Re: Off Topic: The Insane War on Drugs

[Margaret Tarbet <tarbet@swaa.com>]

Greg wrote, responding to Laura

>> Sounds like a mutated form of capitalism to me, the only difference being
>> that this product happens to be illegal.  So, what's the dif between the
>> corporate take-over "turf wars" and the power in muscling out one company
>> who's invaded a big power's turf and the gangs muscling out other gang
>> members for control of the product?
>> Like I said, the only difference is that this product is illegal, say, as
>> opposed to a product like what Microsoft or any other big company conrols
>> and distributes.
>
>  This is amazing. You actually appear to be serious. You actually think 
>the "world of legitimate business" is like the "world of Scarface". Laura, 
>when you try to make those kinds of claims, you exclude yourself from the 
>ranks of the rational.

Oh i totally disagree with you, Greg...and think that you're being
gratuitously insulting as well.  What _fundamental_ differences --
not just differences in social legitimacy and technique -- do you
think _you_ see between legal and illegal corporations?   

I think Laura is exactly correct in her analysis.   The sole
difference seems to be that the drug dealers are in a position where
not only are the civil courts out of reach, but they are under
physical attack from their competitors and various governments.  So
they take contract enforcement and anti-competitive activities into
their own hands.   Their respective goals and probably even their
organisational styles are the same, only their social positions and
thus business techniques differ.   Hell, that's why 'organised
crime' is _called_ organised!