William S. Burroughs

Burroughs and his "cut-up" style in Naked Lunch are fascinating. Although I am speechless when confronted with a work like Naked Lunch, I plan to read more of his novels, which bring to mind the better postmodern fiction from some of my favorite writers. Moreover, Burroughs always has something interesting to say about narcotics and his interest in anthropology and ideas of science fiction are clever, horrifying, and intriguing. At times, Naked Lunch reminded me of Lovecraft because of the author's cleverly constructed universe that blends fact and fiction with occult allusions. 

Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said

"Buckman walked toward the black man. The black man did not retreat; he stood where he was. Buckman reached him, held out his arms and seized the black man, enfolded him in them, and hugged him. The black man grunted in surprise. And dismay. Neither man said anything. They stood for an instant and then Buckman let the black man go, turned, walked shakingly back to his quibble."

Philip K. Dick's Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said is set in 1984, four years after the totalitarian world of 1984. A dystopic future in which the world is dominated by a police-state, revolutionary students living underground are under attack, most blacks are sterilized and dying off, and rest of society consists of a small elite, a select number of "evolved" people (sixes), and "ordinaries." In some ways, Dick's dystopic future 1988 was not that different from the 1960s and 1970s of his time, with a "racial" problem, divisions of class, totalitarian governments, student movements of 1968, and a counterculture, including LGBT activism (Dick has a penchant for lesbians, perhaps). Like Dick's other fiction, metaphysics and the two obsessions of his, what is being and what makes an authentic human, are the themes waxed upon here. Unfortunately, none of the central characters are likable or redeemable and the writing is, well, not technically the best. I think Dick's prose and dialogue is better written here than in, say, Maze of Death, and the idea of a celebrity waking up one day in a world in which his existence is wiped out is unique, and again we see drugs and mind-altering substances as central to Dick's work, matching the idea presented in Dick's 1978 lecture on reality as limited to the individual, yet intersecting as our perceptive realities converge. 

Of course, Dick's interest in race and hints at his growing religiosity abounds here. Most significantly is the beautifully written scene in which Buckman, the Police General willing to let an innocent man die in order to protect his own position, in a moment of utter vulnerability, connects emotionally with a black man at a gas station. Moments like this, evoking the the tale of the Ethiopian eunuch who converts to Christianity, where differences as extreme as race in a profoundly unequal society, are overcome, albeit briefly, point to an ethic of universal salvation, of being willing to love, like Ruth, a former girlfriend of Jason Taverner, at the point of great risk and grief. As someone who reads the tale of the Ethiopian eunuch along the lines of Byron's suggestive text on early Christianity and color symbolism, Dick is challenging the racist assumptions of our own "reality," which makes up for his questionable or condescending descriptions of women in the work. Sure, Dick may have been part of a disrespected and largely white male circle of science fiction writers, but on the "Negro problem," more progressive than one would assume. 

A Scanner Darkly

"Strange how paranoia can link up with reality now and then, briefly."

Philip K. Dick's A Scanner Darkly should be assigned to high school students. Not strictly as an anti-drug novel, but a suspenseful, disturbing look at drug addiction in a world torn asunder by narcotics, nothing is as it seems, and the metaphorical disconnect between left and right sides of the brain have disastrous consequences for a dystopic 1990s Orange County. The heads and "straights" live in separate worlds, class divides are deeply entrenched and, much like the Substance D users, the "straights" are not exactly living in a world of reality, either. Undercover narcotics agents, conspiracies, and the usual rants of drug-addled minds provide more than enough action and dark humor, including a dig at Ayn Rand. Typical for Dick, the continued obsession with metaphysics and the nature of being and reality are interwoven with this complex tale of Fred/Robert Arctor, who is investigating himself. Time, existence, or the infinite reflections and holograms exemplify this theme, something accomplished more effectively in Dick's 1960s novels than here. A mind trip nonetheless, no?

The film, the most faithful adaptation of any Dick fiction to the big screen, is marred by a jarring animation style (interpolated rotoscape), which is not to my taste. Telling Dick's story visually, however, has some advantages, mainly in illustrating physicality of the heads and their declining grasp of "reality," yet veering dangerously close to horrid stoner comedy. There are some conspicuous changes, too. The presence of race is far less apparent in the film than the novel. For example, the scene in which Barris finds out the ten-speed bike he buys from some black guys, who, in the novel, likely stole it, the race of the sellers is omitted. Likewise, numerous references to "queers" and "homosexuals" also disappears from the film, perhaps in response to changing social conventions of the 2000s instead of the dystopic fictional world of Dick's imagination and its concrete, 1970s background. If so inclined, one could write ceaselessly on Dick's writing as it relates to race and gender.

A Junkie Walking Through the Twilight

I am not sure why I care so much, but today I was struck by an obviously strung out man trying to return most certainly stolen over the counter medications to the store at work tonight. He was a wreck in every conceivable way: could not stand still, could barely write without incessant twitching, couldn't speak straight, offered to sell his cellphone to me, a shift supervisor, and customers at the store for 25 dollars (he claimed it was to purchase gas for his car, but we all know that's BS, unless that gas is to drive his car to his dealer). 

We get a lot of depressing customers and crazies who come through that store, especially at night. Indeed, today we had one man who might have been homeless shoplift right in front of me (I was ringing customers out and noticed him stuffing his backpack with liquid soaps) and flee just as I shouted at him and the shift supervisor was on his way to the front end of the store. And per usual, some adolescents came to the store in group (a telltale sign of shoplifting) and I witnessed them stealing some medicines, lubrication, and pregnancy tests. My shift supervisor caught them after I called him and he watched out for them, but the fiends tear the boxes open and just steal the lube, pills, contraptions, etc. that they're looking for. If not, they tear off the security tag or take a chance and run through the door. 

But I am used to shoplifters and thieves. I'm used to the mentally ill and somewhat 'off' customers and regulars, such as the one man who shows up, skips people in line, and doesn't have enough money to pay for things (and sometimes no money at all). I am not used to seeing people in such debilitating states of drug addiction. That man, emaciated, unable to articulate himself clearly, and despite it all, lying through his teeth and attempting to have a conversation with me where both sides knew everything he said was bullshit. It was one of those truly rare moments where communication between two people was, despite the obvious lies if one follows it literally, 'free' in a sense. My heart goes out for that man and all other Bubbles out there, struggling to keep their head above water in these modern, urban wastelands. 

As The Wire teaches us so clearly, if you walk in the garden, you better watch your back. Though I probably won't ever see him again, I hope for the best and actually wish I could have given him cash back on his stolen items he did not have a receipt for (instead of store credit). Drug addiction ain't no joke, obviously, and those 'crackheads, junkies, and methheads need the most help in these dire times where addiction of all sorts destroys entire nations (looking at you, Wall Street, for your corporate greed and addiction and love of money that nearly destroyed the US and global economy).

I suppose my last thing I could possibly say is to reiterate the rarity and importance of fake, pseudo-sincere conversations in forcing us to acknowledge our fellow humanity with those perhaps even more downtrodden. Indeed, one can break through to the other side despite the largely meaningless exchange of words that passes as conversation today, something I did not expect to have with a drug addict this week. Sir, whoever you are, keep your head up. 

Home Is Where the Hatred Is

Gil Scott-Heron's brilliant song about drug addiction was masterfully covered by Esther Phillips. Beautiful, hauntingly touching and emotional song. Like Gil, Esther also succumbed to drug addiction to, although the ultimate beauty of this song is that "home" can also include, perhaps, a broken family, addiction of all kinds, and to a great, funky beat with jazz and rock aesthetics. "A junkie walking through the twilight, I'm on my way home." Common would rap over a sample of this song produced by Kanye West expertly.

Drug Legalization

I believe I also received an A or A- on this one back in high school.

A Case for Legalization

The widespread use of substances across the nation transcends national, economic, and racial boundaries. From impoverished chocolate cities to the wealthiest vanilla suburbs, drug use continues unabated. Over the last few decades, America's War on Drugs has repeatedly failed to end substance use, the drug trade, and the violence that currently plagues cities around the nation because of it. Therefore, the best solution to the dilemma requires immediate legalization and federal regulation of the distribution of narcotics. If a policy of tolerance instituted by the federal government controls drugs, and a policy of cooperation existed between liberal-minded states, the illicit drug trade and the violence it spawns could come to an end.
Though seemingly dangerous at first, decriminalization of soft drugs such as hashish and cannabis and the adoption of government regulatory practices would save billions of dollars and generate revenue from taxes. The current federal drug policy inflates prices and crime as addicts commit offenses to fund their habit and dealers battle for control of dissemination.

In 1992, the federal government spent $40 billion on arresting 1,000,000 drug offenders, the majority nonviolent offenders. In order to house the growing number of incarcerated drug users, federal and state governments spends hundreds of billions on law enforcement and prison construction, money that should go to social services and education. According to the National Institute of Justice the fixed cost of building a prison ranges from $60,000 to $75,000 per inmate and about $60 per day for operation costs. Furthermore, the American prison population, presently the largest in the world, contains nearly 65% drug offenders in the federal system. By permitting the use of narcotics, the federal government could create more funds for education, welfare, and infrastructure to create a better America.

Moreover, the criminalization of drugs cannot continue because of its opposition to nineteenth century British philosopher John Stuart Mill's harm principle. In Mill's On Liberty, he concludes that the government should not prevent citizens from engaging in victimless crimes such as drug use because government moralism contradicts the principles of liberalism. Therefore, a philosophical argument for legalization exists and clearly indicates the paternalism of state intervention in liberal democratic nations. If individual liberty and equality truly matter to the federal government, politicians would not endeavor to dictate the actions of the populace solely due to their morality. Government moralism, an affront to liberalism, attempts to force individual to behave in certain ways their leaders perceive as morally correct. If one wishes to engage in self-destructive or harmful behavior, the state cannot forbid one from harming oneself, an essential part of liberalism.

In addition, incarceration does not treat or alleviate the suffering of drug addicts, and in some cases, increases the likelihood of dependence. About 60% of regular users only began their addiction after their first arrest, which clearly demonstrates the fallibility of imprisonment. Nearly 25% of those who experiment with drugs do not abuse so why imprison decent Americans who do not harm others or themselves? Federal drug policy should treat addiction as a health and social problem instead because substance abusers have an addictive personality which leads to drug dependency in the first place. Indeed, medical professionals can treat such people with greater success and less damage to society than prisons because rehabilitation would decrease the probability of returning to abuse. Recidivism, the rate at which offenders continue to commit crimes after release, remains high, between 65% and 80%. This data also illustrates another failure of incarceration. A study conducted by the Bureau of Justice Assistance concluded that only 28% of prisons had substance abuse programs and only 7% of programs included drug counseling, treatment and transitional planning. As one can undoubtedly see, prisons do not prepare nonviolent drug offenders who suffer from addiction to avoid re-arrest and pave the path to reintegration into society.

Furthermore, current drug policy hinders racial harmony and justice in the nation. Approximately 25% of young black males face imprisonment or probation due to drug offenses. According to the United States Public Health Service estimates in 1992, 76% of drug users were white and only 14% were African American, an estimate proportional to the U.S. population. The United States Sentencing Commission estimated that 65% of crack users are white. African Americans, however, account for nearly 35% of all drug arrests, 55% of all drug convictions, and 74% of all sentences. This discrepancy between black users and black prisoners makes evident the racial discrimination existent in the War on Drugs. White perceptions of black Americans remain decidedly negative when one raises the issue of drugs because of prison rates for young Black men even though drug users mainly come from White America. The massive incarceration of African Americans unquestionably damages Black families as well due to absent fathers and the increasingly parched pool of available Black men declines. The burgeoning number of young mothers in prison (more than 70% have children under the age of 18) because of drug offenses also causes tremendous problems for their children, who experience grief, anxiety, aggression, withdrawal, hyper vigilance, or sexualized behavior. These unfortunate children, future products of the foster care system, may commit crimes and suffer from psychological afflictions.
The War on Drugs, fraught with several problems, must come to an end.

Decriminalization of certain soft drugs would decrease the prison population, generate revenue from taxes on the distribution of narcotics, and lower expenses for penal complexes. Of course, a federal policy of tolerance comparable to that of the Netherlands requires international cooperation. America's influence in the United Nations, an organization that adheres to the traditional practice of attempting to achieve a drug-free world, could lead to the adoption of the liberal Dutch policy and finally end the War on Drugs.


Works Cited
Auerhahn, Kathleen. "California's Incarcerated Drug Offender Population, Yesterday, Today, and." Journal of Drug Issues 34 (2004): 95-120.
Buchanan, Julian, and Lee Young. "The War on Drugs-a war on drug users?" Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy 7 (2000).
Bush-Baskette, Stephanie. "The War on Drugs and the Incarceration of Mothers." Journal of Drug Issues 30 (2000).
Geers, Thomas R. "Legalize Drugs and Stop the War on People." Education 116 (1995).
Maris, C. W. "The Disasters of War: American Repression Versus Dutch Tolerance in Drug Policy." Journal of Drug Issues 29 (1999): 493-510.
"Winning the War on Drugs: A "Second Chance" for Nonviolent Drug Offenders." Harvard Law Review 113: 1485-1502.