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Comment by richard_todd | Hacker News Reader

If I'm considering becoming a drug runner, and I hear "sometimes they arrest you" I'd say "so what?" If I hear "sometimes you get shot at", I'd take my chances and shoot back. But if I keep hearing about missiles obliterating drug runners with no warning... maybe I just stay home.

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Decades of the War on Drugs would seem to disagree with your interpretation. Escalating deterrents doesn't work.

It's almost as though wars on things (drugs; terrorism; "woke"; Mickey Mouse; drag-queen story hour) don't stop the titular objects of angst. Curious!

> If I hear "sometimes you get shot at", I'd take my chances and shoot back. But if I keep hearing about missiles obliterating drug runners with no warning... maybe I just stay home.

Given some of the things competing cartels do to each other, getting instantaneously killed by a bomb is probably a relief compared to what some of your 'competitors' may do.

> compared to what some of your 'competitors' may do.

Or your boss. Once you're working for a drug cartel, I don't think you have a whole lot of autonomy when it comes to determining your specific role. If your boss tells you to get in a fishing boat and you refuse, you risk getting killed on the spot.

Drug cartels don't necessarily work like tech companies, where you consider the job postings, apply, sign a contract, and then do the job. It might even be that they need a drug runner and just say "do it or we kill your family".

Again, I'm just suggesting that maybe cartels make fishermen the proverbial "offer they can't refuse".

I'm just wondering if it would be more effective, and far less expensive, to target the subjects making these offers?

All evidence suggests that harsh enforcement can not, does not and will not stop the drug trade from thriving.

Maybe we should try the same thing with people running red lights.

You’re right. I’m sure the drug runner recruitment ad response rate has plummeted /s.

People don’t choose to be drug runners…

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