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Discussion => Off topic => Topic started by: Nightcrawler on October 15, 2012, 02:38 pm

Title: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: Nightcrawler on October 15, 2012, 02:38 pm
Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Published: 14 October, 2012, 13:33
Edited: 15 October, 2012, 13:23

https://rt.com/art-and-culture/news/brad-pitt-war-drugs-387/

Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt called on the US government to rethink its 40-year 'War on Drugs' policies, saying it “makes no sense.” The 48-year-old movie star addressed the issue while promoting a documentary he produced, just released in the US.

The 'Fight Club' star was executive producer of Eugene Jarecki's 'The House I Live In,' which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Before a Los Angeles screening of the film, Pitt gave his take on the America's drug policy that, according to the documentary, has cost more than $1 trillion and resulted in over 45 million arrests since 1971. US drug policy affects mostly poor and minority communities, and has made America the world’s largest jailer.

The documentary also examines how political and economic corruption have fueled these policies for decades, "despite persistent evidence of its moral, economic, and practical failures."

Filmed in more than 20 states, 'The House I Live In' shows the perspectives of multiple victims and perpetrators of the War on Drugs, from the dealer to the grieving mother, the narcotics officer to the senator, the inmate to the federal judge.

"I know people are suffering because of it. I know I've lived a very privileged life in comparison and I can't stand for it," Pitt told Reuters, calling US drug policy a "charade."

"It's such bad strategy. It makes no sense. It perpetuates itself. You make a bust, you drive up profit, which makes more people want to get into it," he said. "To me, there's no question; we have to rethink this policy and we have to rethink it now."

Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: stinkybreeze on October 15, 2012, 04:36 pm
Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Published: 14 October, 2012, 13:33
Edited: 15 October, 2012, 13:23

https://rt.com/art-and-culture/news/brad-pitt-war-drugs-387/

Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt called on the US government to rethink its 40-year 'War on Drugs' policies, saying it “makes no sense.” The 48-year-old movie star addressed the issue while promoting a documentary he produced, just released in the US.

The 'Fight Club' star was executive producer of Eugene Jarecki's 'The House I Live In,' which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Before a Los Angeles screening of the film, Pitt gave his take on the America's drug policy that, according to the documentary, has cost more than $1 trillion and resulted in over 45 million arrests since 1971. US drug policy affects mostly poor and minority communities, and has made America the world’s largest jailer.

The documentary also examines how political and economic corruption have fueled these policies for decades, "despite persistent evidence of its moral, economic, and practical failures."

Filmed in more than 20 states, 'The House I Live In' shows the perspectives of multiple victims and perpetrators of the War on Drugs, from the dealer to the grieving mother, the narcotics officer to the senator, the inmate to the federal judge.

"I know people are suffering because of it. I know I've lived a very privileged life in comparison and I can't stand for it," Pitt told Reuters, calling US drug policy a "charade."

"It's such bad strategy. It makes no sense. It perpetuates itself. You make a bust, you drive up profit, which makes more people want to get into it," he said. "To me, there's no question; we have to rethink this policy and we have to rethink it now."


Awesome to see someone in the public's eye saying this. I don't think the GOV cares, but at least its publicity on this ridiculous failure in the system.

Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: johnmtl on October 15, 2012, 04:48 pm
I want to see the movie.. I looked at all my usual sites and google and cant find a link.... plus 1 karma to anyone who sends me a free streaming link to this movie.

Thanks
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: MixM8 on October 15, 2012, 05:46 pm
I too was looking for the movie months ago when I heard it won Sundance. I'm pretty sure there's a preview of the movie on Youtube, but I'd have no issue with paying if the money goes to an anti-prohibition cause anyway.
 Awesome work as well by Brad Pitt, using his spotlight to ask for a change in drug policy. The war on drugs is a failure and celebrities like Brad Pitt and Joe Rogan, Pat Robertson, etc help to expedite popular opinion to an overwhelming majority against the war on drugs, making it a "safe" political topic. As it stands, we're probably looking at a 50/50 split in opinion, a taboo topic for politicians,  but with more endorsement and unfortunately, more people's family getting affected by drug laws, politicians will be able to curry favor by promising an end to the drug war.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: Ahoyhoy on October 15, 2012, 06:34 pm
It's not that governments don't understand that their drug policy is self defeating, it's that no government can be seen to succumb to a more tolerant set of drug laws. The voting public as a whole respond to tough sounding rhetoric when it comes to drugs and liberalisation of drug laws will come across as defeatist and weak. So the better option is to continue to talk tough no matter how little impact one is having. They simply have no alternative until the voting public allow them to roll out a plan B....and we are a million miles away from having a consensus around the liberalisation of drug policy. The vast majority of people just want the security of knowing that the government id acting and talking tough in relation to drugs.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: anonymarse on October 15, 2012, 10:40 pm
Good for him. Even in Hollywood I bet it takes some balls to come out against gov't policy (unless it's a war and a Republican is President).
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: Twelve_Pickles on October 16, 2012, 12:17 am
Its good to see that even though the world stays the same, the voices trying to change it are getting bigger and bigger.

...even if it is frickin bradimus maximus.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: stinkybreeze on October 16, 2012, 04:11 am
It's not that governments don't understand that their drug policy is self defeating, it's that no government can be seen to succumb to a more tolerant set of drug laws. The voting public as a whole respond to tough sounding rhetoric when it comes to drugs and liberalisation of drug laws will come across as defeatist and weak. So the better option is to continue to talk tough no matter how little impact one is having. They simply have no alternative until the voting public allow them to roll out a plan B....and we are a million miles away from having a consensus around the liberalisation of drug policy. The vast majority of people just want the security of knowing that the government id acting and talking tough in relation to drugs.

Straight truth. +1 to you.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: flicky42 on October 16, 2012, 05:08 am
I would actually like to see this.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: narkiz1 on November 19, 2012, 05:46 pm
Just found this on search and thought I'd bring it up to date as it sounds fascinating. Was just wondering whether anyone got round to watching it yet? Any reviews?
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: saitekman12345 on November 19, 2012, 06:00 pm
As long as we have corrupt gov. officials run our country,
drugs will remain illegal in the us as they make billions.

Do you see whats happening in Mexico?
Our very own neighbor is being torn apart from illegal drug trade into the US
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: Tyl3rdurden on November 19, 2012, 11:08 pm
Well he would say that wouldn't he .... :)
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: asdfsquared on November 20, 2012, 04:34 am
I can't watch, read, or hear about anything relating to the war on drugs anymore. No matter which side it's on, they make me feel hopeless and upset.

I love silk road for that reason. It is a blatant slap in the face to lawmakers. I hold vendors to a very high standard on silk road, and that is because I want the best for this silly underground drug market. That can't happen without the key ingredient: reliable vendors. Hopefully as the number of quality vendors and buyers grows, it will cause a larger impact upon society. Hopefully it causes violence to decrease in the inner city, since as a vendor it's hard to kill your competitors or rob others of product. Also, hopefully it causes a decrease in arrests, since buying drugs online is significantly less likely to land you in jail than scoring or dealing on the street. Not to mention safer. Also, due to the collaboration between users of the site, it allows people to help weed out poor, contaminated samples and to allow people to get a good idea of a products purity before using, increasing the safety of drugs all together.

I saw a quote from someone not too long ago about silk road:
"Came for the drugs, stayed for the revolution."

Bit of an off topic rant, I know.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: Limetless on November 20, 2012, 04:40 am
Pitt needs to shut the fuck up, he's trying to take money out of our pockets. Status Quo = more cash for everyone. :)
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: asdfsquared on November 20, 2012, 05:15 am
Pitt needs to shut the fuck up, he's trying to take money out of our pockets. Status Quo = more cash for everyone. :)

If your saying what I think you are, and that drugs need to stay illegal so you can keep making your dime, then you are everything that's wrong with the war on drugs.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: Limetless on November 20, 2012, 05:26 am
Pitt needs to shut the fuck up, he's trying to take money out of our pockets. Status Quo = more cash for everyone. :)

If your saying what I think you are, and that drugs need to stay illegal so you can keep making your dime, then you are everything that's wrong with the war on drugs.

And you REALLY think it'd be any better if drugs were legalised and sold by big-pharma? The drug market is one of the few markets that the government has no real control over. Would you rather see normal junkies or state-sponsered junkies?

I'm alright with things how they are, it's not perfect but at least anyone can get a slice of the action if they have what it takes. All this utopian bollocks would never fly anyway because the very idea that the war on drugs can be "won" by the drug users is just a farcical delusion in my eyes. It's the same as when people think that sparking a spliff or snorting a line of blow is somehow raging against the machine and they are making an impact in the name of justice blah blah. In my view it's just cobblers. Drug dealing is just another form of capitalism, just one that drives people particularly crazy.

Edit - Also I'd like to add one does not have to be a "Revolutionary" to sell drugs on SR you know. It's almost like how America treats atheists sometimes, people are allowed to have their own outlook on life. It also strikes me that these grandiose ideals that some have about how drugs can be a utopian thing really have never encountered the sharp pointy and out-and-out vicious end of the stick the drug trade possesses. Let's take a recent events into consideration SR going down. We can all be hippies and all for one and one for all while everything is ticking over nicely but as soon as shit gets weird people we're turning on each other like it was the last days of fucking Rome and this is just a forum. Translate that to real life, times it by 10 and that's just the nature of the business. It's dog-eat-dog where people flip for all sorts of reasons and you can't remove that from it no matter how hard you try.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: quinone on November 20, 2012, 05:41 am
Pitt needs to shut the fuck up, he's trying to take money out of our pockets. Status Quo = more cash for everyone. :)

If your saying what I think you are, and that drugs need to stay illegal so you can keep making your dime, then you are everything that's wrong with the war on drugs.

And you REALLY think it'd be any better if drugs were legalised and sold by big-pharma? The drug market is one of the few markets that the government has no real control over. Would you rather see normal junkies or state-sponsered junkies?

I'm alright with things how they are, it's not perfect but at least anyone can get a slice of the action if they have what it takes. All this utopian bollocks would never fly anyway because the very idea that the war on drugs can be "won" by the drug users is just a farcical delusion in my eyes. It's the same as when people think that sparking a spliff or snorting a line of blow is somehow raging against the machine and they are making an impact in the name of justice blah blah. In my view it's just cobblers. Drug dealing is just another form of capitalism, just one that drives people particularly crazy.

Edit - Also I'd like to add one does not have to be a "Revolutionary" to sell drugs on SR you know. It's almost like how America treats atheists sometimes, people are allowed to have their own outlook on life.

No one said to LEGALIZE drugs, the discussion is to CHANGE the current policy.

They shut down needle exchange clinics and then blame the users for the spread of disease through use of dirty needles.

They make me pay $100,000+ per year per inmate so that inmate can have 3 meals a day, a roof over their head and no bills (heating, electricity, etc.)  and a large number of those inmates shouldn't even be there cuz they were put there for possession of a small quantity of narcotics.

The punishment for drug distribution and possession is highly skewed.  In Texas you can get 20 years for carrying an ounce of weed.  RAPOS and PEDO's don't get that long a sentence.

They (DEA) throw their own judicial governing body out when their verdict for scheduling isn't what the DEA wants (eg. MDMA and Judge Francis Young).

They put legislation in place that allows them to 'emergency schedule' any compound they want, without due process.  It flies in the exact opposite direction of what the Constitution was written for.

Etc. etc.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: Limetless on November 20, 2012, 05:48 am
Right ok, I will concede that the punishment etc is skewed that is fairly obvious to all but my underlying point is that really, it's never going to change because the way it is feeds too many people. I have just got to the point where I see this argument and debate go around in circles so many times I don't give a fuck about it anymore and it just annoys me. The status quo is as it is and I can make money from it (along with anyone else who sells drugs) so I just don't care anymore. The whole thing reminds me why I don't really care about people and why I donate to animal charities.

I used to be idealistic about all this but I just realized being so really doesn't get you far and you always end up being disappointed.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: asdfsquared on November 20, 2012, 06:33 am
Also I'd like to add one does not have to be a "Revolutionary" to sell drugs on SR you know.

I absolutely agree. Regardless of whether or not you want to be a part of it or agree with the message, you are a part of a revolution.

Let's take a recent events into consideration SR going down. We can all be hippies and all for one and one for all while everything is ticking over nicely but as soon as shit gets weird people we're turning on each other like it was the last days of fucking Rome and this is just a forum. Translate that to real life, times it by 10 and that's just the nature of the business. It's dog-eat-dog where people flip for all sorts of reasons and you can't remove that from it no matter how hard you try.

So are you saying that even if drugs were legal, people would still be killing each other over them? Yeah, I doubt it.

You have very negative views of other people. People aren't always the nicest, and they will do what it takes to watch out for themselves and the people they care about, however I don't think the world is quite as negative and dog-eat-dog as you seem to think it. People do what's necessary to survive and thrive, but it doesn't mean their heartless, and won't help others out.

I think you use this 'dog-eat-dog' mentality as a justification for stepping on other people to move yourself ahead. Almost like a preemptive strike. You are too afraid they will step on you to get ahead so you make sure to go ahead and do it first.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: Limetless on November 20, 2012, 08:30 am
Also I'd like to add one does not have to be a "Revolutionary" to sell drugs on SR you know.

I absolutely agree. Regardless of whether or not you want to be a part of it or agree with the message, you are a part of a revolution.

Let's take a recent events into consideration SR going down. We can all be hippies and all for one and one for all while everything is ticking over nicely but as soon as shit gets weird people we're turning on each other like it was the last days of fucking Rome and this is just a forum. Translate that to real life, times it by 10 and that's just the nature of the business. It's dog-eat-dog where people flip for all sorts of reasons and you can't remove that from it no matter how hard you try.

So are you saying that even if drugs were legal, people would still be killing each other over them? Yeah, I doubt it.

You have very negative views of other people. People aren't always the nicest, and they will do what it takes to watch out for themselves and the people they care about, however I don't think the world is quite as negative and dog-eat-dog as you seem to think it. People do what's necessary to survive and thrive, but it doesn't mean their heartless, and won't help others out.

I think you use this 'dog-eat-dog' mentality as a justification for stepping on other people to move yourself ahead. Almost like a preemptive strike. You are too afraid they will step on you to get ahead so you make sure to go ahead and do it first.

Lol....I think you're being extremely naive on our first comment.

On your second, well I think that you think you know more than you do about someone you have never met haha. Also what exactly needs to be justified about how life works? The world is a competition, free enterprise is competition and really, human existence is competition. You can white wash that with whatever coat of rosy smelling shit you like but it doesn't change the fact. Your idea that you don't have to compete in life is just absurd lol, there is always a pecking order in all human social circles whatever they may be. You're damn right people have to get stepped over so you can get ahead, that's how progress works. If not we'd all be happy just picking food out of trees and dying at 30.

And of course people will still be knocking each other off for drugs, just not in the same way. It wouldn't take away the crime caused by addiction or the social problems at all, it just hands the production and control from one illegal cartel to a government sponsored one i.e Big Pharma. Well done there mate not only do you have to bow down to the government that I'm sure you so fervently protest against but you have just made them your dealer and instead of having gangs they have bona fide police and soldiers that can act within the law to terrorise you if you get out of line and want more crack than they allow. So yeah, kudos for really making the situation better but I'll take a few 1000 losses over Brave New World any day of the week because that way I know I'm not a complete drone.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: Wadozo on November 20, 2012, 03:38 pm
Couldn't agree more with Lim's last couple of posts on this issue. Most things in life have a pecking order in place, from the shit kicker at the bottom to the head honcho at the top. The choice of where you sit in that order is yours to make, influenced by the decisions you make and the effort you put in. As the old saying goes - "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got".
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: Limetless on November 20, 2012, 03:41 pm
Couldn't agree more with Lim's last couple of posts on this issue. Most things in life have a pecking order in place, from the shit kicker at the bottom to the head honcho at the top. The choice of where you sit in that order is yours to make, influenced by the decisions you make and the effort you put in. As the old saying goes - "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got".

Yup, exactly my point.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: KazushiS58 on November 20, 2012, 04:53 pm
It's not that governments don't understand that their drug policy is self defeating, it's that no government can be seen to succumb to a more tolerant set of drug laws.

Well Portugal decriminalised all drugs a few years ago and have had some incredibly positive results from it. I'm sure most SR users are aware of what Portugal did but you can quickly find many articles discussing the improvements they've seen since. Interestingly the fact that Portugal did this is something that most mainstream media has never covered and doesn't mention at all so most people aren't aware of it.
I think there will be a big change within the next generation or two. Most older people have very ignorant and misinformed views of drugs that they aren't willing to re-think whereas younger people are more open to discussion about the issue.
I am now going to look up how the Portuguese government did it and how the people initially responded.
Title: Re: Brad Pitt blasts US War on Drugs as 'charade'
Post by: FreeWill on November 20, 2012, 05:50 pm
It's not that governments don't understand that their drug policy is self defeating, it's that no government can be seen to succumb to a more tolerant set of drug laws. The voting public as a whole respond to tough sounding rhetoric when it comes to drugs and liberalisation of drug laws will come across as defeatist and weak. So the better option is to continue to talk tough no matter how little impact one is having. They simply have no alternative until the voting public allow them to roll out a plan B....and we are a million miles away from having a consensus around the liberalisation of drug policy. The vast majority of people just want the security of knowing that the government id acting and talking tough in relation to drugs.

There is no excuse for America's rampet abuse; other than people are spending huge amounts on lawyer fees(system) and not on hits(direct action);  wen a policeman is dead,  no longer can he search your pockets; that's what I call putting an End to the Drug War. Pussies; go fuck yourselves, stop framing abuse as valid; it's Mal-practice. KILL COPS, simple. then you get rid of them from your society because they are the source of Evil; America is easily the most pathetic society when it comes to being privileged slaves; they have been inoculated to their own demise & don't mash brains in correspondence, then American's wouldn't hide behind their fake egotistical esotericism; as they'd be respected round the globe.