After watching some true crime stuff on TV, my thoughts are really being heavily weighed down by the war on drugs and sex work. Both are examples of epic failures in policy and are causing far more harm than any good. It is about time that the war on drugs ends and that sex work be legalized. Neither policies are about the promotion of public health or safety. They’re all grounded in rather backward Christian temperance beliefs which are causing much more harm than good.
At this point, the war on drugs is being perpetuated simply because it is far too profitable for too many corporations, too beneficial for law enforcement budgets, and too beneficial for politicians. In fact, the cartels themselves have a vested interest in keeping the status quo simply because they would stand to lose billions of dollars in profits per years should this policy end. The war on drugs has done nothing to reduce drug-related crime and hospitals and EMS continue to fight the narcotics epidemic on the frontlines.
As if this is not enough, the continued legal prohibition on sex work is actually endangering the lives of women. Yes, it’s not protecting women at all! Women have to work in the shadows of society in order to avoid arrest and prosecution. Therefore, they’re far more likely to fall victim to sex trafficking and horrific forms of abuse from sexual assault up to and including murder. If sex work were legal, women would actually be much safer. The pimping system would vanish virtually overnight. Women would not have to work within a shadowy underworld.
These concerns are just a small part of why I will never see America as great. Our own president is, for all intents and purposes, a known pedophile and most likely guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault as well. The fact that America still does not take the protection of women seriously is astounding. And all these incarcerations for drug use and possession. If someone wants to use drugs, who are we to tell them that they cannot. We should not be legislating what a person can or cannot do with their own body. Prohibition of alcohol failed, why are we repeating history!? Does anybody else see the irony of the MAGA contingent touting our country as being the freest in the world while also having the largest incarcerated population? I just can no longer drink this kool aide being served by the government.