Legitimize it

[womzilla]

(Imagine that title sung in a Peter Tosh voice. Thank you.)

James Wemberly of the Reality-Based Community makes the case for subsidizing poppy farmers in Afghanistan.

Basic outline:

1. The best way to treat poverty is to give poor people money so that they can stop being poor.


2. The world demand for medical-grade opiates--the best pain-killers in existence--is probably five to seven times as great as actual consumption.


3. Poppies grow well in large parts of Afghanistan where little else does.


4. Farmers will grow things that grow well and make money.


5. Profit!

Don't burn it. Refine it!