ANTA02H3 Chapter 9: Ch. 9 Notes
Document Summary
Structural, racial, and class oppression is too complex to be solved by simple policy changes in the short term. Economic and political structural forces, history, culture and individuals all need addressing. Confronting racial and class inequality - instead of drugs. Us is one of most powerful and rich countries, but inner cities are impoverished. *drugs are internalizing of frustration, resistance, and powerlessness. There is a sharp divide (polarization) of income according to class, gender and region: e. g. married puerto ricans make much more, female and elderly lead households made much less. To attack drugs, the author suggests balance between underground and legal economy has be to be addressed: the profitability of drug economy, fragility and hostility of entry-level legal labor market. Decriminalizing drugs could eliminate profitability of drugs, remove incentive for dealers to sell to kids, and reduce cost of incarcerating and prosecuting dealers. Dignified and emotionally rewarding jobs need to be provided.