drug prohibition is an obstacle to economic development
To make such a claim, drug war advocates would have to ignore the sheer level of profitability that is available in the drug trade. Someone is going to supply the drugs, for that kind of money. If higher-level people have to pay lower-level people more in order to compete with growing local opportunities, they have the money available to be able to do so.
Also, one of the major obstacles to creating more economic opportunity in the inner cities is the violence and the disorder that the illegal drug trade brings. I certainly respect the efforts that are being made to help people economically, and those efforts are important in their own right. But they are struggling against a powerful wind so long as prohibition continues.
The bottom line is that there is an enormous amount of money in the drug trade, and someone is going to fill the jobs that that creates. We will be better off when that money goes into legal, legitimate jobs instead. It is indeed good news that many of the people currently employed by the drug trade may have the skills needed to transition into the licit economy.
Matt Bandyk, a reporter for U.S. News, explores capitalism from where it all begins, with the entrepreneur, whose risk taking and experimentation provide the roots from which the rest of the economy grows. As much courage as it takes to create one's own business, even the entrepreneur needs some help, and this blog will look at news, trends, and practical advice for starting and running a small business.
David Borden of DC @ Jul 29, 2008 19:35:47 PM
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