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The Poison We Pick

nymag.com

11–20 of 218 posts

Re: The Poison We Pick

#11
I was the first to blame the drug companies (they certainly warrant blame) but there are other factors to consider that are addressed in this article that I failed to previous realize. Worth the 15-20 minutes to read.

Re: The Poison We Pick

#12
post #9
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From the article : "The drug was ubiquitous among both the British and American forces in the War of Independence as an indispensable medicine for the pain of battlefield injuries." What is your point exactly?

The point is that there is a war being fought against American society, and the weapon is: drugs. Its one of those weapons where the willingness of the intended recipient to apply it to themselves is key to its effectiveness. Its not a 'popular' opinion, but it has to be pointed out that the use of drugs to devolve society is as old as the political hills, yet its not something that is taught in schools, nor do gener…

I'm genuinely skeptical of most drug use, recreational or medical (over time, any habit can start to lose its initial magic, and you start to perform it out of boredom. Then again, I'm greatly bored of e.g. coffee enthusiasts, so maybe it's something about overesteemed obsessions in general) but I'm not sure about the "enemies". Could you name them? This seems less like a cabal plotting and more like systemic/cultural issues writ large.

Re: The Poison We Pick

#13
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The point is that there is a war being fought against American society, and the weapon is: drugs. Its one of those weapons where the willingness of the intended recipient to apply it to themselves is key to its effectiveness. Its not a 'popular' opinion, but it has to be pointed out that the use of drugs to devolve society is as old as the political hills, yet its not something that is taught in schools, nor do gener…

So in this particular case, who are the perceived enemies?

Functioning civil society is the target; America cannot be defeated by conventional warfare. Covert, alternative warfare is waged instead - this is why you have entire neighbourhoods destroyed by opioids. America is filled with lost battlefields in this regard. Who stands to benefit from the destruction of civil American society?

Its enemies. And if you're asking me who would be Americas' enemies, well .. the list is too long to consider.

Re: The Poison We Pick

#14
post #5

The way to treat the opioid crisis is that it is a battlefield, and America is losing. Drugs have long been seen as a way of usurping the will of ones' enemies; it is no different now. America has been under pharmacological attack for decades; its people are too addicted to see that this is by design. Drugs have weakened America, and that is by design of its enemies.

Which enemies are we talking about here? Are they domestic or foreign? What is their goal? I see where you're going with this argument, there are certainly historical precedents, but you haven't said enough to make it plausible.

Re: The Poison We Pick

#15
post #12
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The point is that there is a war being fought against American society, and the weapon is: drugs. Its one of those weapons where the willingness of the intended recipient to apply it to themselves is key to its effectiveness. Its not a 'popular' opinion, but it has to be pointed out that the use of drugs to devolve society is as old as the political hills, yet its not something that is taught in schools, nor do gener…

I'm genuinely skeptical of most drug use, recreational or medical (over time, any habit can start to lose its initial magic, and you start to perform it out of boredom. Then again, I'm greatly bored of e.g. coffee enthusiasts, so maybe it's something about overesteemed obsessions in general) but I'm not sure about the "enemies". Could you name them? This seems less like a cabal plotting and more like systemic/cultura…

Just some examples, to kick off your thinking about this subject:

North Korea runs one of the largest methamphetamine production industries in the world, and has spread the drug throughout the Asian region, including Australia, as a means of debasing its enemies. This has had a real and lasting effect on the economy of many of its perceived enemies.

Israel runs the most sophisticated border infiltration units in the world, and regularly uses it to run drugs into its enemies in the region. It is recognised as one of the biggest producers of recreational drugs in the region. Egyptian kids are high on Israeli MDMA.

The USA has convinced the western world of the need for pharmaceutical dependency, and therefore sits on top of the largest pharmaceutical export machinery around.

Do you really think that pharmaceuticals are immune to weaponisation - both covert and overt? Every single technology known to mankind has been weaponised, since the dawn of time - its no different for drugs.

Re: The Poison We Pick

#16
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So in this particular case, who are the perceived enemies?

Functioning civil society is the target; America cannot be defeated by conventional warfare. Covert, alternative warfare is waged instead - this is why you have entire neighbourhoods destroyed by opioids. America is filled with lost battlefields in this regard. Who stands to benefit from the destruction of civil American society? Its enemies. And if you're asking me who would be Americas' enemies, well .. the list is…

This thread, and especially the cheap hand-waving at the end, reads like a parody of a conspiracy theory.

Re: The Poison We Pick

#17
post #4
post #2

At least we are moving past the scape goats and taking a thoughtful, considerate look at what is actually happening. I regularly have long conversations about this with my mother, a nurse in Louisville, KY and steadfast American patriot. She is at a loss of any explanation these days. I am torn when we talk about it because I know her pride in our country is a big part of her, but it doesn’t rest with what she is see…

This sounds like a good development?

The loss of a source of meaning in life is a dangerous thing, especially if it isn't replaced by something else. That way lies nihilism, and, if the thesis of the article is to be believed, opiod addiction.

Re: The Poison We Pick

#18
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So in this particular case, who are the perceived enemies?

Functioning civil society is the target; America cannot be defeated by conventional warfare. Covert, alternative warfare is waged instead - this is why you have entire neighbourhoods destroyed by opioids. America is filled with lost battlefields in this regard. Who stands to benefit from the destruction of civil American society? Its enemies. And if you're asking me who would be Americas' enemies, well .. the list is…

What a cop-out.

Re: The Poison We Pick

#19

Well written and insightful, thank you. Useful fodder as I answer my kids' questions about drugs.

This article, especially the end, is actually more about the fundamental ills of American society, rather than just drugs.

It’s about the breakdown of the social glue in the face of relentless market pressure and individualism, and the diminish end of trust and solidarity, along with institutions like organized religion, unions,families, or even sports clubs.

Re: The Poison We Pick

#20
post #15
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm genuinely skeptical of most drug use, recreational or medical (over time, any habit can start to lose its initial magic, and you start to perform it out of boredom. Then again, I'm greatly bored of e.g. coffee enthusiasts, so maybe it's something about overesteemed obsessions in general) but I'm not sure about the "enemies". Could you name them? This seems less like a cabal plotting and more like systemic/cultura…

Just some examples, to kick off your thinking about this subject: North Korea runs one of the largest methamphetamine production industries in the world, and has spread the drug throughout the Asian region, including Australia, as a means of debasing its enemies. This has had a real and lasting effect on the economy of many of its perceived enemies. Israel runs the most sophisticated border infiltration units in the…

When you say these countries are doing it, who inside these countries? What organizations or political groups are doing this?
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