Narcotic Control

Some thoughts on the problems facing Mexico as the Drug barons carve out fiefdoms along the US/Mexican border. I suspect that this is a portent of things to come. It seems very much like a nascent insurgency. Often, the Drug Traffickers outgun the Mexican police with ever more sophisticated armaments. We dither about border protection while the Drug Lords build the infrastructure to support cross border operations. It seems only a matter of time before the violence spills over and we become involved. We should be anticipating this at the national level and making plans to counteract it. If we are, I haven’t heard of any.
Second, the real problem is us. Our (the US) insatiable appetite for narcotics is the engine that finances the Drug barons and drives the entire Mexican crisis. We should have learned our lesson from the prohibition of alcohol in the 20‘s and 30‘s. It spawned the development of organized crime that bedevils us to this day. We spend billions trying to combat narcotic production, transportation and law enforcement. We could save huge amounts if we would recognize the futility of current policy. Just legalize drugs, then control and tax them. Several advantages come immediately to mind. First, it would really reduce the Narco-trafficker’s income and over time reduce their potency. Second it could become a great source of income for the feds. That might help a little in the deficit battle. Then too, it would free up prison cells for really dangerous felons. Looks like a win/win situation to me.