Thomas Szasz on America's Drug Forum pt.1of3

[gilluccioli]

Dear today is online this article about Prof. Szasz in Italy. Lissen it!

affaritaliani.libero.it/

affaritaliani.libero.it/social­e/

affaritaliani.libero.it/social­e/ospedale_psichiatrico110111_­pg_2.html

affaritaliani.libero.it/social­e/ospedale_psichiatrico110111_­pg_3.html

affaritaliani.libero.it/social­e/ospedale_psichiatrico110111_­pg_4.html

[TechnoDanDotCom]

"scapegoating is the metabolism of society"

[loven1004]

The interviewer Randy Page? sounds like an adolescent compared to Szasz. Not a skilled interviewer.

[KidGotNiceWang]

brilliant - just picked up ideology and insanity in oxfam

[kevinneslund]

He hits it out of the ball park every time.

[OpenComments]

@kevinneslund

Scientology systematically robs a person of his ability to question things. In Scientology, they tell you, "If it's true for you, then it's true," resulting in objective reality becoming sort of fuzzy as it is based on whatever you believe. Over time, your beliefs are systematically supplanted with the beliefs that they instill in you through training drills.

[kevinneslund]

@OpenComments : what does that have to do with this video?

[OpenComments]

@kevinneslund

This has nothing to do with this video.

However, you are aligning yourself with Scientologists whose money are going toward the hiring of private investigators and lawyers used to harass individuals practicing their right to free speech.

By being affiliated with the Church of Scientology, you would also be subject to these abuses. Did you know that the Church of Scientology separates families and forces women to have abortions?

[kevinneslund]

@OpenComments : I'm confused. I never have and never will align myself with Scientology. Sounds like you've confused me with someone else. Cheers ~

[OpenComments]

@kevinneslund

You may think that now, but you are aware that the Citizens Commission on Human Rights *IS* Scientology, right? Or that your many friends are Scientologists?

Granted, there's nothing wrong with having Scientologist friends, but this would imply, at the very least, that you are supportive of this criminal organization.

You might want to read up on Scientology abuses and talk to your friends about them. Please visit xenu(.)net - it is focused on Scientology abuses.

[kevinneslund]

@OpenComments : I may "think"? No, I know that now. Yes, I klnow that the CCHR is an arm of Scientology. Most likely long before you were even alive. I have no "friends" that are scientologists. Why would you imply you know some of my friends? Weird. Do you do this frequently? Cheers ~

[OpenComments]

@kevinneslund

Maybe I had you all wrong, and apologize for that.

I thought you were a Scientologist, and/or in support of the criminal enterprise of Scientology. I have nothing against the beliefs or religion chosen by the Scientologists, but I do have something against their separation of families, harassment of critics, and global obliteration of psychiatry (which would prevent people the right to choose how they treat themselves).

[kevinneslund]

@OpenComments : Not a problem. Things happen. I detest scientology and the tenets of their beliefs. I DO support Mr. Szasz. He, incidentally, has never been a scientologist either. I might also mention that I'm a libertarian who happens to be a Universalist in belief. I would never support taking away a citizen's ability to choose, regardless of whether I like their position on a given topic or not. Cheers ~

[OpenComments]

@kevinneslund

I apologize for the comments I have left on the other videos as well.

I personally don't detest the beliefs of Scientology - only the actions of the organization. Even though you may have no friends who are Scientologists, you sure are a magnet for their anti-psychiatry agenda. Draziom, for example, is a known Scientology troll that tries to discredit us (Anonymous) for protesting the abuses of Scientology. Saw his post on your channel, thought you were a Scientologist.

[kevinneslund]

@OpenComments : I kindly accept your apology. Actually, I can't say I actually detest their beliefs, since, they are entitled by our constitution to them. I too, like yourself, detest their actions and behavior. I rarely visit Youtube due to the adolescent bahavior I've witnessed on it. I'm not entirely certain I understand what you may mean by my being a "magnet" for their anti-psychiatry agenda? would you be implying I am attracted to Scientology? I'm not "anti" anything -- psychiatry included

[Diazt3r]

i love this guy ! very intellectual man

[podfunk]

Szasz is an interesting character. You don't have to agree with everything with he says but he delineates one extreme of a spectrum of debate about psychology. His arguments are basically about personal responsibility for one's own action and being an adult: he's a psychiatric Noam Chomsky you might say. His arguments go way beyond psychiatry and drugs and trespass far into the realm of politics. "Scapegoating is the metabolism of society" . Awesome. The man's a philosopher.

[whiff1962]

I would strongly disagree with your "Noam Chomsky" parallel. However, you are spot on about his view of the individual in our current socio-political landscape.

[GwydionMapDon]

"There are chemicals in everything."

Yeah, so does that mean everything is a drug or nothing is a drug?

[GwydionMapDon]

He said marijuana is not a drug; its a plant. Last I heard, the two were not mutually exclusive. Cocaine is derived from plants as well. The active ingredient, the canabanoids in this case, are IN the plant, just as they can be in other drugs.

[jazzbobobo]

drugs are manufactured, cocaine is manufactured therefore a drug, marijuana is not manufactured therefore it is not a drug. Simple, simple simple... O MY GOD that was easy to deduce.

[GwydionMapDon]

You've deduced nothing. A drug is something that is manufactured? No, not necessarily. I'm sorry, but you don't get to make up your own definitions. Try picking up a dictionary. According to your standard, nicotine is not a drug when it is ingested from tobacco, but it is one when it is delivered in a pill? That's nonsensical. A drug is defined by the EFFECT is has in altering bodily functioning. Marijuana has a greater effect than a caffeine pill and so is at least as much a drug.

[jazzbobobo]

I am right. I didn't make up the definition, even though somebody did get to make up the definition. yes, nicotine is a drug when ingested as a pill, or ManuFactured for human use in some other way than plucking it from the earth, rolling it up and smoking it. It's all meaningless anyway. That's my definition, and it's true because I say it is, just like every other 'truth' is true because someone says it is.

[GwydionMapDon]

If you get to make up your own definition, how dare you gainsay my definition or anyone's? What gives you the right to enforce your arbitrary definition down other people's throats? You don't find that to hypocritical in the least? Sorry, wrong answer. If you want to keep to your own little definition, do so, but keep me and the rest of the thinking world out of it. Most of us prefer utility in language, which necessarily means using language as if it has some objective meaning.

[jazzbobobo]

Regardless people are going to smoke pot because it's fun. Sorry about that, but you're are gonna have to learn to deal with it or you're gonna be annoyed about it for the rest of your life.

[GwydionMapDon]

Actually, I don't mind pot so much. I think it should be legal. But that doesn't mean you aren't doing a drug if you smoke it; you are. Just like alcohol is a drug, and cigarettes, and caffeine. Let's be honest about what we are talking about here, not dodge the term that best applies.

[kevinneslund]

@GwydionMapDon : Once again, you're failing to consider that alcohol doesn't grow freely on the earth either. It too must be manufactured via distillation or brewing.

[kevinneslund]

@GwydionMapDon : Actually, Jazzbobobo is correct. In Bolivia and Peru, for example, it isn't illegal to grow and ingest coca leaves. It is, however, illegal to process and manufacture the drug cocaine from the coca plant. What's peculair about the approach the U.S. takes towards marijuana is that even if it is growing wild on your property you can be prosecuted for it. a plant, put here on earth by God. The marijuana plant isn't processed and manufactured as the coca leaves are.

[kevinneslund]

@GwydionMapDon : It's safe to assume that Mr. Szasz is referring specifically to manufactured, or, synthetic drugs that come from a lab or pharmacist. Crab-grass, poison ivy, dandelions, etc. are plants too, but, we'd never consider  them being drugs. Sound fair enough?

[daizee106]

Brilliant Gentleman. Thank you for posting

[Blackknowledge1]

This man speaks the truth. A wise man. The host doesn't go indepth with his interview but marginalize and generalize.

[spikkel70]

He is right. In Holland we say this is to  measure with 2 metric systems

[whiff1962]

The "protecting our children from drugs and the dealers" is a red herring, and immaterial to any discussion concerning the war on drugs. As Szasz says, it is not about children, it is about adults.

[efgeesus]

brilliant stuff from szasz.

the guy voices his ideas so clearly and with vast logic.

it's clear the 'war on drugs' will never ever be won and nor should it be.

funny how there's no war on pharamaceutical drugs which cause a lot of harm such as neuroleptics and todays atypicals. they damage the brain.

does marijuana?no. does heroin? no

then of course theres the justice system which is clogged with drugs related convictions and charges. imagine how freed up it wld be if drugs were legalised

[rh001YT]

FYI, marijuana does make people stupid. Because there currently are no stupidity tests this phenomenon has not been accurately profiled. Many test subjects, when high, do underperform on IQ tests. Some say they study better when high. That is do to the anxiety reducing factor in weed. If the anxiety was reduced another way the studying would go just as well or better. those who like the high of weed automaticly praise it - the weed itself causes a good valuation of itself via neurochemistry.

[daizee106]

Most of the stupid fuckers I know have never smoked weed. So how do we account for that?

[GwydionMapDon]

We account for that by calling it what it is: anecdotal evidence. Look that term up if you haven't yet, it may help you one day.

[daizee106]

With all due respect, there is no fucking congressman or senator that has a right to tell you, me or anyone what the fuck they can do as far as our bodies are concerned. Do you not trust your own self to dertemine what you need? The war on drugs is a war against the citizens of our country, period.

[whiff1962]

Thomas Szasz uses his incisive intellect, and years of clinical experience, to give a brilliant analysis of the war on drugs, and the damage it has wrought.

[molyneux1000]

I doubt he'd call his experience 'clinical' though I agree with your basic tenant.

[whiff1962]

I don't know how many years Szasz practiced his brand of psychiatry, but he did get in some clinical work, an experience that informed his works. I suppose he became more academic thereafter.

[brigo234]

I love this clip from Thomas Szasz!

Thank you so much for posting it. Szasz's words were truly inspiring. Can I obtain his books in enpok form? Just wondering. Please email me.

[Baylynx]

it is well known that in low doses, Opiates facilitate the ability to work long hours with little side effects! You can find this History in more depth written in the book by Thomas Szasz, Ceremonial Chemistry. The reason behind it was to reduce the competiton presented by Opium-smoking Chinese American Laborers of whom were willing to work at 16 hour workday.

[Baylynx]

To ichisatori,

I don't think that we are in any disagreement about the control of an authoritarian government and a 'hysterical' reaction to certain substances which is promolugated as a propaganda to help to impose upon the rights of the citizens of this state. Regardless, I only refer to the History of the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914, of which was heavily supported by the American Labor Movement at that time...by labor leader Samuel Gompers.

[ichisatori]

thank you. as you can see i run a tight ship and you have proved yourself.

i consider the response effective in that it points to Gompers and generally recuses the legitimate 'American Labor Movement' and instead points said blame upon one man and not 'the movement'.

[ichisatori]

i will mark you down as 'friend'. ;-)

[Baylynx]

Thank you ichisatori, I am happy to have a friend that enjoys a good discussion.

Warm regards, Baylynx!

[vodacuza]

Baylinx you got it so right that subscribing to you words it is not enough saying...it gives me that vibration wich only the power of getting the undesrtanding of a true truth it gives you... be the Szasz the 2nd, well done man!

[Baylynx]

Without the 'demon' of 'Narcotics' as created by originally The American Labor Movement...The United States would not be a Historic Leader in having the GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE INCARCERATED FOR 'VICTIMLESS CRIMES' THAN ANY OTHER REGIME IN HISTORY!

[ichisatori]

1 of 2

please supply your supporting facts behind your statement: ""created by originally The American Labor Movement"?

the hysteria of the War on Drugs was not created by labor, what did Henry cabot Lodge and his racist law have to do the labor movement? how has that proceeded and been advanced by the labor movement?

[Baylynx]

Regardless, now the Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry can be brought into the equation of blame. For every poor Taliban fighter in Afghanistan that is being killed for moving opium for a profit, remember that the largest Opium Fields in the country are in Tasmania and owned by Glaxo Pharmaceuticals! The largest Terrorist to the West is the Governments and Corporations to promulgate ruling by fear in order to control the populace!

[ichisatori]

2 of 2 (this 2 part reply is meant to be to:Baylynx. Baylynx has one week to respond effectively.)

no, it has been advanced by an authoritarian government increasingly controlled by insurance, medicine, itself, various law enforcement organizations, --all very powerful. and, an a who chose to be whipped into a hysterical state -- they like it there because because they think, falsely, that it is a secure state.

[Baylynx]

The Labor Movement supported by Gompers were people coming from a "Western" background, and alcohol has been the primary 'drug' of choice in Western Society. When thought of in Common Sense terms, it is nonsense that one must be gated through having to see a physician just to get a few tablets of Tylenol with Codeine, and that such a powerful Central Nervous System Depressant is available everywhere!

[ichisatori]

the above should read: and, a people (citizenry) who chose....