OK then let's start with Trumps wall that will cut down on it but judging from your ramblings you would be against that too. Nothing will work as long as we treat dealers like Summers like Bass and continue the catch and release method. How about life without parole after the 2nd offense how do you think that would work out? Those are solutions but you will probably say that's too harsh of a punishment too right? Make prison the punishment it was meant to be and not some failed rehab clinic you can't tell me that won't work for many of the leaches. There's never been a real war of drugs just people who say we can't stop it and then ignore the facts on how to stop it. Just like murder it will never be wiped out because people are human but I bet you just saying it will never get better won't work either. You asked me if there are fewer drug dealers I can say there is one fewer because Summers has his behind in jail today. You say my way doesn't work but didn't give your view on what will work, you can't disregard my ideas without telling me yours. These dealers are not being punished that is most of the problem and going Cool Hand Luke on their butts would be phase one. It can be stopped but it takes someone with balls to get it started. Have you noticed border crossings are down nearly 70% since someone decided to make it a priority? I bet you the farm my way would work over time.
There's plenty of drug dealers behind bars for life w/o parole. The hole 3 strikes and you are out thing from the 80s and 90s put many, many people away for life. Did it work... nope. Trumps wall won't cut down on it... OK, maybe for the really stupid drug dealers. 25 Billion dollar 20 ft by 1500 hundred mile wall? $49.95 ladder from Lowes goes right over it... And the money that you can make from selling the stuff makes no shortage of willing mules to attempt the run. Sure you can stop some, but not all. Our best enforcement efforts have never been able to stop more than 20% of the drugs entering the US. There's NOT one less drug dealer b/c we arrested Summers. He was replaced immediately (probably before the ink dried on his fingerprints at the police station).
Hell, I got no sympathy for drug dealers at all. You could shoot them in the head for the 1st offense and I wouldn't care. But it won't solve the problem. Do you think Vietnam and Aphganistan use the catch and release method on people that grow opium poppies. They get beheaded/shot. Yet every year, there's a ton of heroin made. Your way doesn't work. There too much demand and money involved... How many times over the past 50 years has some politico made the EXACT same speech you have. It's time to get tough on drugs! We really mean it this time! Lock 'em up and throw away the key! It's been tried. It doesn't work.
Again, I'm no expert, but I'd suggest a different approach. What is cocaine? What is herion? Both are byproducts of a naturally growing plant primarily grown, harvested, and processed by poor people w/o any education. Why do they cost so much and why do criminal organizations make so much money on a product that isn't even as hard to make as a gallon of gas. Simple, it's illegal AND people want it.
SOOOO, lets fix the problem. You and I are in total agreement on the amount of damage drugs do. So let's make it better.
First problem: make it legal... come on Mexican Cartels, bring it in by the dump truck load! What do you think will happen to the prices when ANYONE can bring in all they want? Now lets save all that money we used in drug enforcement and use it below.
Second problem. Make people not want it.: So lets take that money (billions and billions each year) and reinvest it. First in schools to REALLY educate people about what these drugs do. I'm not talking about the stupid "this is your brain on drugs" kind of education. The truth is plenty good enough if we spend time REALLY educating kids about it (not sending some DARE officer who has no experience at teaching around a couple of times a semester).
Secondly, spend some of that money from above on rehabbing the folks who do get hooked. I've never been addicted to drugs before, but it doesn't look like a lot of fun. I'm thinking that REALLY funding rehab clinics could help a lot of people kick the habit.
Thirdly (and this is the cold blooded part of the plan... You'll probably like it). If the education part doesn't work AND you are not getting the help at the Rehab. There is now a HUGE supply of unregulated (cheap b/c it's not illegal), very dangerous drugs available to you. Have at it... I suspect that these folks won't be a problem for very long. The human body isn't build to do unlimited amounts of Heroin and Cocaine... You'll either stop (and go to rehab) or you'll stop (and go to the morgue). Either way...