You're right, but you're wrong too. I'll explain.
In the book Freakonomics, Levitt and Dubner are talking about a gang that sells crack cocaine. It is true that in a gang situation's "economic system" (if I can take the liberty of calling it such) the man at the top makes most of the money and divides much smaller portions to the goons. But here is the problem with the argument. While most gang members are drug dealers, most drug dealers are not gang members. Do not be mislead, the profits on drug dealing are sky high. Especially in the selling of crack cocaine, you can easily more than double your money. If you buy the cocaine and make it yourself, you can at least double that again, if not more. Think about that, for every $500 worth of shit will net you $2000. Some people make that in a night, but even if we go conservative and say a week. You can't name me one McD's manager that makes that in a week. Maybe a month?
I stick with my argument that Bill Cosby was incomplete on this issue. He should've explained moral or ethical issues. See I think the whole Just Say No and D.A.R.E. organizations base their arguments on lies. (Much like this administration, sorry JJ) Instead of telling children that marijuana is the gateway drug, and if you smoke a big green fatty today, next week you'll be shooting smack. That's a fabrication. They'll throw you numbers and statistics saying 90% of heroin users started out using pot. Well of course they did, but what is the percentage of pot smokers that go on to use heroin. They won't show you that statistic. And if you want to use that argument, caffiene or at least alcohol would be the gateway drug.
If you want kids not to smoke pot tell them that pot makes you lazy and unmotivated. Lazy and unmotivated people generally don't succeed in life. A little more genuine, ya know?

__________________
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
Benjamin Franklin
"I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Albert Einstein

Well first the problem with your argument is that you would have to somehow establish that that assertion is true.

The second problem then is that you would have to demonstrate that it matters anyways.




For the top people. Otherwise as Leavitt and Dubner point out, and the DOJ confirms how come so many (the overwhelming majority) of drug dealers are dirt poor at the end of the day?



You talk like you know, but it just doesn't make sense.

If you could "double your money" then more people would be rushing in to capture that windfall, thereby increasing the supply and lowering the profits.

simple econ 101.

"Make it yourself"? What in Colombia or Peru?

There is no doubt that a very small minority of people can acquire wealth in the drug trade.

What is funny to me is that people like you make this argument in total ignorance.

If this was soooo lucrative where are ALL of the millionaire drug dealers?

Where are they?

Are you pulling these numbers out of your ass?

If I am a supplier of drugs (the wholesaler) why would I sell to the street level guy at 500 when he is getting a return of four times?

That doesn't make sense and here is why. At 400% profit many more dealers would come to my cocaine warehouse. I would then have a glut of "labor". Instead of charging 500 I would charge 1995 and capture the profit myself.

The "labor" wouldn't have any choice but to accept the terms that I set considering that there aren't a lot of wholesalers out there.
So where are all these rich street level drug dealers?

Why, as they point out in Freakonomics, are they living at home with their mommies?

Why are they sentenced to prison because they are forced to use the public defender's office?

Why aren't they able to hire the likes of Shapiro or Cochran?


You argument is completely wrong and totally ignores all the available evidence.

why should Cosby form HIS arguments only after checking with someone as ignorant as you?
Got any proof of that?

Whatever fallacious argument man.

Here you demonstrate your complete ignorance again.

Marijuana because it is illegal IS a gateway drug. The people who sell pot will often sell other types of drugs and those who smoke pot also have less a compunction to use other types of drugs.

It isn't like marijuana smokers are some sort of angels. Most potheads are assholes.


.

Your arguments are ridiculous.
So you admit that it is a gateway drug in the next sentence, what a retard.

Smoke another fatty dummy.

So as long as not everyone who smokes marijuana ends up on heroin, crank, lsd, pcp, coke

then that is some kind of success?
The caffeine argument is stupid. Alcohol might be an easier case to make, but since the 7/11 doesn't also sell cocaine it really does fail.

But since alcohol lowers inhibitions and impairs judgment it is by that measure a dangerous drug.

But then we don't let 18 year olds drink.

Do drug dealers have any compunction in not selling a 18 year old pot?

I personally think that alcohol is a far more dangerous drug than pot.
They do say that, but obviously you are either too stoned or too stupid to know that.

__________________
PROUDLY REVILED BY THE LOONY LEFT SINCE 1999!!!!

"I done told you once you son a bitch I am the best that has ever been."

you liberals make me sick to my stomach.

I find it quite entertaining that you've read a book about the drug trade written by economists and now you are an expert. How many drug dealers do you know?
It does matter. In your argument you are saying that the drug trade is a "corporation" with the CEO making all the money. In my argument, most drug dealers are a "sole proprietorship" where the money isn't split among many people.

I would like to see your statistic from the DOJ. But, all I am saying is there is the potential to make amazing profits. But if you are smoking up your own stash, or buying $2000 rims for your escalade or other forms of material wealth how much money do you think you'll have left at the end of the day. We live in the "MTV, hip hop age" where money is spent freely and flaunted as such. Cristal? I never claimed that drug dealers are investment savvy.

Simple econ 101 if you don't mind running the risk of doing hard time. Plenty of people do sieze the opportunity, but most people have moral or ethical and at least legal apprehension.

Once again proving that you learned all you know about drugs from two economists. You can make crack in your coffee pot.

I disagree with the very small minority part of this statement, but the operative words are CAN ACQUIRE wealth. Doesn't mean they do, only that they can. Most drug dealers are not college graduates or even high school for that matter. Success usually requires a certain level of intelligence, no?

Ha ha, which one are you the pot or the kettle?

In jail perhaps? Maybe spent all their money on material goods? Maybe they smoked their profits? Or maybe, if they were smart enough with their money to make a million dollars and smart enough not to get caught, is it an outrageous theory that they were smart enough to elude the great JimmyJude, Dr. Economy/drug czar?

Okay. An 8 ball is an 8th of an ounce or 3 1/2 grams. The going price (at least where I'm at) is $150 for an 8 ball of cocaine. You can sell a 1/4 gram for $25. You figure out the math economics man? $350 on an 8 ball. Now if you cook your cocaine into crack, you take one part cocaine, one part cut and water. Still with me? You just doubled the amount of your product. Now you have a 1/4 ounce, now you're up to $700 on a 150 dollar investment.

Who's ignorant now? Why doesn't the farmer just sell his vegetables at supermarket prices? Because he wants to sell in bulk and to get his money up front instead of piecing it out to the consumer. Plus in the drug trade, unlike agriculture, dealers have to worry about the law. Dealing to street level users increases the risk of getting caught. Selling it to a few trusted acquaintences at a bulk price turns the product over quickly and relatively safely.

It's so cute when you call others ignorant. Drugs are not used car lots where anyone can come in and buy. You better know somebody.

You're right, except getting back to the econ 101 that you seem so fond of, competition. This isn't Microsoft, it's not a monopoly. If you quadruple prices at the "wholesale" level, someone else will eventually take your business.

Once again, Freakonomics is not the be all, end all gospel of the drug trade. They did one chapter talking about a gang selling drugs. Not individuals. It's the difference between being the employee and the employer.
Many drug dealers live with their mommies, because they are underage. Especially in the gang scenario that you believe to be representative of all drug trade, gangs will use underage people to sell because their generally aren't exposed to the full extent of the law as an adult. A year or two in Juvenile hall and then they are back on the streets selling drugs again. Instead of a felony charge landing them in prison.

Hmmm...could it be that when someone is busted for trafficking cocaine (or other drugs) the police can sieze all assets that cannot be accounted for legally. If you cannot show where the money came from to buy your house, car or whatever, they take it. Any cash assets or banking accounts are siezed. Kind of makes it tough to afford top dollar representation. Can you please call me ignorant again?

Because Freakonomics is "all the available evidence"?

Bill Cosby can do whatever the hell he wants to do. Bill is correct that parents should urge their kids to not sell drugs. When you tell kids that there is more monetary potential as a McDonalds manager than selling drugs, what happens when they find out you were wrong. When their friends are buying nice things, driving nicer cars than their boss, what do you think will happen then?

Yes, because my arguments are so deceptive. George Bush would never lie to us, right? He is the epitome of truth. The only lies greater than the ones this administration has told us is the ones you tell yourself.

I like your personal attacks they are so creative. Ignorant, ignorant, retard, stupid libbies, loony left, ignorant, ignorant.

Marijuana is the most easily accessible illegal drug. Wouldn't it stand to reason that people who would shoot heroin would almost have to start with marijuana? So does that mean then that because they smoked marijuana they started using harder drugs? According to John P. Morgan, M.D. and Lynn Zimmer, Ph.D.
"It is hardly a revelation that people who use one of the least popular drugs are likely to use the more popular ones -- not only marijuana, but also alcohol and tobacco cigarettes. The obvious statistic not publicized by CASA is that most marijuana users -- 83 percent -- never use cocaine. Indeed, for the nearly 70 million Americans who have tried marijuana, it is clearly a "terminus" rather than a "gateway" drug."

I never claimed that pot smokers are angels. As far as your "most potheads are assholes", while I do love your stereotyping, I think that that is more of a case of what psychiatrists call projection.
Why don't you back that up?

You're funny. But not like a ha ha kind of funny. While your reading skills are apparently adequate, your comprehension skills definitely need work. 83% of drug users don't go on to use other drugs. Your little gateway theory is nothing more than twisting facts to suit an argument.

Right, because as long as you can buy it over the counter it's okay. You just make ridiculous arguments. Using your gateway theory, you can't get alcohol and cocaine in the same stop so there is no correlation. Aren't you a republican all about personal responsibility? How then can you blame a plant for people's decisions? It's a contradiction, oh wait you are one of these Bill O'Reilly republicans. Nevermind, contradiction is commonplace.

Right, because 18 year olds can't get alcohol in this country. What planet do you live on?

Drugs are illegal, therefore unsubject to laws of morality and ethics. Something that parents should talk to their kids about, the point that I made in the first place. But apparently just telling your kids to go be a McDonalds manager is the answer to keeping kids from selling drugs.


Really? If they do, good for them but I have been all over many anti-drug sites and have seen nothing about that. Only that pot is bad for your health and you'll be doing hard drugs blowing people behind a dumpster for your next fix. If you are the definition of sober and smart, I will gladly be too stoned and too stupid proudly.

__________________
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
Benjamin Franklin
"I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Albert Einstein

I like Bill Cosby. His Easter sermon was saying something to black youth and their parents that needs to be said. Bill Cosby has been saying this for the past 3 years in many public arenas many times with Jesse Jackson.

[url]www.cbsnews/stories/2004/07/02/627156

or google Bill Cosby..you will see clips and copies similar to his sermon starting in 2003

You posted his Easter sermon which is good but he and Jackson have been making headlines for 3 years with this advice to black youth and parents.


Why are you surprised when he has spoken repeatedly on this along with sharpton and Jackson. I think he is right and I agree with him. He is a major contributor to Black education and the Jackson Education fund and the Democratic party.

Good Post Jimmyjude

Now? None, but I used to deal drugs. Specifically marijuana, lsd, and methamphetamine.


I DOES matter. I am not saying that drug dealing is a corporation, are you illiterate?

It isn't a sole proprietorship, so if we have to give it a designation then it would be closer to a corp than any other kind of business.

what I am saying is that drug dealers are not making more money than people who make min wage.

All you have done is spout your ignorant opinion as fact.

Look it up.
If there was truly an amazing potential then occasionally one or two would make those profits. But the vast majority end up in jail or dead.

But at 400% profit that you claim the dealer should be able to smoke some and buy escalades and whatever else and still not have to live with mommy.



Wrong. If there is the potential to double your money the market would be flooded with people willing to do it, including the risks because the incentive is there.

You are the one who asserted that the people make crack.

god, you are a moron. You started out saying how drug dealers can make more money than working min wage jobs,

now you arguing the opposite.

what a fucking tard.

Intelligence doesn't have anything to do with education.


Again you are refuting your own argument idiot.


Much different than you started with.




You of course miss the point. He doesn't have to sell at 500 if the person he is selling to can make 2000.

He could easily treble his price and still have plenty of people willing to make that 500 profit.


There would be an interest to cheat I suppose. But like you said it isn't Microsoft. There isn't 1000's of outlets selling the products.


didn't say it was.

But Leavitt is way smarter than you will ever be.

__________________
PROUDLY REVILED BY THE LOONY LEFT SINCE 1999!!!!

"I done told you once you son a bitch I am the best that has ever been."

you liberals make me sick to my stomach.

Really? and were you in a gang too? Did you work for wages or profit? You didn't make more than minimum wage? Good thing you got out of it if not.




Contradiction time, C'mon!






Really? You would be willing to risk years and years of your life if you could double or quadruple your money?



And you're saying they can't?




Can make more money, not necessarily do. What is wrong with you? Were you touched as a child? Is that where all your aggression comes from? Are you suppressing something? We're all your friends here buddy, you can talk to us. We won't laugh.


You prove this everytime you post something.




Really? Mr. Genius economics man. Maybe I should take back my last comment implying you were educated. $700 isn't more than quadruple a $150 original investment? Hmmm...150 times 4 carry the two...wow it comes out to be 600, genius. It's like arguing with a toddler that curses alot.






So when you were selling your crank, did you get caught? You certainly don't know what the hell is going on, or what you are talking about. Did you have a friend that gave you a half gram of meth to off for him and now you are a drug dealer? The 'big' guy, the wholesaler or whatever you wanna call him is not going to piece out his stuff in small quantities to make that profit. Too much risk. You ever been to jail for more than a night or two? If not you probably shouldn't comment on what you know of risk. Don't fret, when you are buying kilos, $150 8 balls is good money.




Like you said, you don't know any drug dealers. If you don't believe there are thousands of people selling drugs, you are pretty naive.




I finally figured out your problem. You stereotype everything and everyone. It's always the loony left, isn't it? You've read one book about drugs, referring specifically to a gang setting and now everyone that sells drugs is in a gang.

ohh, your wit is crushing me. Oh can anyone stop the tears, JimmyJude is picking on me. Grow up, grab your thesaraus and if you are going to act like a child and resort to your little attacks at least make it entertaining, little man.

__________________
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
Benjamin Franklin
"I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Albert Einstein

Thanks Sam. I agree with you that Cosby has been saying this for a long time. Also he is more strident.

I wonder why the media and others are sooo recalcitrant in having this converstion?

I think that Cosby has framed the debate nicely and fairly.

__________________
PROUDLY REVILED BY THE LOONY LEFT SINCE 1999!!!!

"I done told you once you son a bitch I am the best that has ever been."

you liberals make me sick to my stomach.

Dredloct your stupidity got you on my ignore list. FYI

__________________
PROUDLY REVILED BY THE LOONY LEFT SINCE 1999!!!!

"I done told you once you son a bitch I am the best that has ever been."

you liberals make me sick to my stomach.

Sweet there's an ignore button on here? Oh Jimmy you would've been gone long, long ago. Thanks for the tip, buddy.

__________________
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
Benjamin Franklin
"I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Albert Einstein

If JJ keeps this up, he's going to ignore himself right out of the debate... YES!!



Though I've threatened to in the past.. I just couldn't put JJ on ignore...

I would miss so many opportunities to help him make himself look stupid.

__________________
S.O.S. ------ United We Stand, Divided We Fall