Outrageous HSBC Settlement Proves the Drug War is a Joke

[1trackmind]

If you've ever been arrested on a drug charge, if you've ever spent even a day in jail for having a stem of marijuana in your pocket or "drug paraphernalia" in your gym bag, Assistant Attorney General and longtime Bill Clinton pal Lanny Breuer has a message for you: Bite me.

Breuer this week signed off on a settlement deal with the British banking

Comments

[tiddlywinks103]

Great, great article.

I thought the sentence was fine, and then reading this, I completely see where it's actually full of shit, on a big level. I can't believe that shit about the cops and emptying the pockets. Like how they try to imply you can't say no to them searching your house or car, legally.

[tiddlywinks103]

Oh, I knew that about the "War on drugs" inherent racism, but this kind of lip-service to punishing actual dangerous offenders just highlights it more for me, you know? I wanted to believe this was one thing actually taken care of, but it's reeeeeeally not.

Oh, thanks for the rec, tho.

[apostle_of_eris]

The U.S.' first ever drug law was against Chinese opium. Then there was cocaine that made Negroes even more dangerous. And marijuana that made Mexicans crazy . . .

[romp]

nothing coherent to say but I'm going to read this again tomorrow--thank for posting

[1trackmind]

My pleasure. I'm a big fan of Matt Taibbi.

[wrestlingdog]

A+ icon, btw.

[1trackmind]

Thanks!

[nesmith]

I hate to say it, but this is not new. The rich and powerful have been getting things their way since forever.

[1trackmind]

To some extent I agree with you. But I also think there's been a change since, say, the era of Nixon. The absolute lack of accountability in government for things like the War in Iraq, drone assassination, Guantanamo, etc. is astonishing. The total lack of account accountability for the big financial institutions is just as bad. Frankly, the only thing we seem to hold those in power accountable for is something involving sex.

[lai_choi_san]

Excellent article.

HSBC (Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation) was the central bank for the British Empire's Opium War, which goes to show that old traditions die hard.

IMO, banks like HSBC should be nationalized and purged from top to bottom.

[romp]

I didn't know what the initials stood for. Wow, that does show a whole other depth to this.

[thevelvetsun]

This settlement just ensures that this will continue to happen. It's a green light for all the other banks who thought this was too risky, but will now go for it, because the risk is tiny and the short term rewards are high.

[1trackmind]

Just like caps on jury rewards, but that's another story. I suppose once you crash the world economy and still pay out massive bonuses there's really nothing you can't get away with.