I really think the simple first step is to undo Drug Prohibition. That will take most of the illegal profits and violence out of drug dealing/usage which has corroded the inner cities. It will also reduce the incarceration rate, which as Prof. Cole notes is almost an excuse to take away voting rights from black males. There will be a lot of money saved in the policing, judicial system and prison-industrial complex. And taxes on marijuana and narcotics will be a giant revenue stream. A portion of whcih can go towards drug treatment programs. And there are safety issues, and should be significantly fewer overdoses when heroin and other drugs are standardized and labeled.
It's not a cure-all, but so many lives are wasted and ended through the criminalization of drugs today. And the impact is worst on inner cities and minorities. It's so abundantly clear that Drug Prohibition has failed even worse than Alcohol Prohibition did for many of the same reasons with similar results.
A second idea is why not sell or give public housing to its occupants? Give them a significant discount to the market rate. The gov't doesn't need to own housing. And once these people have the equity of property, they have capital to work with. If people could take out a mortgage for say 30% of the market value of the public housing, most/many would take advantage and work to make payments and own the property. And once folks have an ownership stake, they start taking care of the place, renovating, etc. It unleashes a spending/wealth boom. This was actually done under Thatcher and in China in the mid to late 90's. In China, folks got their state-owned apartments for a rather small fee, with the stipulation they were unable to rent it for 5 years or sell it for 10. Some of the money the government takes in can be used to build some new public housing which after a few years can also be given to its occupants. Seems a simple way to help poor people build up equity and have a stake in society ...
1) What is the situtation with the Qaddafi military at this point?
Do they still wield power or influence?
Have the leaders been arrested?
Just wondering what role the military will play in the New Libya, if it's a danger at all, how much it needs to be reformed?
2) In Tunisia was there a certain percentage of seats set aside for women in the recent voting? I thought I read that but googling turns up nothing.
3) What has happened with the Libyan agent who bombed the Lockerbie flight? I assume he's still in Libya and was wondering what the new gov't has done about him.
4) What about the stories that Qaddafi's adopted daughter wasn't killed back in the late 80's US bombing, but lived and became a doctor? Haven't heard follow-up on that crazy story?
I really think the simple first step is to undo Drug Prohibition. That will take most of the illegal profits and violence out of drug dealing/usage which has corroded the inner cities. It will also reduce the incarceration rate, which as Prof. Cole notes is almost an excuse to take away voting rights from black males. There will be a lot of money saved in the policing, judicial system and prison-industrial complex. And taxes on marijuana and narcotics will be a giant revenue stream. A portion of whcih can go towards drug treatment programs. And there are safety issues, and should be significantly fewer overdoses when heroin and other drugs are standardized and labeled.
It's not a cure-all, but so many lives are wasted and ended through the criminalization of drugs today. And the impact is worst on inner cities and minorities. It's so abundantly clear that Drug Prohibition has failed even worse than Alcohol Prohibition did for many of the same reasons with similar results.
A second idea is why not sell or give public housing to its occupants? Give them a significant discount to the market rate. The gov't doesn't need to own housing. And once these people have the equity of property, they have capital to work with. If people could take out a mortgage for say 30% of the market value of the public housing, most/many would take advantage and work to make payments and own the property. And once folks have an ownership stake, they start taking care of the place, renovating, etc. It unleashes a spending/wealth boom. This was actually done under Thatcher and in China in the mid to late 90's. In China, folks got their state-owned apartments for a rather small fee, with the stipulation they were unable to rent it for 5 years or sell it for 10. Some of the money the government takes in can be used to build some new public housing which after a few years can also be given to its occupants. Seems a simple way to help poor people build up equity and have a stake in society ...
Don't forget that Netanyahu is also currying favor with his backer and moneybags casino mogul Sheldon Alderson.
A few unrelated questions:
1) What is the situtation with the Qaddafi military at this point?
Do they still wield power or influence?
Have the leaders been arrested?
Just wondering what role the military will play in the New Libya, if it's a danger at all, how much it needs to be reformed?
2) In Tunisia was there a certain percentage of seats set aside for women in the recent voting? I thought I read that but googling turns up nothing.
3) What has happened with the Libyan agent who bombed the Lockerbie flight? I assume he's still in Libya and was wondering what the new gov't has done about him.
4) What about the stories that Qaddafi's adopted daughter wasn't killed back in the late 80's US bombing, but lived and became a doctor? Haven't heard follow-up on that crazy story?
Any information appreciated.