Cocaine v. Crack Cocaine

The question is why ? Why is there such a tremendous difference between the number of years sentenced dealing with the same drug.  Crack is cocaine; therefore cocaine is crack. 

COCAINE: is an akaloid that is found in the leaves of a South American plant known as Erythroxylon coca. Cocaine induces a sense of euphoria and exhilaration. Cocaine is an addicitive stimulant drug, the powdered hydrochloride salt form of cocaine can be snorted or even injected once dissolved in water.

CRACK COCAINE: is a free-based form of cocaine that is processed using baking soda to make a crystal rock that can be smoked. The term crack refers to the sound that the substance makes while being heated. Crack cocaine have the same effects of euphoria and a feeling of a joy, and pleasure just as the powder form cocaine.

Not knowing a lot about the drug one can conclude that they are pretty much the same substance. Cocaine is the pure form in a powder substance and crack cocaine is cocaine just broken down with another substance and turned into a rock so that it can be smoked. So if that is the case then why would the sentencing be more for one then the other if at the end of the day it is the same thing, just prepared and used differently. 

Not only that the sentencing for crack cocaine is amazingly higher than cocaine. This in my opinion is completely backwards because if cocaine is the pure form and crack cocaine contains other substances hence it is broken down then why would a person not get more time for using and or distributing cocaine ?

Just something to wrap your mind around…. I think I have a pretty good idea why……

Racial Disparity

There is a really big issue with the racial disparity in regards to the prison system. Especially with the convictions that involve crack cocaine and cocaine.

Research has shown that more than 60% of people in prison are of racial or ethnic minorities. Is that a coincidence we must ask ourselves. This percentage comes from all around not specific convictions, however the number is still alarming.

Information: The Sentencing Project

Then it cause one to wonder that if 3/4 of the people in prison are there because of drug convictions are we battling a more serious problem?

“The War on Drugs”

Same-Sex Marriage

This topic has been debatable for a very long time now. Many changes have been made to the LAW in order to move barriers same sex couples face….

Follow the link to the article I read below !!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_dc_gay_marriage

How Much is Enough ?

When is enough actually enough? And who gets to determine how much is enough ? Many things and events may take us by surprise. Recently Haiti was devastated and torn apart by an earthquake and we as Americans rushed to the forefront of helping this country get out of an unpredictable rut.

Chile has also had a natural disaster of the same on February 27 they endured an 8.8 magnitude earthquake. Studies have shown that just in cell phone text message donations that Haiti received $21 million in 48 hours comparison to Chile who only has received $100,000 since the day of the earthquake. Which brings me to a question? If Chile’s earthquake was worse than Haiti’s, then why are these people who have been put in the same if not worse situation, treated and given as many resources?

What brings us to give more aid to a country that has lacked many resources just as another? The answer to that question could be the economy. Have the economic issues hit our wallets so hard that people have to make decision as who to help and who not, when and how?

So many questions can be raised in this issue. Many celebrities and companies have even urged people to donate money and other resources to the people of Haiti. However Chile is not getting that same attention when it comes to helping them get out their rut.

Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo:

The history of the Congo is a very interesting topic. So much that I am going to have to break it down into little bitty bite size pieces so that we can all get a better understanding.

History of the Congo

Question ???

Does it take complete destruction of a country and a people for those more fortunate to pay attention ?

Yes. Many times people go unnoticed, especially if the situation does not effect the more fortunate directly. There has been a lot of talk about rebuilding Haiti, and making it a better place. But that brings the question when was Haiti ever built in the first place. Haiti has always been a country that has lacked so many necessary resources.

It takes thousands of people to die in a natural disaster for attention to be called to an already relevant issue.

Just my opinion to a question. Feel free to give yours.

 

THE CONSTITUTION OF HAITI 1987: PREAMBLE

 
The Constitution of Haiti 1987
Last Updated/ Ultima actualización: January 17, 2002

PREAMBLE
The Haitian people proclaim this constitution in order to:

Ensure their inalienable and imprescriptible rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; in conformity with the Act of Independence of 1804 and the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man of 1948.

Constitute a socially just, economically free, and politically independent Haitian nation.

Establish a strong and stable State, capable of protecting the country’s values, traditions, sovereignty, independence and national vision.

Implant democracy, which entails ideological pluralism and political rotation and affirm the inviolable rights of the Haitian people.

Strengthen national unity by eliminating all discrimination between the urban and rural populations, by accepting the community of languages and culture and by recognizing the right to progress, information, education, health, employment and leisure for all citizens.

Ensure the separation and the harmonious distribution of the powers of the State at the service of the fundamental interests and priorities of the Nation.

Set up a system of government based on fundamental liberties, and the respect for human rights, social peace, economic equity, concerted action and participation of all the people in major decisions affecting the life of a nation, through effective decentralization.

January 1, 1804

 
This is the day Haiti claimed its independence. In claiming its independence Haiti becomes the first free black republic in the world, and the second independent state in the Western Hemisphere. 

Dessalines, becomes the leader during this time over Haiti. Leading under the 1801 constitution. Dessalines a former slave did not like the idea of white people being around so he went on a slaughter spree killing the entire white population. The Haitian economy during this time was very poverish, which white’s were blamed in large part for, hence Dessalines massacre. However, after the slaughter the economy, and agriculture remain impoverished, and lacked any growth. This led to a new found plantation system with very demanding and harsh requirements of the workers. 

Dessalines reestablished the plantation system. Harsh measures bound laborers to their assigned work places, and penalties were imposed on runaways and on those who harbored them. Because Dessalines drew his only organizational experience from war, it was natural for him to use the military as a tool for governing the new nation. The rule of Dessalines set a pattern for direct involvement of the army in politics that continued unchallenged for more than 150 years. http://www.travelinghaiti.com/history_of_haiti/independence_haiti.asp

Why help Haiti now ???

Haiti has been an underdeveloped poverish country since its existence. So the question I have is does tragedy bring that much light to a situation that was already relevant ?  Does it take complete destruction of a country and a people for those more fortunate to pay attention ?