The Media..

[coffee-guy]

I am not going to touch this one with a 10 foot pole, if anyone cares to read my rants about steroids, the media, and our current state of public health, just search for Puma and knock yourself out. :)

However, this statement below is incorrect. They can make money off it, they can tax whatever in the hell they feel like. They tax tabacco and alcohol; if they wanted to they could make steroids legal and tax them as well. We have a long history in this country of taxing sin, the public would not bat an eyelash if they decided to tax certain classes of drugs (especially steroids).

Puma

Most of the time I agree with you bro (on most of your points). However, in NYC's defense I think he was just saying that they are attacking it because they don't tax steroids etc - not that they can't choose to do that - it's just that because they chose to make them illegal 15 years ago they are now attacking them because they can't currently make money off of them.

On the other hand, the DEA gets increases in their budgets for funding etc based off of the amount of busts they produce and the quanitity of drugs they take off of the street (regardless of their validity to a person's harm) - they are just making busts to benefit themselves and increase their departments sense of self-preservation - I can't say that I blame them for doing their jobs - despite the fact that I don't think that they should be illegal - but that's a whole other debate.

[Puma]

O, ic.

And yes, I do agree then on that point. They make much more money policing steroids then they would if they chose to make them legal and not tax them. Your absolutely right, the more drugs the DEA takes off the streets the more funding they are able to request. I understand why they do what they do; what I don't get is why the country as a whole, and law makers in particular allow them to continue this insanity.

I am still baffled that drugs like steroids can even capture the slighest bit of public interest with the issues we have today. Kids are dying (well, they are 18+, but mostly still kids) every day overseas, we are killing ourselves every time we pull into a drive through, we have a crazy recreational drug problem, and yet, what do you hear about in congress? Steroids?!

I will never be able to figure out what they are trying to do with this campaign, and I have a feeling in 20 years people are going to look back and wonder what the hell we were thinking.

Most of the time I agree with you bro (on most of your points). However, in NYC's defense I think he was just saying that they are attacking it because they don't tax steroids etc - not that they can't choose to do that - it's just that because they chose to make them illegal 15 years ago they are now attacking them because they can't currently make money off of them.

On the other hand, the DEA gets increases in their budgets for funding etc based off of the amount of busts they produce and the quanitity of drugs they take off of the street (regardless of their validity to a person's harm) - they are just making busts to benefit themselves and increase their departments sense of self-preservation - I can't say that I blame them for doing their jobs - despite the fact that I don't think that they should be illegal - but that's a whole other debate.

[coffee-guy]

I agree with you on those points as well...

While we are on the subject of things that can kill us but the government still allows - have you quit smoking yet :D?

[Puma]

What the hell do you mean? It can't be that bad for me, my govt lets me have it without a script or even filling out a form (which you have to do now in FL to buy Sudafed, amazing). I am much more concerned about the test that I am shooting into my ass, its far more likely to kill me; I think I can feel my liver enlarging! :)

No, I haven't, although I have cut back considerably. A new year is almost upon us. :)

I agree with you on those points as well...

While we are on the subject of things that can kill us but the government still allows - have you quit smoking yet :D?

[coffee-guy]

What the hell do you mean? It can't be that bad for me, my govt lets me have it without a script or even filling out a form (which you have to do now in FL to buy Sudafed, amazing). I am much more concerned about the test that I am shooting into my ass, its far more likely to kill me; I think I can feel my liver enlarging! :)

No, I haven't, although I have cut back considerably. A new year is almost upon us. :)

Yes - but today could be the day you quit...