Metalpeter's blog: "Peters Thoughts"

Well as most of you know who read the paper or watch the news recently in Buffalo there has been a lot of killings.   How it is stats wise I'm not sure but that doesn't really matter that much that is just how people compare how much crime there is at one time vs. another.  I'm not saying that you can get rid of all crime, because you can't.  But I do think that Buffalo isn't the only city where crime is much higher then it should be.

   Stealing stuff is common in these tough economic times.  I think that getting rid of that would be pretty tough.  But I think one way to reduce that is to have cops who walk the street.  I think that when Cops know everyone in there little area it does deter some crime.  Hey if I'm a cop and see someone On Joe's bike then there is going to be a problem, but if everyone knows that I know what Joe's bike is no one is going to take it and if they trade it for drugs then the local dealers know that I know it is Joe's bike so they aren't taking it for drugs.  What it also does it makes it a tough sell to anyone else.   But the other thing that having cops walk is that if they know everyone then there is more sense of community.  

Murder I can admit that maybe there is a little bit of killing over a girl or maybe a boy.  But most of it has to do with Robbery (often for drug money) or drugs and gangs.  Now some of them aren't directly because of a gang but that violence may cause a more violent atmosphere.  But the question is how do you stop the gang violence and just normal shootings and beatings and what have you.

In this country we often do things backwards.  We take a problem and and try and fix the problem instead of preventing it.   For example we lock of drug dealers and all kinds of other people. We do it as a punishment.  Yes for some it works but for most it just makes them more criminal, how can you get a good job after being locked up?  If you could get a good one then why did you do something to get locked up?   So What I'm saying is we need to do stuff to prevent crime. 

Well In Buffalo is the Mayor even doing anything?  I say he isn't.  But would you if you had one person you where running against and no one on the republican side?  But even if he did do something what could Brown do?

Ok here is an idea he could Hire more cops.  Oh wait that is right we don't have the money to.  Oh wait there are federal funds.  Oh but wait we didn't get those because we don't have enough minorities so we don't qualify.  This fucking pisses me off.  Yes I get that there is racism and you have to make sure everyone gets a fair chance.  But if you don't have enough qualified people who try to join the force you shouldn't be penalized for that. 

How about programs to give people stuff to do after school.  I think sports is nice but not only sports.  How about computer classes and other classes that aren't about getting a grade, that are about learning a skill.   There used to be , is there still now a Mayor summer Youth Program why not extend that and have be jobs that clean up places after school for a couple hours or shovel snow for people who are old and can't.  I'm not saying I have all the answers but it is an idea.

 What bothers me about what Brown has done these last few days is he has shown up to clean up and called the media.  Here's an idea go out and don't call the media work all day with the people.  Call them together and tell them that they are the ones who has to take back their neighborhoods.   That is how you fix the problem by hard work getting your hands dirty and bringing the community together, so many people don't know the people who live around them nowadays . 

But here is where things get tough because other then that there isn't much you can do really.  It is up to people that when they see something they snitch or call the cops.  But there is another reason why what I'm writing gets tough, politics   is a nasty game and it hurts everyone.  

 It costs a lot of money to run for office.  Not just in Buffalo but anywhere.  Politics is so much about the money that no one can be completely honest.  Hey you say the truth and someone will want your head.  If you do what is right often some one will think it isn't fair.  Oh and say something that is controversial and you are out of office.    Then of course there are your supporters who you owe stuff to.   All of this stops people from doing what should be done and putting on a show.  I think there is a great way to stop crime but it will never happen because no one has the balls to say it, well at least not when they run.  

I have all ready said that I think Most crime is gang or drug related.  Yes having more DEA guys would be great and they could get a lot of drugs off the street.   But sorry guys it will all ways be on the street since there are people who want it.  We as a society have to look at why people need drugs.  Why  some people can smoke weed and are fine and why some people need other drugs and need to break into houses to support there habit.  In other words use vs. abuse and addiction that is problematic and functional.   For example some people get drunk on the weekends only and don't hurt anyone.  But then some people can't show up to work or classes on time ever.   There should be a way for people to deal with life other then turn to drugs.  But this will never happens because  the people who sell the legal drugs need that same culture to sell their drugs.   Hey when a kid can't sit still in class because he can't run around out side and can't play like he should don't put him on pills.   Someone really needs to come up with a life coping skills class it could end the illegal drug trade or put a big dent in it and make life for everyone so much better. 

  But if you can't stop the want for drugs then no drug war will ever win.  Not to mention to lock someone up because they like to get high is silly.  For them robbing someone that is different.  But what they need is help not to be locked up.  One way to do that is to get more rehab places and get more experts to help people who are addicted to drugs and a danger to other people.  The best way to fund this is with taxes.  (if anyone is still reading this I think you know where I'm going).  

So how does one get drugs taxed and away from the streets.  You tax it and legalize it.   Anything crossing a boarder is taxed.  Would people still smuggle some in to avoid taxes yes.   But I'm sure these people could make more money selling drugs legit and working for one of those companies.  When ever land is sold there has to be a reason if it is to grow weed or to make a meth lab and you don't disclose that then the government could take it over and keep all the profits.   In terms of how the drugs would be sold.  Is they would be in special stores like maybe say rite aids.  You would get multiple needles with the product or maybe spoons for crack or what ever.   Some places could even have a room where you could go get high and then when you where done leave.  Every store would have a needle thing so you can throw them out.  You would have to be 16 to buy drugs.  Lets face it teens want weed and maybe some other stuff to make the age 18 would fuel an underground drug scene and you don't want that.   Anyone who opened up one of these drug places would pay taxes and that money they make would be right back into the economy as opposed who knows what happens with drug dealers.   Also there sure would be a lot more tax money flowing into the economy.   Not sure what the right percentage is but lets say 15% of the tax revenue would go directly to rehab places and a bit of that would be used for education and prevention for the use of drugs. 

I know what some people would say, that making drugs legal would be saying it is ok.  That would get more people do to them.  If people come into work messed up there is no way to fire them since it is legal.  All that is false.  Legally with alcohol you can't be fired right away your employer must give you the chance to get help that would be the same here.   In terms of saying drugs are ok, the government does do that they just call them prescriptions yes most are for medical conditions but a lot of them are for behavior and mood, and stress.  It also wouldn't be saying that doing meth is ok it just says it isn't a crime.   For example the law doesn't say abortion is good and that young women should use it as birth control it just says that it is legal.   Drugs being legal wouldn't cause more people to do them.  Well maybe it could because some people getting in trouble is what makes them want to quit.  But most people who want to do a drug don't care if it is legal or not, just look back at Prohibition and how that didn't work.  If you are looking at that all see how that caused more crime. 

If anyone is still reading this my main point is that politics is what causes most of these murders.  Until the system is changed it won't stop anywhere.  The reason is prevention and talking honestly about how to get people not to need drugs will never happen.  If that could happen then legalizing drugs wouldn't be an issue because no one would buy them.  If you mention that maybe you should look into legalizing drugs you done.  I also blame this on the Media some what.  Everyone wants to have these quick points and no detail and no honest debate and no thinking just stuff to get ratings and sell ads.    So for that reason they will never be legalized.  Ok that is the end of my rant.