BS: Abolish the DEA

Subject: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 03 May 12 - 04:52 PM

Shame on the mudcat liberals for missing this one. This is days old already and I've been waiting to see who was going to comment on it. Now I know: Nobody.

Hm, why is that? I wonder if it's because the victim was Asian-American. Nah, couldn't be that! That's racist!

So, yeah, student Daniel Chong was arrested by the DEA at a pot party on 4/20, locked in a cell so tiny, he couldn't stretch his arms out, fed methamphetamine instead of food or water, no sanitary facilities but was so dehydrated that he drank his own urine anyway. He broke his glasses and ate shards trying to commit suicide because he was convinced they were not going to let him out. He used one shard to try and carve "Sorry mom" into his arm.

During this time, he could hear DEA agents outside his cell but when he yelled and begged for assistance, they ignored him--later claiming they didn't know he was in there. They put him in there, had to be able to hear him screaming but they didn't know he was in there.

When they let him out, he was delerious and had to be rushed to the hospital. Doctors said another 12 hours or so and he would have died. During this period, Chong was completely isolated and had no contact with any person despite being told earlier by his DEA interrogators that he was not going to be charged and could go home.

Chong wants $20 million for his ordeal which he called "life-changing." I want the DEA abolished. It is useless and 99% of the people in it are criminals and belong in prison independent from this incident. Clearly, they locked this guy in a cell in a "let's keep this gook in there and feed him crank and see how bad he freaks out" bid for entertainment that only the DEA can provide or appreciate.

Why is it that when the republicans whine about cutting govt spending, they never mentioning abolishing the DEA--the biggest waste in govt and its most salient example of big govt run amok?

But don't worry, mudcatters, you can start your third thread on Young Earth Creationism and other bullshit liberals can't attack enough. Leave ranting about America's secret police destroying your country's freedoms to people who actually care. They didn't shut Abu Ghraib down, folks, they just moved it to the US.

Get your "Fuck you, josepp, you asshole" responses ready--you'll need 'em.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/daniel-chong-ucsd-san-diego-dea-149758275.html

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: Amos
Date: 03 May 12 - 05:29 PM

Once in a great while, Joseph, when you bother to take the chip of your shoulder, you make good sense.

I think abolishing the DEA would be a profitable move.



A

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: Bill D
Date: 03 May 12 - 05:37 PM

Someone made a stupid mistake... so the answer is "abolish the DEA"?

Talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater!

Why not just fire whoever is responsible?

Issues about the DEA and drug enforcement in general need a wee bit more analysis.

*IF* you're interested in getting rid of DEA, you need a LOT of discussion of all of its functions and which ones to retain.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: GUEST
Date: 03 May 12 - 05:50 PM

"... a wee bit more analysis." I'd say that's a measured approach to a difficult and complex problem.

As for the ""Fuck you, josepp, you asshole" responses..."", I'd go along with part of that.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: saulgoldie
Date: 03 May 12 - 05:51 PM

"Just say, 'no.'" 'Member that? Perhaps ye were tae yung. The DEA goes way back. And probly has thousands of instances of over-stepping, not to mention its flawed original reason for being.

And 20 of the last 30 years have been Republican presidencies. Not hardly liberal, by any stretch of the imagination. And hell, Shrub hisself has done blow. (Was it maybe while he was "evading" the draft, perhaps? Nevermind.)

Agreed that reassessing the DEA would be a good thing. But this one event is hardly the only or even the best reason.

Saul

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: Wesley S
Date: 03 May 12 - 05:55 PM

" I've been waiting to see who was going to comment on it. Now I know: Nobody."

Oh wow - we failed your test. That upsets me to the core. I'm going to go hang my head in shame. And wear black.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: gnu
Date: 03 May 12 - 06:05 PM

I keep tossing my cookie??? GUEST was me.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 May 12 - 06:08 PM

Unfortunately this was not a particularly unique or isolated incident, although it is the first of this specific nature I can recall involving the DEA. There have been at least two similar "forgotten prisoner" cases reported in national (US) news within the past several months (involving local or county cops) but such incidents do seem to be fairly rare. They're certainly much less common than deaths - or destruction of personalities - from illicit drugs.

Although some might feel they benefit from "something new on which to spew hatred" (it's really fun?) it's unlikely that anything said here might affect an eventual outcome of the suit against those responsible, the legal procedings are apparently well in hand, and what might be said here certainly won't change what already happened or any discipline or corrective actions within agencies involved.

Why bother? (well, whinging and hating is such fun!)

As mentioned, there are important(?) things we might affect by rational discussion and exchange of information not generally already known by the majority.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: gnu
Date: 03 May 12 - 06:21 PM

And, hollering "racist" seems to be a whole lot of fun, these days. It's rather annoying and it's definitely disturbing.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: Bobert
Date: 03 May 12 - 08:55 PM

End all victim-less crime and guess what???

America ends a $1T a year drain on it's resources messin' with folks who haven't hurt anyone else...

Turn back these Talibanish laws and set America free!!!

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: Amos
Date: 03 May 12 - 10:26 PM

Sing it out, Mister B!

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: gnu
Date: 03 May 12 - 10:55 PM

Battle train toops and field test weapons while justifying a religious and civil war as being about fighting terrorism? And, the securing of opiates. Let's not forget the drugs. There's a few bucks in opium.

It just ain't right.... is it?

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: GUEST
Date: 04 May 12 - 10:29 AM

Daniel Chong has to realize the irony of being busted for pot on 4/20, when 420 is code for "pot-friendly" ....

The DEA isn't worried too much about the outcome of the lawsuit, as any money Chong may be awarded ultimately will come from the coffers of the U.S. taxpayer.

Most Americans realize the "War on Drugs" has been a dismal failure, given the amount of money spent with little if any impact on the manufacture or use of drugs. This symbolic "war" isn't worth the money taxpayers have to cough up to bolster the image of a sober and morally responsible federal republic.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: Greg F.
Date: 04 May 12 - 10:42 AM

"the "War on Drugs" has been a dismal failure"

Yeah, but think of all the jobs it created! Think like a TeaPublican!

Let all those employees go, including the workers that manufacture the spook-electronics & equipment & the unemployment rate would go up 5 per cent.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 04 May 12 - 01:22 PM

The pot on 4/20 was in honor of 420 so there is no irony involved. Funny to see most here didn't bother get riled up. Like that old song, "If you don't know me by nowwwww..."

So, Bill D, the war on drugs makes the DEA a worthy cause? Have drugs been curtailed in this country one iota? If the DEA can't keep track of nine people in their own interrogation center and don't bother to look in the cells they have put suspects in for drug busts to the point where they apparently mess a packet of methamphetamine, should we bother entertaining the idea that these are the people who should be fighting this oh-so-noble war on drugs?

And you have to love the DEA spokeswoman who said that if Chong wasn't breaking the law, this wouldn't have happened to him. No, it would have just happened to somebody else. And if he was not going to be charged and allowed to go home then I guess he didn't break the law. That just smacks of "if Trayvon didn't attack while I confronted him with a gun, I wouldn't have shot him to death."

/////"Although some might feel they benefit from "something new on which to spew hatred" (it's really fun?) it's unlikely that anything said here might affect an eventual outcome of the suit against those responsible, the legal procedings are apparently well in hand, and what might be said here certainly won't change what already happened or any discipline or corrective actions within agencies involved."////

Then why talk about anything at all? Why go online and leave comments about anything? Of course, it needs to be discussed. That's how knowledge of it spreads. What a shame to have such a powerful mass communication tool as the internet at our disposal--one of the greatest inventions of modern times (just ask the Arab Spring protesters) but we won't use it for that because there's no point to talking about what has already happened. And talking about it won't change it. 's just be quiet about it and let the authorities handle it. I'm sure they know about these matters than we do, wouldn't you agree?

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: gnu
Date: 04 May 12 - 01:33 PM

Greg F... and what would happen to all the attack and drug-sniffing dogs?

I suppose all the machine pistols and sniper rifles and battering ram tanks and such could be auctioned off.

I wonder what effect changing the mandate, even somewhat, of the DEA in the direction of educating children about the downfalls associated with drugs, ESPECIALLY alcohol and tobacco, could have.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: GUEST,999
Date: 04 May 12 - 01:54 PM

The USA was once the promised land. It was a place of hope where--as so many of your textbooks promulgate--anyone regardless of financial worth could become president. Yeah, right.

It was a place where anyone could get a fair trial. Yeah, right.

You think on so many of the 'perceptions' held by Americans and the fact of the matter is they have been bullshit for a hundred years and it's only getting worse.

The DEA: how effective is the so-called war on drugs? Check stats regarding drug use and addiction--that is if the USA has any independent studies not controlled by government--and that ought to let ya know if this 'war' is being won, and if so, by whom..

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 04 May 12 - 02:00 PM

Alcohol & tobacco ~~ yay! Why can no-one, either over there or here, see that the current situation vis-à-vis drugs is pretty well precisely analogous to the situation re alcohol in the 20s-30s Prohibition days; is bringing all the same problems of bootlegging & organised crime in its wake; is going to achieve just the same measure of success; and is bound ultimately, when they come to their senses at last, to end in just the same way ~ with an identical shamefaced "how-can-we-have-been-so-stupid" climbdown?

Just hope it won't take too long...

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 04 May 12 - 02:22 PM

It's money-maker all the way around: You can make a fortune making and selling illegal drugs and another fortune busting everyone buying the drugs and throwing them in the slammer.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: alanabit
Date: 04 May 12 - 02:28 PM

As the father of two teenage children, I am rather miffed that the tobacco and alcohol pushers are allowed to use advertising to promote their drugs. No one can legislate drugs out of existence, as several previous posters have correctly stated. However, I do not see why anyone should be allowed to advertise them and make them look glamourous.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 04 May 12 - 04:21 PM

There was a law, I don't know if it's still on the books, that anyone who publishes a full list of all the ingredients that go into making tobacco cigarette will be prosecuted and sent to prison (yes, they are serious, ask Mr. Chong). That's because it's all poison and it's unconscionable to peddle it to people but rather than ban as is their usual solution, the govt bends the law so that you can't know all the poisons these bastards are legally allowed to peddle to you. If that isn't hypocrisy, what is?

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: Greg F.
Date: 04 May 12 - 05:17 PM

Greg F... and what would happen to all the attack and drug-sniffing dogs?

Jeez, Gnu - I forgot all about the dogs! They'd swamp the animal shelters all over the country.

WAIT! Maybe they could distribute them free for poor people to eat & reduce welfare expenditures!

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: gnu
Date: 04 May 12 - 06:38 PM

Greg maybe the drug sniffing dogs could be re-trained to be seeing-eye dogs and could then help the blind score a bag.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: michaelr
Date: 04 May 12 - 07:21 PM

Any thread that starts "Shame on the Mudcat liberals..." obviously means the OP is looking for a fight. Sorry, josepp, this liberal won't oblige. Too stoned to bother.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: Bobert
Date: 04 May 12 - 07:23 PM

BTW, I am plum outta weed... Would someone send me a bag???

Thanks...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: GUEST,999
Date: 04 May 12 - 08:39 PM

It's in the mail, Bobster.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: GUEST,josepp
Date: 04 May 12 - 09:28 PM

/////Any thread that starts "Shame on the Mudcat liberals..." obviously means the OP is looking for a fight. Sorry, josepp, this liberal won't oblige./////

You just did.

Subject: RE: BS: Abolish the DEA
From: gnu
Date: 04 May 12 - 09:50 PM

Troll.