Violence in Brazil

jthomas1600 · 11-04-2009, 06:38 PM

I'm not sure Brazil will be ready for the Olympics. I think the committee may end up regretting their decision. I have been working in Rio for the last 5 months and I can tell you, as bad as these two articles make things sound, I think they may actually be worse. I sit slack jawed every evening when we watch the news. Last week drug gangs shot down a police helicopter. It's pretty bad.

An All-Out War Rages in Brazil's Slums | World | AlterNet

Death toll rises in Rio violence -- latimes.com

**DaGeek** · 11-04-2009, 07:22 PM

I only read that first article, but that's insane. Makes me think about the fact that we're really blessed in the U.S. to have a fairly good Police force (not perfect, but fairly good) that looks like angels compared to Brazil's.

Nate · 11-05-2009, 08:50 AM

The more I read stories like this, the more I am in full support of total legalization of all recreational drugs.

Quote:

there are at least three main criminal gangs that control, besides the "bocas de fumo" or drug-dealing points, other illegal businesses like the distribution of bottled cooking gas, cable TV service and transportation.

Propane, the boob tube, and taxis? When we start making private markets into public ones, this happens.

If you could buy these things at the corner drugstore, what leg would the gangs have to stand on anymore?

A full 20% of state prisoners are held on drug-only charges, while a whopping 50% of federal prisoners are.

If a person drinks themselves into oblivion, we don't punish them or the guy who sold them the booze.

Than · 11-05-2009, 05:01 PM

I agree completely...violent gangs like this would be hard pressed to support themselves with such ridiculous profits. It's not like the demand for drugs is ever going to go away. Regulation would go much farther to combating these gangs than inflating police budgets and raids. Violence begets violence, especially in the war on drugs.

jthomas1600 · 11-09-2009, 04:25 PM

I'm not sure legalizing drugs would take care of this. I don't think anyone advocates legalizing all drugs in all forms...just let the dealers deal and turn a blind eye. I think most people would agree that there are some drugs that should not even be considered for legalization, like acid, meth etc. So there would still be a market for the drug dealers. Also, I think most people advocate a regulated, limited government sanctioned industry. Which would be kind of like prostitution in Nevada and there are still plenty of prostitution arrests in Nevada. Just because an activity enjoys limited legality does not mean people will not engage in it illegally. There are plenty of outlets for a young man that wants to compete in full contact fighting, yet there are still plenty of underground illegal fights. Same with street racing. Also, there are people that are going to prey on the weak no mater what.

**Epaphras** · 11-09-2009, 09:56 PM

My dad was in Sao Paolo a few years ago and they declared martial law because some group raided a prison to get their leader out and it ended up in a chase through the city. Crazy.

bobthecockroach · 11-09-2009, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthomas1600

there are still plenty of underground illegal fights. Same with street racing.

Quantify your "plenty." Something like 1 in every 600 people in the United States is currently in jail on drug charges. That's not 1 in every 600 prisoners, that's 1 in every 600 people. And this is only the people that are currently in jail for it. Sure, plenty of people are involved in illegal street racing, but does it even come close to those numbers?

jthomas1600 · 11-12-2009, 03:49 AM

Bob, my point was not to compare apples to apples, but to point out that giving an activity (and I gave three examples off the top of my head) limited legal status does not mean people won't engage in that activity illegally.

Anyway, the point of this tread was really just to point to Brazil's unpreparedness for the upcoming Olympics. To further emphasize that point, Tue. night they had a power outage of unprecedented proportions. Here's a link.

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