Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: Police Groups Furiously Protest Eric Holder's Marijuana Policy Announcement [View all]RainDog
(28,784 posts)21. What sort of society do we want?
from 2007 - and the amount of money and arrests have increased...
What would you buy if you had an extra $42 billion to spend every year? What might our government buy if it suddenly had that much money dropped onto its lap every year?
For one thing, it might pay for the entire $7 billion annual increase in the State Children's Health Insurance Program that President Bush is threatening to veto because of its cost -- and there'd still be $35 billion left over.
Or perhaps you'd hire 880,000 schoolteachers at the average U.S. teacher salary of $47,602 per year.
Why $42 billion? Because that's what our current marijuana laws cost American taxpayers each year, according to a new study by researcher Jon Gettman, Ph.D. -- $10.7 billion in direct law enforcement costs, and $31.1 billion in lost tax revenues. And that may be an underestimate, at least on the law enforcement side, since Gettman made his calculations before the FBI released its latest arrest statistics in late September. The new FBI stats show an all-time record 829,627 marijuana arrests in 2006, 43,000 more than in 2005.
http://www.alternet.org/story/64465/the_war_on_pot%3A_america's_$42_billion_annual_boondoggle
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
82 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Police Groups Furiously Protest Eric Holder's Marijuana Policy Announcement [View all]
RainDog
Aug 2013
OP
Exactly. It's a huge jobs scam that's filled our prisons with people who simply don't belong there.
WestSeattle2
Aug 2013
#51
Those that rely on bogus crimes are corrupt and we don't need them in law enforcement.
LiberalFighter
Aug 2013
#59
new policiy cuts into the LEO welfare pork scam. now they may have to find real criminals nt
msongs
Aug 2013
#3
I'll BET they don't want to give up the fight. How you gonna justify the APC's now?
Poll_Blind
Aug 2013
#5
I was just thinking maybe they would have the time and resources to go after meth
AllyCat
Aug 2013
#23
Notice was given by the voters. It's been time enough for law enforcement to prepare.
delrem
Aug 2013
#11
Are they worried their childrern won't have life-long jobs w/pensions for persecuting hippies?
Coyotl
Aug 2013
#18
Why protest Holder? He's not in charge of their jurisdictions, as State, County, and local officers
Dragonfli
Aug 2013
#26
Because only the Feds have the power to keep forcing prohibition on us, that's why.
bemildred
Aug 2013
#38
"If there had been doubt about how meaningful Holder's move was ... " <-- I like this part. eom
99th_Monkey
Aug 2013
#30
For the man in the paddock, whose duty it is to sweep up manure, the supreme terror
bemildred
Aug 2013
#37
Didn't Gore say "It is difficult to get a man to understand something whose paycheck
AllyCat
Aug 2013
#43
Well, much as I like Al, I don't think he reads a lot of obscure Hugo in translation.
bemildred
Sep 2013
#70
Of course they do...less cool breaking down door equipment with fashion accessories.
Safetykitten
Aug 2013
#39
Sorry boys.. It's not your job to write or make enforcement decisions about the laws..
annabanana
Aug 2013
#61
The asset-seizure laws, as currently enforced, are criminally unconstitutional imo
indepat
Aug 2013
#62
Modern-day highwaymen, but with the seal of governmental approval. Unconstitutional
indepat
Aug 2013
#65