Conclusions:
“We’ve got bigger fish to fry” by President Obama[1]. In conclusion base on my findings,data and the silences, the answers I came up with for our group’s questions “Why has The War on Drugs not been a major aspect of the recently passed election?” is that it’s just not a big enough issues. There are issues the American people care more about than the War on Drugs. Yes, the War on Drug has cost tax payer billions of dollar per year but with the current economic and federal deficit this country, the amount of moneys spent on the war on drug is minuscule in comparison; Trillions > Billions. In addition, the majority of American people care more about their jobs, federal spending, social programs like social securities and Medicare than the War on Drugs, as shown in the Fox news poll and CNN exit poll. If the majority of American cares about those issues, than why would each presidential candidate focus on the War on Drugs? It wouldn’t make sense for a candidate to take a stance on an issue if it won’t made a major impact at the polls. In addition, the federal Government has more important to deal with than focus in on the War on drug such as the upcoming fiscal cliff.
On the other side of this argument is, if the government has over 16 trillion in deficit, than why not start by cutting federal and state spending on ineffective drug arrest and programs. The moneys save can be used to paid off the federal deficits, and put into other programs, like education. Even though its small amount in comparison, it has to start somewhere. Second, why not legalized marijuana and regulated like alcohol. The tax revenue and business opportunity will not only help bring in revenue but as well as creating new job opportunities and investment in local USA made products. For example, in a Denver, it is estimated that the legalization of marijuana for recreation would generate $60 Million in revenues and savings.[2]
Why not follow in the footsteps of Colorado, and make a failing system into something that could benefits so many!
Reference
[1]http://news.yahoo.com/marijuana-users-not-high-priority-obama-210709158.html
[2]http://www.cclponline.org/postfiles/amendment_64_analysis_final.pdf