yeah because a bunch of coked up heroin meth head young adults is what we need in this country. To an addict there is never enough drug, there is never enough money....... and they leave a wake of destruction behind them often with no remorse. You seriously think legalizing heavy drugs that come out of Mexico is the answer? ( I am not talking pot)

I really want these "americans" prosecuted to the full extent of the law. I wish they could be tried on treason ( I know that is impossible) We need to come down hard now.

As an offset to your comment Kallie, the majority of the money these cartels make is off marijuana. Other than that I agree 100% with you. The ingredients used to lace, produce and sometimes cut the pure product are deadly and can destroy a person in a matter of a couple of years of use. Heroine scares the living poop out of me as one of them, having addictive tendencies for most after the first use. You don't see 75 year old heroine addicts because they are either dead or in prison.

"Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) earn 60% of their gross revenue from marijuana, and that these organizations obtain $20 billion in gross revenues from these activities."

lol thats ironic mipak. The people most likely to oppose legalization are the cartels themselves.

The only viable solution is to add a commission for all border agents for successful apprehensions. Give them some skin in the game. The other side is.

Oh here we go again. You anti-legalization folks are just look at how things are now with drug use, not how they could be provided they are legalize, and harder drug use is done in a controlled, monitored environment both for the safety of the indvidual, and the public in general. This problem could largely be negated by legalizing drugs simply because of the fact that there would be no smuggling involved, there for nothing for the cartels to use a leverage to corrupt boarder patrol. It would deal a massive financial impact to the cartels as well, taking a huge chunk of change out of their pockets. It would also allow programs, be they publically funded, or privately funded, to monitor, and when necessary, intercept those who are showing signs of increasing dependence, and abuse on particular substances, something that could be paid for by taxes collected on these substances. It would also allow a major chunk of the annual $200+ billion dollars spent on the war on drugs to be allocated else where. You want to do something about drugs, and the budget, there you go.

Think corruption and ethics are bad along the border.

There is a LOT more corruption and ethics violations at the steps of Mr. Obama's residency and the Congressional Halls.

The White House staff and aides:

• 41 White House aides (including Congressional members and Federal employees) owe THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN BACK TAXES. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/09/congress-taxes-irs.html

The Congressional Halls:

• Dozens of Congressional members and some of their aides under ethics investigations. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/29/AR2009102904597.html

I could link many, many more articles about our corrupt elected officials and some Federal government employees who only know POWER, cash, sex, or drugs.

Singapore has a punishment where they use a cane to reprimand the law breakers in there country.. This punishment is not a burden on the tax payer. The receiver will not sit down for a few weeks.. This caining takes place in plain site of the public, for all to see.

Or better yet, Eric, how about let's not use drugs? I don't see what's so hard about that. I suppose some people use drugs to escape from their problems...wouldn't it be better to solve those problems rather than setting up a "controlled, monitored environment" for them to abuse hard drugs? That would be a truly progressive drug policy, but instead you pro-legalization folks are just looking to smoke out without feeling guilty about your contribution to the body count in Mexico.

Eric dont try to convince them they only regurgitate what they have been told. They dont look into legalization in depth..They only think of addiction as a crime instead of what it really is...a mental illness that in most cases brought about by a gene..Kind of like getting made at someone because they have blue eyes. Chances are they drink, and pop pills, but thats ok because its legal or a Doctors prescription..Besides if they where truly anti-drug they would also be fighting for alcohol prohibition(those that dont are hypocrites). Which worked as well as the drug policy we have now...

Militarize the Southern border. Each month personal are rotated out to another assignment/post so they never spend more than a month in the same area. Drug cartels cant befriend military and form associations to bribe them if the personal are constantly changing. Also change the way they work and patrol into two man teams and change the team members on a regular basis so that no one person ever works alone. Even if they do manage to get both members of a team how long before that team is broken up and your next partner might be the one that turns you in unless they were corrupted themselves. Miltary personal are also subject to the UCMJ and failing to do there job to protect and secure the border means they could be tried for treason for not doing their duty.

"Of those, 60 percent failed, raising concerns about the integrity of the others hired without screening."

That should have rung the bell off the wall.

This is far from new. In the 1970's, a guy, through a law firm in Austin, would pay for entrance. You knew what checkpoint to go through and what time of day. Open pick up truck with just a tarp over what was called "reg". Reg was just average grade Mexican bricked weed. Families have operated inside the US since the 1960's. Border patrols are a joke and 90% can and have been compromised at some time in their careers. By the way--guns are just as good of currency as cash. Back in the days, the families didn't like $50 or $100's due to counterfeit bills. You could ask--how long does it take to count several hundred thousand dollars in $20's 3 times? They didn't even trust the bank counting machines that "fellas" had.

BTW--Texas politicians and local law enforcement got their cut as well. It didn't matter whether they had a (D) or and (R) by their name--they were corrupt. Back then, cost /LB was $50 on the other side. By the time everyone was paid it was $70. Sold by tonnage to folks in Denver, Atlanta, Detroit, NY--every where. $90/lb x 2000. $40K profit for around 2 days work. Do that 2 times a week. That's how it works. The squabbles over paper weight that wrapped the weed were common. Standard allowance was 2 pounds of paper per 100 Lbs.

In the days, when someone crossed someone--they were found in the Valley in the orange orchards.

You keep the war up on drugs and you continue to feed Mexican Cartels, corrupt Border Patrols, and corrupt politicians.

We were all someone else in another life. Shall we have a Q & A session? I know of what I speak.

11th grade government class should have taught you that US military troops are Constitutionally not aloud to operate on US soil...Besides we have a big long coast line that drug cartels could use to smuggle drugs/people in..Do people really believe that these cartels will see a big huge wall and say to themselves "Those crafty Americans outwitted us with a wall, and armed guards..Lets give up our billion dollar business."

Joe--I'm telling you--it's not partisan. The drug war benefits politicians as much as it does the cartels--both sides of the border. Obama is not even part of a problem that goes back 45+ years. Cut the BS and ask real questions. Clueless partisan banter get nothing done. Legalize it and tax it. Watch the politicians that vote against it. many are on the payroll.

Andrew--have you heard of Constitutional Amendments? Won't be needed if it's legalized, controlled and taxed. Cartels will be out of business. BTW--very little cocaine and heroin come through those border--weed.

Hard drug use in this country is mainly attributable to the fact that pot is illegal, but also the fact that hard drugs are illegal. People do have a natural propensity to seek an alternate reality, and given free choice most would chose pot , but since it is treated the same as hard drugs, and since pushers have a strong financial incentive to sell hard drugs, the hard drug trade flourishes not despite the drug war, but because of it. The people who are the most lost are those who have given up and believe the propaganda that this corrupt government dispenses.

Shoot to kill at the border. Militarize the border, yesterday.

sand..look at my post a little higher up...I am pro-decrimalization..Like Portugal's drug laws

Robin---really? Booze is an alternative reality, nicotine is a stimulant, coffee, soft drinks. Live in California, Colorado, or Hawaii where it's easy to get a MM card. Same tired "war on drugs" rhetoric. How much do you really know? I suspect nothing of substance.

Andrew--sorry--good post. I would rather see it sold as a commodity and taxes. I'm wait for someone to drag up the "gateway drug" theory. To which I reply "was your mother's milk at gateway to that morbid obesity from eating McDonald's 5 times a week."

Hahahaha! Thats the funniest thing i've ever heard. I've gotta use that one. lol

"11th grade government class should have taught you that US military troops are Constitutionally not aloud to operate on US soil..."

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

"To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;"

Perhaps you should try reading the Constitution. I said militarize it. I didn't say it had to be the U.S. Military. National Guard are constantly being called upon in times of emergency etc... such as Hurricane Katrina and Obama sent 1,200 National guard to the Southern Border already.

"America's third war", "Drug War", "Mexican Drug War", "Cartel drug war", "War across the Border", do you see a theme there?

See that little part where it says "execute the laws of the Union", and "repel Invasion"?

I'm sure most Americans wont have a problem at all with bringing our troops home to secure our own country instead of sending them to die in some foreign country for a pipe dream of bringing "democracy" to the Middle East

Or better yet, Eric, how about let's not use drugs? I don't see what's so hard about that. I suppose some people use drugs to escape from their problems...wouldn't it be better to solve those problems rather than setting up a "controlled, monitored environment" for them to abuse hard drugs? That would be a truly progressive drug policy, but instead you pro-legalization folks are just looking to smoke out without feeling guilty about your contribution to the body count in Mexico

Where in my statement did I say I use drugs? You statement is irrelevant for that matter. The use of mind altering substances has been around for millenia. It is not a new practice. The methods in which people imbibe those substances may have changed, evolved, but usage of these drugs have been going on for ages. It also does not change the fact that there are only two ways to fix the problems inherent to drug trafficking permanently. One is to utterly erradicate all drugs that exsist in the world, a proposition that is about as easy to accomplish as erradicating all guns permanently in the world, or to reverse course and legalize these substances. Monitor, tax, regulate them.

This has nothing to do with the drug violence in Mexico, though they would benefit by proxy due to the opening of direct shipping lines for said substances. No, I am more looking to the net benefit to be had to this country due to decreased drug violence(I.E. muggings, burglaries, home invations) courtesy of increased ease of access, and new found affordability, as well as the aforementioned monitored and controlled environments in which the more... adversely affecting substances would have to be done in.

When I say them bought, they were all white.

Border patrol and TSA...two entities where minorities can find work, or the down and out white American. The border is an enigma for America....too little, too late. We let cheap labor come North, because we like higher profit margins....and now, we've empowered crime lords to move drugs and guns thru the same porous border.

It always points back to the same thing. We never care about the back end costs to corporate driven politics, where we savor a buck at the expense of our own community's health. The rich don't care. They live behind security fences and walls....the average joe has to live in denial, knowing that he allows them to continue taking advantage of the system.

This issue is hard to deal with because we are now stuck with that same Hispanic labor, that we encouraged to occupy our homes...in the form of pickers, home bldrs, cleaners, maids. We have a social cost, urban blight and now an economic downturn, where this issue is further exacerbated.

People are easily corrupted, when faced with that same reality that the denial of a failed system has created their dilemma. Ignorance is still in vogue in America. Put our troops on the border and eradicate this problem....hunt them down, screw the Mexican government. Then force corporations and the rich to hire us at fair wages, and assimilate the hispanics that we are stuck with, into a worker favored environment.

The war on drugs is a joke, billions of US dollars has gone down the toilet especially when given to Vasenta Fox who used the money for god knows what during the Bush administration. It seems a easy conclusion that Bush and Fox were trying to work with President Arebay to go after Hugo Chavez. Look where spreading Georges democracy has gotten us.We need to quit selling hundred of automatic weapons that end up in Mexico that are used to kill Americans.. If George was so serious about his war on drugs,he would have reinstated the ban on the AK weapons.

And yes we need to legalize some drugs in the US, no more deficit and made in the USA.

The sheer stupidity of the U.S. government policy on drug use boggles the mind. It reflects the level of intelligence from people like mipak spouting their senseless BS. Of course, no politician has the guts to suggest any intelligent solutions for the drug problem. The stupid, ignorant and uninformed would walk around carrying signs for the benefit of the corrupt and greedy. to kill any intelligent suggestion and drive the unfortunate pol from office. That's why we have rampant drug use, corruption and drug-related crime. Our system creates it, perpetuates it, and exports it.

Warprofit... A respectable post above, however one glaring error at the outset. In light of what appears to be the eminent collapse of this once fine country,,, you still think we should place illegals in positions of border security and TSA positions? I agree with you in that our GOVT' has allowed "empowered", as you say, the cartels to now control the border.... yah, they NOW control the border!! Also, how do you propose to "force" corporations to hire "us"... and even provide a "work environment" ?

Sorry to be the voice of bad news but your socialist, all inclusive, lets all get along and assimulate approach is not going to cut it. We're beyond that.

It's time to go hunting!!

To what end Johnson. What point would violence serve, when many of these traffickers really don't care, and are probably carrying bigger guns, and have more back up than you do. A little common sense to your arguement. Violence is not a deterrent, these people are already blowing each other to hell in Mexico as it is.

Sandtrich: 'We are all someone else in another life,' that is positively Buddhist, or maybe Hindu (TM?) As to why pot isn't legal, because it literally grows like a weed. How do you tax what you can grow in a closet? Unlike shine where you need a still and some other bits of equipment, pot literally grows in anything. (Not that I speak from experience, but I had friends in college..) Hemp would solve our de-forestation for paper products, it is being used for clothing and fiber and like pot, it grows almost anywhere. I don't have the answers, legal/illegal, perhaps treat it like alcohol with the same restrictions.

To heck with Libya. Send an armed force into Mexico. That is where the real threat is coming from.

Draft 20 million illegal mexibacks for the invasion force and then off they go to fight for Mexican independence in Mexico. Post a couple of regular Army divisions at the border to make sure they stay there.

If they succeed, they get to stay in Mexico. If they fail, they get to stay in Mexico.

That's what you call a win-win.

I don't see what the big deal is? She just wanted to be the poster child for those tea party people who always cheer on law enforcement officers and millionaires. She was giving them the best of both of their worlds, all wrapped up in one nice neat package.

Hey right-wingers. There is a prime example of the "protectors" that you suckers polish apples for.... Read it and weep. And guess what else? This doesn't even make the tip of your suck-up iceberg. There is a couple of old sayings in law enforcement.... Pay me now, or pay me later and it's only illegal if you get caught.... LOL

This all sounds stupid!!! When border guards did their job, they got fired, went on trial and went to jail. Why bother guarding something when the stupid government doesn't stand behind you. The stupid government has all these illegals crawling over the border and won't stop them. It's like an open invite. Then our money goes to feed and care for them. Some government, screw the american people, they will pay for it. The breeders pop over the border just in time to have their kid and now is american. What crap!!!! Instead of sending our soldiers to the mid-east and everywhere else to fight everyone elses battles, bring our people home and to defend our borders. When they see some one crossing, shoot it. Getting rid of the illegals would save alot of money on the u.s budget. Less wasteful spending.

Really, Elayne? You're going to defend police brutality in an article about police corruption?

YES!!! If that is what you want to call it. Are you defending illegal drug dealers invading this country? Apparently. Our 'justice system' is too soft.

You know, waaay before "hispanics came over the US border", waaay before them "mexicans" and "hispanics" began throwing their semen all over "our" country, these folks lived there for at least 200 years before a bunch of English expatriots declared their independence on the far northeast side of the continent in 1776. That's how you get the thousands of Hispanic names on every street, every town, every city the US took over with its bogus wars in the southwest.

It all began with a good reason: To get rid of slavery in the US and keep the union. But then military might made everyone so greedy they thought they could take the rest of the continent, and they did.

And now many Americans are like, "Who are these folks?", "Where do they come from?", "Why are they giving us such trouble?" And to add insult to injury they use the term "illegal". Yeah, right.

Gimme a freaking break!

Well, at least you were honest...

Olias of Sunhillow....

LOL... YEAH I KNOW! Kind of like what the Mexicans and Hispanic people think when they see a Native American down south of the border huh?

They think to themselves, "How did we miss THIS one?"

Grandma always said when you point your finger at someone else, there are three pointing at you. Try it a see what she meant.

Toasty,

Everyone is complaining about the police, border guards and the alike being corrupt, no one has a problem with your politicians and the rest of this government. Clean up your own house, I am referring to government, before you investigate some one else.

Is it just me, or does every one of the names they give for corrupt agents that have been caught and prosecuted look like they are likely hispanic. I am not prejudice (my wife's family is from Mexico), but this is a very disturbing thing if it is true.

You honestly can't think that there are no American citizens with hispanic names who aren't the descendants of generations of Americans with hispanic names.

Snipers are the scum of the earth. Amazing how many Americans think exactly like war criminals do!

For those of you that feel that drugs should be legalized, have you considered how legalizing drugs would affect the food supply and could lead to adding to a food shortage and rising cost of food?

Didn't that happen with First Generation bio fuels because farmers were turning food crops into bio fuel crops because it was more profitable which lead to food shortages and higher food prices? (Here's where the "food for fuel" argument starts and people will defend bio fuels saying that argument has been debunked and Bio fuels haven't had any affect at all on food prices or food shortages)

If drugs in America are legalized how many farmers do you think are going to realize they can make a hell of a lot more money by growing a pound of marijuana as opposed to a bushel of corn. When agricultural farmland gets turned into Pot, poppy fields, coca fields which reduces the food supply even more and food becomes even more expensive then what?

It'll resolve itself once the price of food gets so high that it becomes more profitable to grow food than dope? Or the Federal Government will subsidize growing food crops so they can compete with drug crops?

When we have to spend even more on health care treating drug addiction and the short and long term health problems they cause then what?

Oh that's right, well all just get stoned because its legal, and all those worldly problems will just disappear.

@olias

I guess you could take your point to Israel too. But they are not leaving either. The land was actually taken from the Native Indians which the Mexicans had a part of. The whole World has been shaped by people fighting over geographical borders that made Countries.

To all the legalize people why do you always bring up alcohol. That's like saying one thing didn't work out right so let's do it again.

And of course most of the people they approached were Hispanic as with all things people stick with their own. That is why we have neighborhoods set up by ethnicity.

And as always it is not the brightest people in the World who become cops. They were not the A students or the class valedictorian. It is usually some guy from sports who didn't go further or the weak who wad picked on and now thinks a badge will give him that stone to stand on.

Jorge, you mean to say Palestinians are not leaving regardless of how many Zionists immigrate to their country from the US and Europe and try to take over their land. Get real, will you?

Hey Ollie-not-too-Sunny - 1884-86 - the Mexican/American war was highly controversial in the U.S.... Heavy American casualties and high monetary cost were also criticized. The major consequence of the war was the forced Mexican Cession of the territories of Alta California and New Mexico to the U.S. in exchange for $18 million. Mexico accepted the Rio Grande as its national border, and the loss of Texas (drat). (Super short Wiki history/timeline version.)
Spain was there in Mexico in 1521 - long before the English touched the far northeast. The Italian, Christopher Columbus, sailing for Spanish Queen Isabella, was in the Carribean in 1492 - he didn't even know where he was. The Frenchies ended up in Canada, and what is now Louisiana, Spain was in Florida - what became the U.S. bought those properties. Like we bought Alaska from Russia.

It wasn't a total loss for Mexico - former colony of Spain (after 300 years). Really, the only people who got screwed in all this, was - no big surprise - the Indigenous Mexican Indians. This country - same story, different tribes.

The border was very porous for over a hundred years. There was a migrant worker setup that worked pretty well until the borders started to be shut down, and then the workers stayed, brought their families.
We need a workable immigrant worker system - if that happens, it will be after 2012.

(sigh, again with the Jews...)

Not really surprising that some Border Patrol people take the money from the smugglers... The BP people can see that our government is not serious about stopping either illegal drugs, or illegal immigrants, so why should the people on the line be serious about either ? And The $5M that the one female agent received certainly beats the crappy pay for the honest agents....when I looked into being a BP agent years ago, and saw the starting salary was only $17K / yr, decided that it was not worth it...and passed...

Olias of Sunhillow---
You have a glitch in your history there. The area was home to Native Americans and some Spanish Missions at the time of the American Revolution. Later, Texas, which took in part of what would become New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma and Colorado. I became a REPUBLIC before it was ever a state. The Texians -Yes, that was what they called themselves- fought very bloody battles for control of Texas. The people on Texas' side were from many races, including Ex-Mexicans, who considered themselves Texian. Hispanic names are very prominate in the annals of Texas history. Even the original abstract surveys have many hispanic names. Many of the people that everyone is lumping together are native to this county, moreso than many of the people who are complaining. Their families have been in what is the borders of USA for several HUNDRED years, not just a handfull of generations at best for the European colonization.

and the loss of Texas (drat).

he he

Not all Americans with Hispanic surnames are Hispanic. What some ignorant people seem to always forget is the Spanish came over before the English. Gave many a Native American a Spanish surname especially out west.

When the missions were being built the spanish handed out names to Natives. Cut the kids hair and sent them to Catholic schools. I am part California Native American and know many Natives with spanish last names who are not Mexican.

As for the Border patrol agents going bad and taking bribes. EVERY police type organization has corruption. From every Race period. Until we hold all our police to a much higher set of infractions for breaking the laws they are supposed to uphold. They will break them just like everyone else.

Legalize and tax all drugs and you not only end the cartel you end much of the street and prison gangs powers.

Since we are on the argument of legalizing drugs, when are we going to start discussing legalizing pedophilia?

MyGirl2---Yes, the US Government grew it during WWII to make rope for the military. It remains a cash crop in many states, yet our government passes on every opportunity to legalize and reap the tax rewards. Having to grow with grow lights in a basement is expensive and the power consumption triggers the government. If the government woke up, they would realize the lost revenue. Moonshiners dropped dramatically when alcohol became legal. In Hawaii County, The Big Island, the government rarely prosecutes small growers and possession due to it being as waste of taxpayer's money. CO and CA have dispensaries and growers make great money.

Hemp is an exceptional product for clothing. I have several shirts--beautiful material and very green. Like everything else, when the government stops taking kickbacks from cartels, we will have legalization. Skilled growers will have an instant advantage in the market. Using a search engine you can see advertisements in CO and CA with specials of varies strains of high quality weed for $125-$150/ounce. You must have a MM card to purchase. They have more flavors than Baskin Robbins.

SteveS--gotta be a government shill. A plant that gets you high vs a priest having sex with a kid. Not even a comparison. Who are you shilling for? Damage control for the DEA?

David Noah--same mold. That cash crop grows best in areas where traditional crops do not. There will be no loss of farm land to weed growers.

More DEA misinformation so you can keep that fat budget from taxpayers?

Elayne--Border Patrol and DEA are part of the government and I wish to expose them for what they are. You say clean out the government. Politicians come and go, but the DEA rapes tax dollars and, at the same time, takes kick backs from the Cartels. Recently, a border patrol officer said it was routine to supply guns to the cartels. After that series of interviews with the press--wonder what happened to him?

R Johnson:
So you assume that Border Patrol and TSA agents with Hispanic surnames must be illegal? Did it occur to you that being bilingual is quite helpful if you're a Border agent, and Hispanics are more likely to be bilingual? And what evidence do you have that the TSA is overrun with illegals? This kind of uninformed speculation is nothing more than backwoods, ignorant, racist BS, and I really wish that you, and others commenting on this story, would knock off the blatant, bigoted blathering!

Think it is kinda creepy that they are being recruited on our side of the border. That says a lot right there. It says that our own people aren't safe in our own country. Aside from that, who wants to work under that kind of scrutiny. I bet morale is really low. That is just another way the bad guys win.

George-369262

Not really surprising that some Border Patrol people take the money from the smugglers... The BP people can see that our government is not serious about stopping either illegal drugs, or illegal immigrants, so why should the people on the line be serious about either ? And The $5M that the one female agent received certainly beats the crappy pay for the honest agents....when I looked into being a BP agent years ago, and saw the starting salary was only $17K / yr, decided that it was not worth it...and passed...

You bring up a good point. Why is it that those serving American society who put their lives on the line (law enforcement, fire fighters, soldiers, etc....) daily make the least pay? Unfortunately greed exists EVERYWHERE, from the top down. We can't even always trust our government officials to serve honorably. Why should we expect a higher standard from the "little" guy?

A little advice folks, if you aren't prepared to deal with extreme bigotry go no further.

It's a war.

Crispin committed treason by aiding and abetting the enemy.

She should have been hanged from the neck as an example of what happens to traitors.

That would make others think. 20 years when you may serve less than 5 for the chance at 5 million dollars? Not so much.

If you're going to do that, you would need to hang the majority of border patrols.

@ KC

Sorry, KC .. but this IS the perfect time in our history to opinion "bigoted" (your words) rhetoric. If you can't see the difference between the evil Cartels and the evil employees - hired by our own dysfunctional govt' -- (by the way, shut it down)-- then I can only feel sorry for you. You're like the proverbial frog in the boiling pot of water.

Sandtrich, you talk a lot for somebody with nothing to say. It is clear you understand neither my post nor the dynamics of the drug war as pertains to the actual cause and effect of the drug related social problems in this country and the rest of the world. Since you don't read entire paragraphs, I won't bother going over it again here.

Tiredofsilly said, "Shoot to kill at the border. Militarize the border, yesterday."

That's exactly what we should do. And stop the "slap on the wrist" punishments courts hand out to criminals. Start up every electric chair we got, prime all the lethal injection syringes, even break out the ropes and tall trees. Let the punishment fit the crime. Stop wasting our tax money trying to rehabilitate murderers and rapist.

hang those border patrol agents guilty of taking bribes, and then start in washington District of Corruption with our elected officials.

Hanging as a Capital punishment needs to be brought back.

R Johnson,

There is NEVER a good time to be bigoted! That is like saying there is a good time to be a crook! However, corruption is corruption ALWAYS! Whenever there are large amounts of money available, reasonably easily stolen or begotten, there will be corruption. It is a sad state of affairs in the United States today that we are one of the most corrupt nations on earth. Why? We have large amounts of money, in many cases easily available, to corrupt those who are willing. These people can be anywhere in any positions. Among the largest corruptors are our large and very monied corporations and their special interest representatives, peddling their influence to state and federal authorities and the politicians who affect laws which may positively or adversely affect the bottom lines of these corporations. The amount of "influence" money paid by the drug cartels pales in relationship to the amount of money used by "special interest" to bribe and thus corrupt our own public officials! When you say, "...this is the perfect time in our history to opinion "bigoted" rhetoric.", you are, in effect, saying this is a perfect time to be biased and ignorant, in my humble opinion. I say that is wrong, wrong, wrong. The absolutely pathetic thing about this 'war on drugs' is that it is a FAILURE, has been a failure, and will continue to be a failure, a very expensive failure. Also, marijuana is NOT addictive. I have smokied pot for 42 years, off and on, and have NEVER used another illigal drug. I still enjoy a toke once or twice a week. I am a father of three educated and successful children and a responsible citizen, not some "crazed druggie". I have also used alcohol and will directly state that at an older age alcohol is much more damaging to a person's body than pot. I am retired now but had my own business for over 39 years, and the business was successful and mostly profitable. I guess I am blowing my own whistle, and I apologize for this. However, my objective in doing so is to illustrate to all those who decry and condemn manijuana; pot is NOT ADDICTIVE nor any more destructive than any other bad habit, like drinking beer or smoking cigars. It is absolutely false to believe otherwise! Marijuana should be made legal, regulated, and taxed. Doing so would eliminate, to a very large degree, the Mexican and other cartels, lower our prison population (the largest by numbers and percentage in the world), save lives and vast sums of money and generate billions of tax dollars to help pay our federal and state debt. Nuff said!

I think sandtritch has a good handle on the problems the drug war is causing. He also knows how to fix it, but so many out there believe that legalization would result in rampant use, which is far from the truth. Check other countries that have shifted to legalization and see how their addiction problems are effected.... Little to no difference

Also to those saying marijuana would be impossible to control because it grows everywhere. If its legal you dont need to hide it, and there could be a yearly tax that you file along with your taxes that allows you to grow for personal reasons. This tax could be say $500-$1000 and anyone that smokes would jump at the chance because they spend way more than that a year to purchase it in the current climate. This would also drive the price down for commercially grown pot, thus making it cheaper than a bushel of corn so that farmers would not be inclined to switch.

Im right there with you Scrambolo!

I know a border patrol agent (and yes he is hispanic) who complains he is more drug enforcement officer than border patrol these days. His wife wants him to transfer away from the border with Mexico, she is afraid he will get killed. Another one (who is hispanic, too) is taking an early retirement and moving far away from the border so he will be around to see his kids finish growing up. By the way, both of these are up quite a few miles from the border, not directly on it.

Hispanic, white or black has nothing to do with honesty. Most of our border patrol men and women are honest law enforcement who put their lives on the line for us. Unfortunately corruption exists in just about anything these days. If we think about it, unless your pretty young, you have seen it in just about everything, work, churches, nonprofit organizations. We even had a cub scout leader a few years ago who stole several thousand dollars of troop money the boys had raised for a special project or event of some sort. Unfortunately here, drug cartels have really really big amounts of money, millions rather than thousands, and even worse can threaten the lives of those trying to fight them and their families. Our military does not take their families with them to Iraq or Afghanistan. Border patrol agents and their families live in or near the areas they guard.

Many people here talk like border patrol is hiring just anybody. In spite of the dangers, they have far more applicants than they can take. They have to take a written test and pass a physical to even be considered. A young man I know who just got a degree in law enforcement and criminal justice said the written test was really tough. So was the physical test.

A big part of the solution would be to finish that fence. Yes, they can still find ways to go under and over it, but it would slow them down enough that our border patrol would have a chance to get them. We should also prosecute any corruption to the fullest extent of the law. Those who are corrupt betray and endanger all of us, but especially and directly their fellow agents who are honest and trying to protect us.

The idea that legalization would cause rampant use it funny. Don't you realize that anyone that WANTS to do drugs, does them. You can get whatever you want, whenever you want. Legalization makes no difference. The difference it WOULD make is:

• 1/3 of the US deficit taken care of
• Convicted inmates lowered dramatically (62% of prison inmates are drug related)
• Less prisoners = less $ being spent on housing them = $ can be spent on other areas of crime like pedo's, murderers, rapists, etc. (REAL criminals)
• US sponsored Hemp products manufactured here in the US
• Economy improvements? Lets see.
• Farmers grow it. Farmers need staff. More jobs. More products purchased for the production. More products mean the product manufacturer needs to add jobs.
• Distribution - Warehousing = Managerial, janitorial, shipment and trucking
• Other opportunities? = Salespeople needed, self employment opportunities. More salespeople means the companies need more vehicles. Vehicles get purchased from US car lots, etc, etc.

War on Drugs = Failing.

Keep doing what you doing and you'll keep getting what your getting.

Robin Steele--I did read your post. I have to admit, with the use of "Marijuana" and "pushers" in the same sentence, you are living in the past--tied to stereotypes and sound like a line from "Reefer Madness." Me--I explained how the whole goddamn system worked. You--an offering up of tripe.

Scrambo,,, Now I know why your mind has lost the capacity to put together a cogent argument... too much weed in all these years will do that for you...

I suggest you check in for a mental evaluation, get youself in shape and swim back across the Rio, and get that next shippment ready to the North. It appears you're running low on MJ... ??

Would like to read an article on ways we are helping USBP agents accomplish their mission, what the mission is and what the end goal is regarding the drug war. Simply putting Americans in harms way to take it from both sides forever doesn't work for this American. Is sad that there is so much corruption. Have heard of a movie called Silver or Lead about the drug war along the border. Essentially, traffickers tell agents along the border to either take the money or get dead. Kind of a no brainer when you and your family is in mortal danger. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to perform every day under that kind of fear and intimidation. Isn't it time our countries leadership started planning and acting on a real solution for this crisis?

Perhaps the shock should not be that under the circumstances, why some are dishonest? It should be that the vast majority of them are actually still honest and doing their best to protect us.

r johnson clearly never has had the ability to put together a cogent argument and has to rely on personal attacks instead of answering the argument.

Santrich, I did not refer to pot dealers as pushers, i differentiated between the dealers and pushers, just maybe at a fifth grade comprehension level. Not my fault you can't catch up. Second, If you have read my many hundreds of posts, you get a clear understanding of how the system works, the reasons for the drug war, the reasons it subverts freedom, causes more drug use, and rewards the lowest form of life in our society, politicians.

danwill ... the arguments regards govt' employed security agents, as put forth by the vast majority of your progressives on this post (name calling here) often do not fall into a category of deserving a reply.. debate, or any form of argument. Clearly, Scrambo,and others on this pathetic pot endorsing news item are nothing more than Obamite loyalists... wishing for a return to the good old days of Tim Leary and other psychedelic wonders.

And, please, Scrambo, be consistant in your use of who is a Bigot. I'm actually very judgemental, I'm very prejudice and I enjoy throwing barbs under your skin.. sorry if you can't take it...

I have little regard for the pious folk.

Go ahead, danwill, take the post down... you really can't take the truth, can you?

actually, I very rarely click the 'inflammatory", or "no value" button unless a comment is truly offensive. and no, your comment didn't cross into what I consider "inflammatory" it merely was a rather pointless personal attack.

I know one person that smokes the stuff at home on a nearly daily basis and goes to work the next day sober, he grows his own, and I don't care if someone does so as long as they aren't supporting these drug cartel scum and as long as they aren't doing anything to harm anyone else. he's not using any government assistance or anything else, has a steady job, so why should I care what an individual does in private? personally, I don't touch the stuff or even drink.

the drug lords can all be hung, and the world would be a better place without them

Now, dan,, I actually find your response encouraging. I'm not prone to making patronizing comments but I will easily accept your conclusion that my comment above was pointless... as we all know, some of our so called highly regarded politico's make pointless "inflammatory" remarks from time to time. And, who am I?

We agree: a.) drug cartel scum should burn, -i say burn, you say hang- b.) Nice to hear your buddy staying out of trouble... A co-worker of mine, wasn't so lucky, he went to prison.

I just have one question for you, and I ask it with all due respect? If we -the U.S. - were to eventually legalize mjane, do you honestly believe the issues we have with drug lords, runners and addicts would eventually diminish? A simple yes or no will suffice... thank you.

diminish? yes. eliminate? no.

BTW , I certainly can't claim to be innocent of making snide remarks myself.

there arent very many border patrol agents that would turn down 5 million freakin dollars.

i think they'll be able to bribe another one.

"To try to stem the corruption, President Obama recently signed a law requiring polygraph tests for all border patrol and customs law enforcement job applicants."

While that may help, the problem is that most of them are bribed AFTER being hired. We should require annual unannounced testing for all current agents, but of course there's probably an employee's union rule against that.

Like any problem the first thing one needs to do is asses the situation. OBOMBA nor his predecesors wants to stop the illegal flow of anything whether it be people /drugs/guns. One need only look at the article today where OBOMBA wants the Arizona court to throw out a lawsuit Arizona has filed against the FEDS for failing to do their job to enforce the immigration laws. If OBOMBA and his band of criminals were doing their job this would be the perfect opportunity to show us he's doing it. The reason he wants to let all the uneducated lawbreaking criminals in to our america is so that his new amnesty citizens will out number you and I and these illegal converts will show there loyalty and follow the devil master without complaining. Remember these uneducated illegals don't care about america ITS NOT THEIR COUNTRY and they just want to tow the line. OBOMBA wants sheep and with number of % of Mexican National converts at high percentages he's almost there.

That just sounds like a bunch of paranoid ramblings from the far right conservative point of view.

OBOMBA nor his predecesors wants to stop the illegal flow of anything whether it be people /drugs/guns.

Oh really?! When at any time has Mr. Obama said this? Please provide a source.

One need only look at the article today where OBOMBA wants the Arizona court to throw out a lawsuit Arizona has filed against the FEDS for failing to do their job to enforce the immigration laws.

Well I looked up an article that says something very different.

A comment earlier this month by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, which came to light late this week, has caused a stir. Asked about the Arizona law in a June 8 television interview in Ecuador, Clinton said: "President Obama has spoken out against the law because he thinks that the federal government should be determining immigration policy. And the Justice Department, under his direction, will be bringing a lawsuit against the act."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/06/18/4529582-all-signs-point-to-obama-adm-suit-against-az-law?pc=25&sp=25

Then you stated:

If OBOMBA and his band of criminals were doing their job this would be the perfect opportunity to show us he's doing it. The reason he wants to let all the uneducated lawbreaking criminals in to our america is so that his new amnesty citizens will out number you and I and these illegal converts will show there loyalty and follow the devil master without complaining.

Yeah. It's all a conspiracy to get the Mexican vote. Say whaaaaaat!? I certainly haven't seen any news reports about this. Can you elaborate?

Devil master? Religious much?

Remember these uneducated illegals don't care about america ITS NOT THEIR COUNTRY and they just want to tow the line. OBOMBA wants sheep and with number of % of Mexican National converts at high percentages he's almost there.

Where do you get this stuff? Or do you just dream it up? Please provide some evidence to these statements.

Why the ? mark at the end of the headline? Isn't that what you would expect when you have a highly profitable illegal enterprise? Let's see -- how can we fix this and save Billions to boot..................?

Prohibition doesn't work!!!

Didn't we learn this lesson with prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s and 30s? You don't make something go away by making it illegal. If anything, you make it more attractive and you hand over control of that thing to criminals. Alcohol eventually had to be made legal again to put a stop to the madness.

I don't know any non-users who would START using drugs if they were legal. But we would take control back from the drug cartels and eventually end the violence and corruption! And all the money we're spending fighting the "drug war" could be spent on treatment for anyone who needs and wants it. Why not try it just with marijuana and see what happens?

I'm all for decriminalizing your lovely drugs, but don't expect to get a driver's license, a job, or welfare.

So basically crawl under a rock and die?

For one the Department of Defense doesn't have jurisdiction within the boarders of the U.S. to conduct such operations, unless it is a direct threat to the stability of the Union or crimes that are committed on a federal reservations and there is a dam good reason for that because it protects citizens.

What can be done is a large scale police action involving cordination from both feaderal and state law enforcement angencies. Who have been trained and giving the authority to conduct such operations.

all we would need is the permission of mexico and one single co-ordinated strike and they would all be gone in a flash...

Yeah, right. It worked SO well with BinLaden.

The troops need to be placed along the border with Mexico, and with orders to "Shoot to kill."

Great. Our very own Iron Curtain. "Mr. Gorbachev--- TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!" Do you remember that line? Probably not. You xenophobes have no memory. It gets in the way of crimes against humanity to have memory.

A nation of sociopaths cannot long endure. This nation's time is up. We are degenerating into a mob of infighting lunatics and self righteous murderers. Meanwhile, the crimes and filthy deals continue at a breakneck pace. We have been looted and lied to, all to glorify our obsessive materialism and shallow greed.

At the end of it all, Praise God and Push the Button. Your imaginary friend will not show up to save your dumb asses.

Veal Man--why do you think that one cannot obtain a driver's license if they smoke pot. Just as with alcohol, (yet proven to be far less damaging), you don't smoke pot and drive. In states that have medical marijuana laws, it's a non-factor if a person uses and possesses a card. Welfare? If you're on welfare you shouldn't be able to afford pot, cigarettes, alcohol, etc.. Now--put away the copy of "Reefer Madness" and join the real world.

Here's a list of drug dealers operate in your neighborhood:

Eli Lilly

Pfizer

Roche

GlaxcoSmithKline

Abbott

Merck

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Nate --"what can be done" is quit sending Mexicos President Calderon 1.8 BILLION Dollars that gets put in somebodys pocket. Then legalize and tax marijuana---HEY ---They already do it in California for Medical pot. Prohibition doesn't work ETC ETC ETC. As for the illegals---Simple start by announcing no more amnesty/jail employers who hire undocumented workers/Alow states to deport anyone who cant provide ID or who carrys phony ID. But none of it will ever happen because OBOMBA and his elitists don't want to stop the flow of illegal aliens.

Hey, now you are making some sense (except for the part about "OBOMBA" ).

I agree we shouldn't be sending so much money to other countries when we have so many problems here at home. Legalize, tax, and regulate marijuana. Couldn't agree with you more.

I can't say I agree with you on the illegal immigration issues.

I agree something needs to be done. But I do not believe that taking a Draconian tough guy approach is the answer. Mexico is a very important country to us. I think we should enforce our border and we could do this by taking all of the DEA and Homeland Security officers and place them on the border. Include portions of the national guard and I think we could actually make a difference in enforcing our border. But please note I don't want them shooting anyone. I want them to enforce the border but do it peacefully. Of course there will be times when force will be necessary and cannot be avoided. This would be mainly to stop the flow of drugs and weapons across our borders. I'm thinking with more people on the border there would be less opportunity for corruption. Of course there would still be some that would take the path of corruption, but less occurrence of it would be a positive result and it would be harder to conceal.

Now for the cartels. We could increase the number of people guarding our border. We should pull all of our troops out of the Middle East. We can't afford having an additional war. Focus those troops on Mexico and the drug cartels. Hopefully we could do it in a manner that wouldn't have us to declare all out war against Mexico. Now that would be a drug war that I would support. We need to worry about what is happening south of our border and if we do not get a handle on it we will surely be paying a bigger price in the near future.

For the rest of the people that are honest good hard working people that want to come to this country to work I have no problem with that as long as there is something done to make sure they pay taxes and they are not working as indentured slaves. I think the laws need to be reformed so that everyone gains from having these people in our country. I agree that they shouldn't be here living off of the proverbial nipple for free. But to exclude ourselves from our neighbors would have a negative effect in the long run. We need to solve our problems with the drugs and the cartels and build a bridge so we can both prosper economically and as neighboring countries in a world so divided.

Not even a drug cartel can be blamed for the personal decisions of the people who work for them. These officials made their own choices and corrupted themselves. I know a lot of people who are doing illegal things. I choose not to work for them. Now, I'm not corrupt. Do you see how that's done? Simple.

Do you see the parallel decision regarding DOING drugs?

I'm not sure what you mean by that. Drug users have also made the decision to do drugs, so that can't be blamed on cartels either. If no one did the drugs, the cartels would not exist. What point are you trying to make?

That's a bad argument against legalization. Look at medical marijuana in California. Granted you still have some product from across the border(I can't stress "some" enough) most of the marijuana is grown in state which deprives the cartels of valuable demand by creating an easier to access, safer, and ultimately cheaper supply.

Well I hope she enjoys her $5mil in prison. Some people are just plain stupid!

How dare you! An idiot like you wouldn't give it thought because you are one of those greedy citizens without any morals, scrupels, integrity, character or brains. I think it's called "American Greed". If you would sell out to drug cartels, then you would sell out your own country just as our politicians have done to the U.S.A.!!!!!

I WOULD KILL THEM BEFORE I LET THEM THROUGH WITH DRUGS! I WOULD KILL THEM IF THEY STEPPED ONE FOOT ON OUR SOIL! I WOULD DIE FIRST BEFORE I LET THEM COME ACROSS OUR BORDER WITH THEIR DRUGS TO CORRUPT OUR COUNTRY EVEN MORE!!!!

Yes debi, we can and should expect more of a $30,000 year customs agent than those who inhabit the most important offices in America. //sarcasm off

I'll take $30K a year to sit on my ass and do nothing. More money and less work than a school teacher!

Most school teachers make considerably more than $30K these days! You are about 30 years behind the times.

What teacher only makes $30,000 for nine months work now? Around here they start at more than that. My mother was a school teacher for 33 years. My father was a WA state region dept head. My mother ALWAYS earned more than my father. In fact the state offered my father head of the dept. state wide. The pay increase wouldn't have made up for the pay cut my mother would have taken to move to a new district.

but what cartel is going to pay taxes to bring it here legally. This honestly didn't shock me in the least.

If it were legalized the illegal drug cartels would go out of business and cocaine would be imported by RJ Reynolds are something.

If it were legalized the illegal drug cartels would go out of business and cocaine would be imported by RJ Reynolds are something.

Yeah, it's time to give the LEGAL drug cartels a try!

Yeah Living, cause the drug cartels don't have their fingers in ANY other pies but drugs. There's no way they would EVER expand their human trafficking practices (a much bigger problem than anybody is really willing to look at, and one which is creating a de facto slave trade here, in the US, today), or smuggling/importing harder and harder drugs/weapons/etc... Yep I guess if we legalize it the whole world will just say good bye to drug cartels and begin the age of aquarius or whatever...

This government is a drug cartel, it's called the 'fda'.

did anyone find Debi a Zanax yet .?

legal weed ... ban cigs .. !!

My daughter is a customs agent on the Canadian boarder and she make around $80,000 a year after only three years.

My daughter is a customs agent on the Canadian boarder and she make around $80,000 a year after only three years.

Plus the government pays her.

EJ -- the point is the cartel would not be the supplier anymore. Do you think the beer, whiskey and wine sold in this country today are smuggled over the border by cartels? No, they are manufactured, packaged, and distributed by legitimate businesses. Ever heard of Ernest and Julio Gallo? And yes, they pay taxes.

True, some of the old mob suppliers turned legit, and so might some of today's drug cartels. But they wouldn't be corrupting and murdering people anymore.

I don't know for sure it was so wise to broadcast that on a public forum, Christy. You might want to have a little chat with your daughter.

http://www1.salary.com/Customs-Officer-Salary.html

maybe her daughter has a side business.

Was there supposed to be a wink wink there?

I WOULD DIE FIRST BEFORE I LET THEM COME ACROSS OUR BORDER WITH THEIR DRUGS TO CORRUPT OUR COUNTRY EVEN MORE!!!!

Trust this fact: the world, and this country would be better off without you. Killing is the orgasm of the vicious. You are clearly there already.

My daughter is a customs agent on the Canadian boarder and she make around $80,000 a year after only three years.

A Customs Agent at GS12? Nonsense. There are regional directors that don't get that.

"Killing is the orgasm of the vicious."...... That sounds deep. What's the deterrent for crime? Prisons overcrowded, probation and house arrest being handed out like candy, states broke, or headed that way fast, and we house, feed, supply medical care (which we can't even manage to get to free citizens), libraries, weight rooms, need I continue? I'd pay for a roll of rope and build a gallows for around a grand and save taxpayers everywhere alot of money. Hell, once we made a little room in the prisons we could march 'em straight out the back door of the court house and not even have to worry about years of appeals. This "U.S Customs Agent" should be shot in the street like a dog to send a message and set an example. If you want to work for the cartels, get out of this country.

You want street corner executions? Move to Somalia. The only lasting deterrent for crime is true justice. That justice begins long before a crime is actually committed.

Just remember, revenge has a long memory and endless patience. Those you kill for your self-perfected ideas of justice also have families and friends who will come for payback.

I am floored by how many Anarchists we have here now. After all, a nation without the due process of law is an Anarchy State.

All that hate will devour you in the end.

Why not just kill everyone who doesn't think like you? Wouldn't that make life so easy and happy?

"Why not just kill everyone who doesn't think like you?". Why not. I don't have a criminal mindset.That's the only people I want to get rid of. I wish I could direct my tax money where I want it to go. Prisons and court systems would be last on my list. Starving illiterate people("free" people, not crooks) in this country we can't help but prisoners have it all.....

And I never said do away with so called "due process". I think it should be speedy and the punishment carried out quickly.

Debi, please go back and reread my post. Not once in there did I ever state "I" would have thought about it. I just related to the test of what $5 million would give to anyone not making ends meet. Geesh, relax woman. I am far from an idiot and I don't appreciate being called one.

I thought about your post Dubsie and you are right, thank you for pointing that out. Sometimes putting your initial thoughts on a subject can get good or bad comments ! The only thing I would add is that sure they would still be trying to illegally move product over the border because they are illegal to begin with ... but that hasn't stopped 20 million of them so why now.

They most likely find a senator or two involved..no doubt! Even an ex-president and VP..its possible.

To be fair, we have not had a surfing dog since Spudz Mckienzie. And I desperately need that hole in my life filled.

LMAO..pants on the ground.

16 and pregnant! Look ma, I'm on T.V.!

not using condoms is why there are so many kids not using condoms

Why should they? Our court system allows people to blame everyone else for anything else so the person committing the crime isn't responsible for their actions.

Why should they use condoms? A baby gets you food stamps (which they sell) and all your bills paid.

My generation will be working until we die to support this entitlement generation

Very well said sailorgirlgreen!

My generation will be working until we die to support this entitlement generation

Wrong. In terms of actual value, your generation will work until dead to pay off multi-trillion dollar wars, bailouts, tax giveaways and corporate welfare, that together dwarf all social spending from all the years 1946 to the present.

Hatred against the poor is the sick distraction sold to the angry ignorant, to avert their attention from the REAL crimes of this nation. Our government, education system and mass media has failed us in the most drastic terms. While we fought petty skirmishes among ourselves, the media acted as instigators as the nameless, faceless thieves made off with the wealth of the nation. And for all the economic crimes that caused such suffering and death, not one treasonous bastard will go to prison; the biggest will grow even larger.

In spite of all of this, the psychotic electorate will continue to vote themselves into slavery, all for the benefit of a class of masters who do not even see them as human beings. Our inexorable march to the ranks of third world status will be the 21st century's Trail of Tears. Karma has come back for one wicked run of revenge.

"As a nation of freemen, we shall live through all time, or die by suicide." And true to his word, " If destruction be our lot, we will ourselves be its author and finisher." Our success as such is imminent.

Disgusted-WV... Your comments (if they are truly yours) seem to belie your intellect, or perhaps you are a professor of anthropology. sarcasm not intended-

Either way, would you kindly share the title of an enlightening book you may have read recently, to allow me - and others on this post - to become similarly educated. thank you... by the way, I was born in '46. And, I believe we will not recover from this ...

Sorry, Disgusted,,, do to time running out I left you with an incomplete sentence.

__— I believe we'll not recover from this economic hell hole,, ever!

And yes, illegal drugs, and all the corruption to coming out of the District of Corruption play a role. But, I reserve the right to be wrong!

K Troop 1971 - 1974.

Sounds more like "F Troop", going on down there.

Chief Wild Eagle: [when asked how the Hekawi got their name] Many moons ago tribe move west because Pilgrims ruin neighborhood. Tribe travel west, over country and mountains and wild streams, then come big day... tribe fall over cliff, that when Hekawi get name. Medicine man say to my ancestor, "I think we lost. Where the heck are we?"

13th Ord. (IHAWK) '81-'82

Agree..greed is a sickness..right here in my state they just arrested three highway toll collectors..each one was making $80k plus a year plus perks galore..they took a higher paying toll ticket and replaced it with a one dollar toll ticket..all this for $10k (rip off)..idiots all three of them. No E-Z pass on this highway cost goes by where you enter and exit.

"Pluma o Plata"

All the people with jobs close to Mexico are Mexican. WOW!!!!!!!

Yes, i actually did notice that. Mexicans stick together no matter what. I bet if we stopped handing out citizenship like it's candy we could fix this problem. I don't understand why were hiring mexicans to patrol the mexican border anyways, thats the dumbest thing i've ever heard.

Margarita Crispin! Yup met a lot of Mexicans who have Crispin as their last name. Blame Mexicans losers!

WOW...thank God they're NO white people involved....EVER!

I have never met an american named Margarita....Have you? I highly doubt it. Did you notice the rest of the names?

goutjazz...

Dude..what country DO you live in? Can you spell B-I-G-O-T?

I don't claim to be a f-ing english teacher. I don't see why your calling me names, what in the hell did i do to you? Theres no need for name calling.

Well maybe because is the border? or what whites do not get corrupted because they are white the color of angel's? come one, you are just being racist right now

My grandmother is polish and has the first name of Margarita.

Irish, Italian, Russian, French, Chinese, Japanese, Somali, Nigerian, etc. etc. etc. Many folks, especially recent immigrant populations, tend to stick with other folks of their ethnicity. That's just human nature.

There is always pressure from criminal elements within each group. How many Irish in Boston helped the IRA? Italian mafia, Russian mafia, etc. all were major influences in their communities. Why shouldn't we expect the same problems with pressure from the Drug Cartels on Mexican-Americans? They are no less human than the rest of us.

oh shut up Eng 64, out of everything bad anyone has to say on here, nothing is more annoying and useless than the people just waiting to pull the rascist card.

Exactly. They would laugh at you in Israel if you made a comment like "I can't believe those airline gate inspectors just checked the bags and did a body search on that young Muslim boarding that plane." They would look at you like a dumb a_s and know you were American where you are condemned using common sense and stating the obvious. In America we just say "oh,that person is a bigot and racist." Someone on here responded of course Mexicans work near the Mexico border (on the U.S. side). My response is "What? Why?" 50 Million Latinos in the U.S. with 14 million illegal reproducing at a much higher rate than non-Latino caucasians. I'm sorry, was that a racist comment too? LMFAO.

You know what's become much more annoying than the throwing out of the race card? The throwing out the card criticism. If the shoe fits.... Besides, Eng64 threw out the bigot card. In this case it's appropriate if that's the way he feels because racists are bigots, but bigots aren't necessarily racists. Now, if someone were to make a disparaging remark about Chris' Polish grandmother and her name, that would be bigotry.

By the way Chris, excellent point. No Americans named Margarita, wow. goutjazz, try opening up a phone book pal.

yeah ...open that American Citizenship phonebook.......now that's good proof. " Hey look here right here INS officer...my name is in the phone book." And I have a Albertson's and Blockbuster card. See?

LMFAO!

Allright guys. Every Margarita in every phone book, voter registration list, whatever is definitely not American born, who was born to an American. And you both glossed right over Chris' grandmother comment. Man, it is getting so freaking hard not to point the obvious out, or as you guys call it, throw out the "R" card.

I had a professor in the 1980's who said that given time, the Soviet Union would look like the USA, and the USA would look like the Soviet Union.

Papers, please. You must have transit papers, or face arrest. We cannot allow unauthorized transit. This is national security issue, comrade.

Border patrol hires a number of agents for the Mexican border who can speak fluent spanish - don't know if it is all or just a percent. But, it is logical, that you would find a greater percentage of hispanics who speak fluent spanish. Think about it, if we had to guard against people sneaking in from Siberia, we would want at least some of those agents able to speak Russian, wouldn't we? So even though race is not supposed to be a factor, fluency in spanish favors them. That being said, if you lived near the border, you would definitely see all races of agents, not just hispanic.

Incidently, there are many hispanics in the southwest who have been here for many generations. A lot of them are just as upset over our pourous border as the rest of us. The city of Tucson, was founded as a Spanish presidio (fort) in 1775 by a Spanish army officer with the interesting name of Hugo O'Connor. There was already a Tohono O'odom village there and it was very close to the mission San Xavier del Bac founded by Father Franscisco Kino (Italian or Austrian) in the 1600s. So Native Americans, hispanics, and maybe the Irish, belong here, too. It is part of the United States, and we are a people of many races and cultures, and if you look at the history of this area, it has been dor a long time.

Disgusted-WV

You intrigue me.

This was going to be my reply also but you've got it covered and said it all Jumbog! Thanks! LOL

The same thing as the former commander and chief.

I live in Arizona and it it is nothing like it was under Bush. Maybe you thinking of Slick Willy Clinton.

Arizonatime ... are you saying that it is better now in Arizona under Obama or that it was better under Bush? It is not clear at all. I assume you are saying it is better under Obama with all the emphasis on agents and fences ... and under Bush it was wide open with all the 14 million illegals coming into the country?

Paul let me know what you are smoking. Obama has done zip to secure the border. Arizona has done more on their own then the slacker you voted for. And you are full of @!$%# about Bush. Get your facts straight before you comment. Obama sent 1500 National guard done here, to observe. He did that or he faced grounds for impeachment.

Wait a minut! Bush built the worthless wall! Mine The Border so we can enforce the legidament crossing's.

Huh?

I have been pulling for Arizona every step of the way with their immigration and enforcement initiatives. I swear your comment "I live in Arizona and it it is nothing like it was under Bush. Maybe you thinking of Slick Willy Clinton" had no context for being a positive or negative statement regarding Bush or Obama. So, "I live in Arizona and it is not nearly as good as it was under Bush" is what you were saying. Just wasn't clear at all.

FYI

http://www.governor.state.az.us/documents/07-05-17%20Gov%20Napolitano%20Judiciary%20subcommittee%20testimony.pdf

And she got the support equivalent to that provided by a bra with a broken strap from Washington.

Obama has done something about the border. He had AG Eric Holder sue the state of Arizona. Obama is for the people.....hahahahah

Newsvine 101. Read the article before commenting. Now go back and read the article and then come back and say the same thing.

As long as business makes fortunes on cheap labor, nothing will be done about illegal immigration. Put in "nicer" terms, the economy relies... is addicted to low cost labor. Consumer prices would skyrocket without it.

As long as there is a demand for drugs, they will be made, transported and sold to Americans by whoever has the means to do so. The law of supply and demand is universal and unshakable.

In both of these statements, WHO is ultimately responsible for the problem?

A: Those who create the demand.

"As long as business makes fortunes on cheap labor, nothing will be done about illegal immigration.", I don't think the illegal factory worker is so much a problem anymore. Illegal landscapers, kitchen staff, housecleaning services, constuction, stuff like that. But, we did do it to ourselves. Lower prices just were'nt low enough. I partial blame unions too, for keeping wages inflated.

Get over blaming unions. Both Arizona and Texas are right to work states - very little union power in either state.

Speaking of wages... Help me understand something if you know. I have reading about Nafta impact on Mexico. I also read a detailed government analysis of of import export trends. But no where in US literature have a found a study on economic impact for wages in the US and in Mexico. I found a couple of blogs saying that it really hurt Mexican farmers and factory workers, but that is all.

Where I am going with this is>>> IF free trade agreements negotiated a multi- national minimum wage, is it feasible that it would solve a lot of immigration problems as well as keeping manufacturing in the US? My head hurts with the possibilities, so help me out here.

I think we are setting up one with Columbia soon.

I know it really hurt the southeast US because a lot of furniture factories relocated to mexico so they could pay lower wages. I understand some car manufacturers like Ford relocated factories, too. (Make parts in Mexico and assemble in US so you canstill say American made.) That should have helped Mexico. If NAFTA hurt them, too, then there should definitely be cause to scrap it.

Mark Ciavarella was the more recent conviction but we don't want his co-corruptee Michael Conahan to slip away. Luzerne County.

Your right..........I wonder how many innocents died today because of the narc heads use.............

what's your point? legalize dope? must be from california. it's a gateway drug,leads to more substance abuse, like beer or hard liquor its no different,dope is dope ,booze is booze.

The current drug policy seems like 'stupid is what stupid does'

How does legalizing dope stop the cartels? price? bag of weed the price of a six pack? they will just switch to meth and heroine and cocaine,meanwhile shaggy get his buzz on gets behind the wheel because he ran out of Doritos,but he don't care he got his ...right? then after he gets tired of that he switches to the other because his tolerance is built up and mary joe don't satisfy no more....so your arguement is kinda weak due to the track record of human nature.

And if they ever try to prohibit gun ownership the same think will happen. Canada is trying to repeal it's gun registry and it only fell short by one vote last year.

Prohibitions of any kind don't work.

Hey major dicke. It will be legalized, and when it is please don't keep your panties in a bunch, pull them out of your mouth okay.

Prohibition hasn't worked in the history of the world. It isn't suddenly going to start working now. It is past time to give up on the WOD the government can use the money.

These Tea Baggers and Retardicons morons really need to come up with something new. Obama this. Obama that. How about we try every Tea Bagger and Retardicon for treason since they don't give a sh!t about the country. Only there bank accounts and making Wall Street happy. Every Bagger and Tardicon makes me sick. Especially crybaby Bo(eh)ner and that fuglyass McConnell. Palin is just a media whore along with her whoring daughters. Bachmann doesn't know her ass from a hole in the ground. Trump doesn't have a clue about anything. Except how to say "You're fired". Try all of them for treason and have a public hanging. They are 95% of the problem with this country. Anyone that votes for them needs to see a shrink because they are obviously mentally unstable. Just as the people they voted for are either severely retarded and/or mentally unstable. I bet if the article was about a swarm of bees attacking, the Tea Baggers and Retardicons would blame Obama. Some people just really need to look down the barrel of a shotgun and pull the trigger. This country doesn't need the likes of you.

Sadly, the "war on drugs" has become a self-serving, big business bureaucracy, with overtime for local anti-drug task force members and such. It is a national embarassment. Legalize it. Tax it. People will find drugs and use them. why enrich the dregs of society by continuing to outlaw it?

Makes me laugh, every time drugs are mentioned, the pro - dopers say the same stupid things over and over - prohibition doesn't work.It's not about prohibition - it's about using a mood -altering drug while driving, working, playing, putting others at risk for your own stupid addiction. Not addicted? Then why are so many people going to such great lengths to get pot legalized? If you're not addicted, why not just DROP IT? No, you're addicted, and you're trying to find a way to make it easier for you to get your fix, without getting in trouble with the law. That's where the real reason lies. The article also isn't about making drugs legal, it's about the greed and corruption in our Border Patrol. So get off your soap box, and find a way to stop the problems at our borders.

It's not about prohibition - it's about using a mood -altering drug while driving, working, playing, putting others at risk for your own stupid addiction.

Well, is prohibition in this case working?

If you're not addicted, why not just DROP IT?

Why, because it's a huge waste of taxpayer money.

Bill:

You make ME laugh!

every time drugs are mentioned, the pro - dopers say the same stupid things over and over - prohibition doesn't work.It's not about prohibition - it's about using a mood -altering drug while driving, working, playing, putting others at risk for your own stupid addiction.

Is that what you really think Bill? We just wanna get stoned? PLEASE! Can you be any more stereotypical? You probably hate hippies , too, right? Either that or you are in law enforcement and fear for your job if the War on Drugs was ever to come to an end.

Then why are so many people going to such great lengths to get pot legalized? If you're not addicted, why not just DROP IT?

Well had you read carefully you would understand that the laws are unjust and do more damage than the drugs themselves. But something tells me you will never see or admit to that.

No, you're addicted, and you're trying to find a way to make it easier for you to get your fix, without getting in trouble with the law. That's where the real reason lies.

Bill, its so easy to get weed these days its ridiculous. And I have never been busted in the 25+ years of smoking weed. So your argument is null and void. We pot smokers are looking for justice and equality in the eyes of the law. A person can get life for drugs but a person can get a much lesser sentence for murder? MURDER!!?? Surely even you can see the discrepancy in the law?

The article also isn't about making drugs legal, it's about the greed and corruption in our Border Patrol. So get off your soap box, and find a way to stop the problems at our borders.

Um.....duh. Why do you think there is greed and corruption at the border? Hmmm...could it be because of....illegal drug trafficking? Hmm what has caused all of the violence and corruption associated with illegal drug trafficking? Hmmm.....could it be....the US war on drugs? Hmmm...isn't a logical solution to stop the cause (drug war) which results in the effect (illegal drug trafficking)? Sorry, I'll be standing on my soapbox until I die.

I will always be glad to set the record straight when it comes to the lies and misinformation that people like you regurgitate after swallowing all the BS the government shoves down your throat.

It's not about prohibition - it's about using a mood -altering drug while driving, working, playing, putting others at risk for your own stupid addiction

like alcohol? which is a stupid addiction, and a mood-altering drug.

I don't se the stuff myself, but I don't care if a person uses it at home , especially if he grows it at home, that also deprives the drug cartel scum of revenue.

as far as driving is concerned, treat it like drinking and driving, with the same consequences. people whop drink and drive are idiots and threats to public health too, but do you want to bring back prohibition? usage of drugs at work should be treated just like drinking at work

true, prohibition is a waste of money. But don't think that the cartels are worried about losing money over decrminalizing your drugs.

as far as driving is concerned, treat it like drinking and driving

Already is in NYS, and I'm sure many others.

@ gullyjuice, "I couldn't have gotten so stinking rich without George Bush, George Bush Jr., Ronald Reagan, even El Presidente Obama, none of them have the cajones to stand up to all the big money that wants to keep this stuff illegal. From the bottom of my heart, I want to say, Gracias amigos, I owe my whole empire to you."

Cannabis needs to be lagalized, prohibion has only fueled criminal organizations and the Black Market. Anyone with personal experiance on the topic knows this, only the people that have never tried the substance (but think they know everything about it because they took DARE in the 6th grade) think it should stay illegal.

From the Department of Transportation of These United States, regarding marijuana and driving performance:

U.S. Department of Transportation,
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(DOT HS 808 078), Final Report, November 1993

CONCLUSIONS

The major conclusions from the present program are summarized as follows:

* Current users of marijuana prefer THC doses of about 300 ug/kg to achieve their desired "high".

* It is possible to safely study the effects of marijuana on driving on highways or city streets in the presence of other traffic.

* Marijuana smoking impairs fundamental road tracking ability with the degree if impairment increasing as a function of the consumed THC dose.

* Marijuana smoking which delivers THC up to a 300 ug/kg dose slightly impairs the ability to maintain a constant headway while following another car.

* A low THC dose (100 ug/kg) does not impair driving ability in urban traffic to the same extent as a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04g%.

* Drivers under the influence of marijuana tend to over-estimate the adverse effects of the drug on their driving quality and compensate when they can; e.g. by increasing effort to accomplish the task, increasing headway or slowing down, or a combination of these.

* Drivers under the influence of alcohol tend to under-estimate the adverse effects of the drug on their driving quality and do not invest compensatory effort.

* The maximum road tracking impairment after the highest THC dose (300 ug/kg) was within a range of effects produced by many commonly used medicinal drugs and less than that associated with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08g% in previous studies employing the same test.

* It is not possible to conclude anything about a driver's impairment on the basis of his/her plasma concentrations of THC and THC-COOH determined in a single sample.

Emphasis mine.

So there you have it. Our own government considers marijuana safe enough to study in the presence of other traffic, both on city streets and highways, and considers the effects to be on-par with over the counter medication. So... the argument that all the dopers are gonna go hog wild and crash into every pedestrian, parked car and flip off every overpass is completely invalid.

Would you like to play again?

Interesting study. When anything is illegal, there will be a black market for it. That doesn't mean it should be legal so that the black market dies. Some things should never be legalized, but there they are. (Want to kill yourself slowly with one of those legal cigarettes? How about gamble away your savings at one of those legal casinos? Get yourself AIDs and have the whole community's support? After all, it was legal, and you couldn't help yourself! You were 'born that way'!) Have some self-control, people. Just because you can manage to drive while doing an activity (smoking whatever) doesn't mean you should do it. It's bad for you when your sitting-still too, even though you may not drop dead right away. Whoever thinks smoke-inhalation is good for you needs a reality check. (I don't know if eating Mjane or 'medicinal use' is benefitial or bad).

I don't think anyone who is paying attention to the the issue doesn't realize it's not about willy-nilly decriminaliztion of drug use.

Just because you can manage to drive while doing an activity (smoking whatever) doesn't mean you should do it.

I totally agree with you there. The study does show that some impairment occurs, so obviously you probably shouldn't purposefully do it-- what I was showing was that the effects are pretty minimal, so all the scare-mongers piping up about all the horrible DUI deaths that would occur from legalizing pot are way off mark. The road tracking impairment isn't even on-par with a "legal" dose of alcohol at .04% (most states legally intoxicated level starts at .08%) and their best comparison for it was over-the-counter meds. I'm just trying to fight the misinformation machine that gobbles up people's common sense, you know? I'm an advocate for responsible marijuana use-- irresponsible use should be roundly condemned, regardless of what you're talking about (booze, cigarettes, food, weed, cell phones, whatever).

You know, when more attention is paid to distracted driving, for whatever reason, and the cost of it, I think a lot of folks are going to be shocked. Cell phone usage, texting, eating, reading, dealing with make-up, the list goes on. I'm certainly not defending drunken or drug abuse driving but there's a whole lot more crap going on out on the roads that people need to open their eyes to.

In Great Britain you can get stopped and ticketed if the officer observes you taking a hit on your beverage while driving. And I don't mean alcoholic either. Even a milk shake will get you a ticket. LOL