[DEFEATED] Insta-Repeal "Drug Decriminalization Act"

[Amerion]

The South Pacific's World Assembly Delegation has cast the Coalition's vote AGAINST this proposed resolution, Repeal "Drug Decriminalization Act", and warmly encourages fellow member regions to vote AGAINST.

'No Rec' or No Recommendation indicates a vote where, in the absence of a recommendation from the Office of WA Legislation, the Admiral Delegate General voted according to the majority stance of World Assembly members in the South Pacific.

[Republic Of Ludwigsburg]

"Lads, LADS, come on now? This is surely good enough to repeal the act. Come on lads, be a lad." :- Senior ambassador of Foreign Affairs, Johan Frederick Hansen

[Smooches]

The humble ambassador puts their palms against their mouth to make a loud lengthy noise to emulate flatulence, and proceeds to give a thumbs down. "Better luck next time, nerds."

[Large Ladz]

"Lads, LADS, come on now? This is surely good enough to repeal the act. Come on lads, be a lad." :- Senior ambassador of Foreign Affairs, Johan Frederick Hansen

ok

[Haremm]

Disheartened by the political and polarizing statement that "drug possession charges are a favored tool of legal authorities and governments seeking to marginalize or suppress minorities and political opposition to their governments," when the reality is that possession charges are preferred against a person in possession of drugs in the same way speeding tickets are preferred against persons speeding. The enforcement of laws against criminal offenders and the disproportionate targeting of minority groups are in no way the same thing nor are they addressable by the decriminalization of drugs as this resolution would have nations believe

Tell that to The Philippines!

---

Also, why are people roleplaying at the General Assembly? Are we allowed to do that?

[Bears Armed]

Tell that to The Philippines!

"Who are they?"

Also, why are people roleplaying at the General Assembly? Are we allowed to do that?

OOC: Yes, we certainly are, and in fact naming at least your nation's Ambassador is probably a good idea. After all, it's our NationStates nations, rather than whatever countries in which we-the-players live in RL, for which we're legislating here...

[Araraukar]

OOC: Support, because any resolution that allows Araraukar in IC to ignore it through fuzzy wording, is a bad resolution in my OOC opinion.

The numbers look like this won't pass, but new attempts will perhaps be made.

(If multiple versions of this post appear, my apologies, my connection has been having hiccups.)

[WayNeacTia]

"At this point, the "War on Drugs" is a self-evident failure, unless the Ambassador has been living under a rock for the past few decades."

And you think the alternative is the solution? Simply decriminalize and leave people off to it? I can assure you I have more than enough experience in the field to know exactly the societal consequences of drug abuse. Lawful or otherwise.

And what exactly does locking up a tweaker accomplish? Or a pothead?

[Barfleur]

And you think the alternative is the solution? Simply decriminalize and leave people off to it? I can assure you I have more than enough experience in the field to know exactly the societal consequences of drug abuse. Lawful or otherwise.

And what exactly does locking up a tweaker accomplish? Or a pothead?

OOC: the same thing that locking up a mentally ill person, rather than providing them with treatment and support, accomplishes--it takes them off the street, makes them "somebody else's problem," and allows society to forget about them.

[Dratonis]

I do believe that this repeal makes since. Treating the symptoms will not cure the disease, and the Drug Decriminalization Act seems to put a heavy emphasis on the symptoms rather than the root problem as stated in the repeal.

[United States of Americanas]

*looks upon bill on table scoffing.* humph won’t pass. This may as well be in the trash as it already stands.

Just another attempt by the elites against the use of medicinal drugs to put power back in the hands of capitalist pharmaceuticals.

Unless you got better legislation don’t come here for a repeal. You clearly don’t have a better piece written or it would have been stated in your legislation that you hope for comprehensive legislation but instead you just call the existing bill which has worked fine until you came pushing a repeal at it.

Hate to be blunt. But this looks like either badge hunting that made it to the floor or a blatantly incompetent repeal attempt.

Don’t repeal without a replacement. You won’t get past my desk without getting yelled at.

[Abacathea]

*looks upon bill on table scoffing.* humph won’t pass. This may as well be in the trash as it already stands.

Just another attempt by the elites against the use of medicinal drugs to put power back in the hands of capitalist pharmaceuticals.

Unless you got better legislation don’t come here for a repeal. You clearly don’t have a better piece written or it would have been stated in your legislation that you hope for comprehensive legislation but instead you just call the existing bill which has worked fine until you came pushing a repeal at it.

Hate to be blunt. But this looks like either badge hunting that made it to the floor or a blatantly incompetent repeal attempt.

Don’t repeal without a replacement. You won’t get past my desk without getting yelled at.

You’ll forgive me ambassador with all of your 300 max contributions to the assembly if I frankly don’t care about what you think. You didn’t read the initial post or you’d have seen my position on a replacement without speculating. And as for a badge hunt, again, if you bothered to read anything you’d see my need to hunt out badges ceased back in 2014 when your nation was little more than dirt. I will provide a comprehensive response to the critiques raised when voting has closed. Perhaps you’d be in a position to return then and actually read the content. If not so long and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

[Abacathea]

So, as promised, I have repeatedly stated I intended to leave a detailed response to the issues raised during the course of this proposal;

• This is just a badge hunt!
  This one is the easiest to refute. Currently there are only four badges of significance (in my mind) left to get on site that I do not possess, one I don't want, one I can't get, one not my decision if it happens, and one I'm working on. I am proud to say that in the little community that is NS that many years ago I was fortunate enough to play with same great people who helped me pave my World Assembly path, fond memories.
  
  
• You don't know what you're talking about, in X country, these have been the results
  Respectfully, this one has been one of my biggest teeth grinding moments.Without divulging too much, for the last 5 years I have worked on and off with drug dependent individuals and the last two years directly with them. I have seen every aspect of what people have argued over here, discretionary policing, support services, and restorative justice. Let me tell you how that has played out;
  
  1; Support services are only as good as the individual, you can have all the anti addiction and rehabilitation and counselling you want, if a person does not want to engage with them, you're on a road to nowhere.
  
  2; Discretionary policing; I have witnessed police officers directly opt to confiscate and not prosecute controlled drugs. Do you know what the end result is? Pal gets the notion that he "got away with it" or that said cop is "soft" and continues unabated to do what he does.
  
  3; Restorative justice; Again, DIRECTLY witnessed, where persons charged with controlled drugs (and in Ireland this is routine) do not get custodial sentences but instead get whats called a "strike out in lieu" which means that they do not get a conviction on the basis that they... The norm is usually a fine which is paid to local charities. Do you know what this results in? Not a deterrent, no. Repeated abuses because the person knows there is no real deterrent.
  
  
• But crime will go down!
  No. It won't. This is an issue that presents in any country that uses "Crime counting rules". Once an act is decriminalised it is natural that the perception is crime has done down, because an entire statistic had been obliterated ergo the reporting numbers drop giving the perception crime has fallen. Politicans and governments tend to only cite a downwards trend in crime since the decriminalisation because it looks good in their favor. It ignores all the associated crime that rises off the back of it or stays unchanged ie; Robbery, Burglary, theft, theft of vehicles and so forth. Crimes that are often perpetuated in order to "feed a habit".
  
  
• But you're targetting everyone equally
  No more or less than the target legislation did. I could care less about the "legalize it" movement frankly. I'm not suggesting that a pothead is out robbing and stealing, however, both of the situations below I had a direct role in, and I can tell you drugs played a significant part of it and they were both horrendous and scarring for every first responder at scene and these are only the ones I could readily find articles for, I have seen far more and it's why it is particularly galling when members who frankly havent a fucking clue what they're talking about attempt to cite fanciful notions to me. You haven't seen it, you haven't been there, you're preaching idealism's and sadly, they don't work.
  
  https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/man-to-be-sentenced-for-knife-attack-on-parents-after-taking-cocaine-1163360.html
  
  https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/motorcyclist-killed-after-collision-on-m1-37262834.html

Lastly, my biggest issue with the target repeal has always been how "america-centric" it has seemed to me. The resolution continually addresses issues with systematic brutality and corruption of systems and police. Marginalization by police of ethnic minorities and abuses of power. Anyone with a radio or a television knows what is happening in America at the moment. However, America is not the rest of the world. People are not rising in the streets in the UK, Ireland, Sweeden, Finland, Germany, France etc... over the issues that America currently has. Yes, there was spill over at the death of George Floyd however this was gone as quick as it came, why? Because the issues do not prevail here.

To quote stats I can reliably stand over, the current police force in Ireland numbers approximately 14,500 serving officers. The number of officers under investigation and suspended or charged for a miriad of reasons inlcuding abuse, brualitity etc.... 70. Officers charged and weeded out by their own, because its not tolerated here. The number of people shot/killed by the police in the last 5 years? 2.

Importantly;

If this was a case that my repeal was simply poorly written and not to par, I'd hang my head, apologise and fuck off into the darkness. But I do not believe that to be the case. This is a case where emotive language prevailed, personal bias prevailed, and accordingly, a toothless and not fit for purpose resolution remains on the books when the vote closes, and this was dictated by players who looked at the title the same way they would have looked at a proposal entitled "We're taking your guns". The WA has always frustrated me at vote when nations who wouldn't have an informed opinion from one day to the next swan in spouting shite and then feck off never to be seen again, but this is part of the process and I accept it, I don't like it, but I accept it.

As the vote has swung beyond any chance of swinging back, this will be my only response to this thread. I thank you all who engaged meaningfully and politely, even on the opposing side. And to the others that didn't, may the wind be forever in your face, every traffic light you ever approach turn red and every curry you ever buy be just that bit too spicy to actually enjoy. And trust me, that is much kinder than what I'd tell you only for this forum is moderated, and them lot scare me.

[Gonswanza]

Copium

Oh well. I suppose you won't try again in the near future? Not that I'd expect a response with this kind of post.

[Abacathea]

Copium

Oh well. I suppose you won't try again in the near future? Not that I'd expect a response with this kind of post.

No. I won't. And I'm not entirely sure Ambassador exactly what your problem is, but I've found every response of yours to have an undertone of snarkiness or rudeness that I cannot wrap my head around. Anyone who has known me in the assembly since 2012 when I first joined will know I'm typically not a problematic player, which makes your attitude doubly difficulty to understand and which is the reason I am not inclined to show you any more courtesy than it appears you're showing me.

If you find my attitude towards you in some negative or unappealing, I'd suggest it's either a miscommunication between us, or you should probably have a good hard look at yourself and your own interactions with players.

[Concrete Slab]

Copium

Oh well. I suppose you won't try again in the near future? Not that I'd expect a response with this kind of post.

I never thought an extremely well-thought out response with concrete (ha) evidence to back it up could be totally and irrevocably refuted with a single word, but here we are.

[Harmonious Collective]

The humble ambassador puts their palms against their mouth to make a loud lengthy noise to emulate flatulence, and proceeds to give a thumbs down. "Better luck next time, nerds."

"The representative of the great people of the Harmonious Collective wishes to second this statement."

[Bananaistan]

"I wonder if all these boors celebrating the defeat of this repeal have actually read the target? Perhaps they have and they are actually on our side of the argument of opposing both the policy and this particular implementation of the policy and have realised that the target doesn't actually do anything. If so, I applaud your tenacity in maintaining your pretence of support for decriminalisation."

[The Kingdom of the Three Isles]

"I wonder if all these boors celebrating the defeat of this repeal have actually read the target? Perhaps they have and they are actually on our side of the argument of opposing both the policy and this particular implementation of the policy and have realised that the target doesn't actually do anything. If so, I applaud your tenacity in maintaining your pretence of support for decriminalisation."

Exactly

[Czechoslovakia and Zakarpatia]

Copium

Oh well. I suppose you won't try again in the near future? Not that I'd expect a response with this kind of post.

"It will very well be Ropium if this repeal is proposed and then rejected for the second time, I reckon."

[Tinhampton]

"Repeal "Drug Decriminalization Act"" was defeated 9,901 votes to 5,144. (34.19% support)