[heavyheavy]

In my perspective, it IS racist that American cares so much about rehabilitation and empathy for the white drug problem while the black drug issue was dealt with with violence and tearing apart famalies. Is it wrong to want white drug users to go to jail just like black ones were?

[marcosdumay]

You tell me. It is wrong to make things worse for everybody just because when it was less worse for a powerful group it was ignored?

[okreallywtf]

The issue is this problem never went away. Minorities are still being punished disproportionately for drug use [1]. I don't think that we should let spite dictate our reaction to the opioid crisis but it indicates maybe its time to stop pretending that the drug war was a necessary evil, especially given we might be about to double-down on it (and most likely continuing to disproportionately convict minorities) [2].

[1] https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/assets/141027_iachr... [2] http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-sessions-vows-to-ramp-up...

[marcosdumay]

So, you think it's wrong and that we should strive to make things better for everybody. I can agree with that.

[okreallywtf]

Yes, but I can understand well enough where that sentiment comes from to not overreact when other people find it frustrating that we find empathy on drug issues that affect large numbers of white people. It doesn't have to be right for it to make sense and to have enough class to not pretend the drug war never happened. Just acknowledge it and take the high road.

[rfrank]

> Is it wrong to want white drug users to go to jail just like black ones were?

Yes, if you're of the "drugs should be legal" perspective. Revenge isn't justice.

[nonaime]

Revenge isn't the answer. The answer for the problem presented is for other groups to receive the same empathy that poor whites are receiving. For other groups the answer is "we'll build more jails".