The Drug War Has to End: David Simon on "The Wire" & Over-Policing of the Poor

Democracynow.org - In his acclaimed TV show "The Wire," David Simon captured the city of Baltimore from the angles of street-level drug dealers, beat police officers and journalists covering corrupt politicians. Earlier this year, President Obama described "The Wire" as "one of the greatest, not just television shows, but pieces of art, in the last couple of decades.” Simon said he aimed to portray how "raw, unencumbered capitalism" devalues human beings. Nearly a decade ago in Slate, Jacob Weisberg wrote: "No other program has ever done anything remotely like what this one does, namely to portray the social, political, and economic life of an American city with the scope, observational precision, and moral vision of great literature."
In his acclaimed TV show "The Wire," David Simon captured the city of Baltimore from the angles of street-level drug dealers, beat police officers and journalists covering corrupt politicians. Earlier this year, President Obama described "The Wire" as "one of the greatest, not just television shows, but pieces of art, in the last couple of decades.” Simon said he aimed to portray how "raw, unencumbered capitalism" devalues human beings. Nearly a decade ago in Slate, Jacob Weisberg wrote: "No other program has ever done anything remotely like what this one does, namely to portray the social, political, and economic life of an American city with the scope, observational precision, and moral vision of great literature."

[@ASAPCOCKYUPTOWN]

The drug war and private prisons are the biggest problem in our society

[@Se0420_]

all apart of the war on blacks

[@staatsfeindlich9939]

"It's not about right. It's about money." about the (super)size of it.

[@GIStupid2012]

Wow! I was touched by his sincerity. I must say I'll check out the "old" episodes. Damn, It's nice to hear, see, and even feel moved by such plain spoken truth. Way to go Amy! Thank you.

[@vaultramp]

never declare a war on a noun, you will always lose..

[@whiketurner6249]

+Dmitry Atlasman It's a win. It keeps the evil empire going. The US is the world's largest drug dealer. Drugs turn into a slush fund for the CIA. The rouse of the drug war is how they distribute. The government doesn't want any dealing if they don't get their cut. And they double-dipped by setting up the prison industrial complex. There's a whole lot of money being made.

[@Abdced]

Best show, No doubt at all. Nice to see the man behind it pushing an important issue to say the least. Its about ending or at least decreasing 'slavery by another name' ....

[@RSpence777]

Great interview Amy! He is so right, it doesn't work!

[@TheSpiritOfTheTimes]

The Wire was so amazing I binge-watched it. Shame too, should have spaced it out would remember more.

[@herculesoph5]

For-profit prisons to the rescue!

[@rexbanner4608]

Is David Simon arguing for the legalization of drugs? Maybe they should be legal. Coke, heroine, meth, everything. If they remain illegal, how can the war on drugs end? Maybe Major Colvin had the right idea with Hamsterdam. Have the drug economy legally operate in designated areas.

[@Orf]

8:01 "KoCH industries" lol

[@Oldpangolin]

Sign a paper stating you wont sue to go home? Sounds like coercion.

[@PHHennin]

You guys really dont see its wrong that you do over there in the US?

[@manmadesounds]

+P.H. Hennin I strongly recommend that you don't generalize the organisms on the surface of this land called the US. Some of us over here really get it. Some of us are fucking nuts. I'm sure it's the same where you are. Everywhere. I think we'll get it together. It may take a while and it may be painful for everyone on the planet at times, but I think we'll keep improving.

[@speedy6776]

couldn't agree more

[@TheSportsandFilmFellowship]

Bodie x Wallace

[@kakarot1192]

R.I.P

[@anthonymoore6635]

did he say kotch and meant koch

[@louielewis8845]

the wire was a graet & true show,only thay reconise it?

[@j_thom]

"Best Television show ever"... I dunno.. I was quite taken by 'Rome' to be honest. I did like 'The Wire' immensely, but whoo... Rome was something else...

[@SPACEMONKEY288]

you want good change and real change vote Bernie Sanders.

[@etessier10]

SPACEMONKEY288 so bad American did not do it, a real change

[@louielewis8845]

you wore a colore and tie? exsacly? to show that your were colourd & tied?why bowe down?!!!

[@marthacmd]

many blacks did not like the Wire- horrible images

[@louielewis8845]

obarma in one ear out the other?

[@ThePeterBluth]

I'm going to say this, "If it was draconian and it worked, we could say 'it's terrible but it's working'," is a total crock. If it was draconian and it worked, people would still be whining. Why? Because no one knows how to objectively separate the results with the methods. If torture worked, we'd still whine about it because, again, no one separates it.

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

Oh Please SMH.

[@mitchelll3879]

The Wire is a good show, not great..not even realistic..omar was a cartoon character

[@nvkulk]

Trump will solve all our problems!

[@etessier10]

He did not

[@hank1519]

@@etessier10 Just the opposite.

[@rexbanner4608]

@@hank1519 Biden?