. There are other components that can be mixed in with drugs like non clean Xtasy and crystal meth with eat away at the brain.
These are don't believe are played up nor exaggerated. But they should be advertised far more then they are. That lovely feeling you get from the high has a price. Both physically and emotionally
I don't actually have a problem with recreational weed ..I still think it better than recreational booze......and i think legalizing weed is a good idea.....considering the extant of our society's useage....
something i would like to add to curio's last piece...
When I came out of Addiction reasearch foundation for drugs that i had been on and off since i was a teenager...heavily addicted since i was about 20 and went in when i was 34.....
I went back to work .....I shook like a leaf, and could not function......
went home, got back at it the next day same thing......
When i saw the psychatrist at ARF she explained to me that that was like my first day on the job physically and psychologically and emotionally....
She explained that because i started to use drugs at 13 and stayed mostly on themn through puberty and onto that present time , part of me grew and learned how to deal with everything while under the influence.....
I learned how to live whilst being high and cushioned everything with drugs...
Taking them away at 34 , everything became a learning expoierence on certain levels for the first time.......
I lapsed....in and out of it till i met my wife.....Somehow Nag Central and I fell in love....real love... If it wasn't for sandy's ..erm ..determination...i might not be here.....or worse be here as a %uzfest enthusiest.....LOL!!!! inside joke guys....lighten up ... i love ya....8O
something i would like to add to curio's last piece...
When I came out of Addiction reasearch foundation for drugs that i had been on and off since i was a teenager...heavily addicted since i was about 20 and went in when i was 34.....
I went back to work .....I shook like a leaf, and could not function......
went home, got back at it the next day same thing......
When i saw the psychatrist at ARF she explained to me that that was like my first day on the job physically and psychologically and emotionally....
She explained that because i started to use drugs at 13 and stayed mostly on themn through puberty and onto that present time , part of me grew and learned how to deal with everything while under the influence.....
I learned how to live whilst being high and cushioned everything with drugs...
Taking them away at 34 , everything became a learning expoierence on certain levels for the first time.......
I lapsed....in and out of it till i met my wife.....Somehow Nag Central and I fell in love....real love... If it wasn't for sandy's ..erm ..determination...i might not be here.....or worse be here as a %uzfest enthusiest.....LOL!!!! inside joke guys....lighten up ... i love ya....8O