“As both a U.S. Attorney and Member of Congress, I defended drug prohibition,” Barr puts it mildly at Huffington Post. “But it has become increasingly clear to me, after much study, that our current strategy has not worked and will not work. The other candidates for president prefer not to address this issue, but ignoring the failure of existing policy exhibits both a poverty of thought and an absence of political courage. The federal government must turn the decision on drug policy back to the states and the citizens themselves.”
As a candidate for federal office, Barr advocates an end to the federal government’s war on drugs, but also demonstrates an appreciation for the inevitable failure of prohibition on any level:
It is obvious that, like Prohibition’s effort to eradicate alcohol usage, drug prohibition has not succeeded. Despite enormous law enforcement efforts — including the dedicated service of many thousands of professional men and women — the government has not halted drug use. Indeed, the problem is worse today than in 1972, when Richard Nixon first coined the phrase “War on Drugs.”
Whether we like it or not, tens of millions of Americans have used and will continue to use drugs. Yet in 2005 we spent more than $12 billion on federal drug enforcement efforts. Another $30 billion went to incarcerate non-violent drug offenders.
Barr even suggests non-state solutions to the problem of drug abuse:
None of this means that I believe drug use to be harmless, or appropriate for minors. For that reason I would encourage people and institutions throughout America, from churches to social agencies to sports leagues, to work together to address drug abuse. One of our nation’s greatest strengths is the willingness of people to organize outside of government to solve human problems.
Read the full article.
14 responses so far ↓
1 svf // Sep 11, 2008 at 1:46 pm
There goes Bob Barr, the NeoCon Drug Warrior Statist BabyMurderer CIA Thug, spewing his repugnant unlibertarian bile yet again.
SHAME ON YOU, DENVER DELEGATES! SHAME!
2 G.E. // Sep 11, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Yeah. This one marginally good article undoes ALL of the evil.
Oh, wait… No it doesn’t.
BTW: Notice that we posted this, as we do anything of any significance that Barr does in a positive sense. It’s just that that’s very rare.
3 Trent Hill // Sep 11, 2008 at 2:26 pm
“As a canddiate for federal office”
Candidate spelled with two d’s is a way of saying they are SUPER GOOD candidates.
4 G.E. // Sep 11, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Come on, now, Trent… Don’t be REDICULOUS!
5 Trent Hill // Sep 11, 2008 at 2:43 pm
You now owe me two nickels…
6 G.E. // Sep 11, 2008 at 2:44 pm
One for each d?
Oh, no, I get it.
7 Trent Hill // Sep 11, 2008 at 2:51 pm
HAHA. Yea.
8 Peter Orvetti // Sep 11, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Let’s be fair to Barr, he’s really going all out on this issue. It’s obvious they have even started using heavy drugs at his campaign headquarters over the past few days.
9 G.E. // Sep 11, 2008 at 2:57 pm
WAMMY!
Of course, the truth is he probably STOPPED using drugs when he became an anti-drug warrior. It’s important for Barr to be as hypocritical as possible (see cheating on his wife and paying for her abortion while touting family values as prime example).
10 JackTanner // Sep 11, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Continue the Revolution, wave and place President BARR signs.
Barr will be on the ballot in most states.
http://www.artypeinc.com/store/
http://bobbarr.meetup.com/65/photos/
We get positive response in our area with
President BARR wave and yard signs (80 cents)
http://www.artypeinc.com/store/
http://bobbarr.meetup.com/65/photos/
11 Peter Orvetti // Sep 11, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Why do you keep putting BARR in all caps? Is he an acronym now?
Be A Ronpaul Repeller
Bad Actor, Really Republican
Below-Average Revolution Runner
Just off the top of my tired head…
12 G.E. // Sep 11, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Jack Tanner – You are spamming. Stop it.
Awesome!
13 Ross Levin // Sep 11, 2008 at 3:35 pm
In other words: “When I had the power to do something, I defended the drug war. Now I’m against it.” Guess what, I’m still bitter that the LP didn’t pick Gravel – the guy who consistently voted for libertarian causes and filibustered for them and WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT for them when he had the chance, not after he left office.
14 sunshinebatman // Sep 11, 2008 at 4:09 pm
This is new:
I also would review my presidential pardon and commutation powers as a possible means to reduce the number of people in federal prison for non-violent drug offenses. We can no longer afford the human and economic costs of imprisoning so many thousands of people for drug possession. This is the most destructive impact of drug prohibition.
I don’t think Barr had talked about using the pardon power in this wayin the campaign to date. Good for him.
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