Thursday, June 18, 2009
Media / Drugs Stupid Fucking Credulous Hacks of the Day: KOMO Staff.
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 6:24 PM
Dang. Where will we get our pot now?
A large marijuana grow likely worth more than $50 million was found on a tree farm near Burbank, authorities said.The grow is said to be one of the largest in the history of Walla Walla County.
About 40,000 plants, ranging in height from 1-4 feet, were seized Wednesday by members of the South Eastern Washington Narcotics Team, the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office said.
I'm thinkin' we'll be treated to a lot of stupid fucking credulous hackery as this story is reported over the next few days. But our first Stupid Fucking Credulous Hacks Of the Day award goes to "KOMO Staff" for their report on the "staggering $50 million worth of marijuana" confiscated by police "in one fell swoop." Mindless glorification of the War on Drugs? Check. Law-enforcement authorities approached for comment? Check. No quotes from opponents of futile War on Drugs? Check.
KOMO Staff: Stupid fucking credulous hacks of the day.
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1
Dan - when are you going to highlight the worst fucking credulous hacks of the year who just fucked up another DIY house community in Line-Out today?
FIRE THOSE FUCKERS NOW
FIRE THOSE FUCKERS NOW
2
wow - dan did a post not about DOMA. color me shocked.
as for this story - the person had an illegal grow going on, it doesn't read like some protest over laws, just a druggie trying to make money against the current laws. when a bunch of stores get caught selling cigs to underage kids the "we have to lower the age" people don't get an interview, so why this time?
as for this story - the person had an illegal grow going on, it doesn't read like some protest over laws, just a druggie trying to make money against the current laws. when a bunch of stores get caught selling cigs to underage kids the "we have to lower the age" people don't get an interview, so why this time?
3
The tax revenue on $50M would be quite a boost to the economy, not to mention, the money spent on putting together this bust.
4
@2: But at some point you'd think they'd start pointing out that these annual grow-op busts are a pretty good—and expensive—definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome.
They bust and bust and bust... and lock people up... and spend and spend and spend... but pot remains plentiful and cheap. Go figure.
They bust and bust and bust... and lock people up... and spend and spend and spend... but pot remains plentiful and cheap. Go figure.
6
We're cutting medical care for the sick and needy while spending MILLIONS to arrest, prosecute, jail, and ruin the lives of a few people for absolutely no good reason. This is so depressing.
KOMO Staff, state lawmakers, and the Walla Walla sheriff's office should be so ashamed.
KOMO Staff, state lawmakers, and the Walla Walla sheriff's office should be so ashamed.
7
Just imagine ... if Washington could legally sell this weed ... that would be at least $50 million that our state could really use to help with the budget deficit
12
KOMO is like the rest of the major media in that if the government declares a war on anything they see it as their duty to support it. That is such a quaint last century idea.
It's none of the governments business if people want to put marijuana into our own bodies.
It's none of the governments business if people want to put marijuana into our own bodies.
14
Who are YOU to call anybody a hack? You're the most narrow-minded, ill-informed "journalist" (ha!) in the fucking country. You are Sarah Palin with a dick: Ideology before facts, passion before reason, and self-importance over anything else. Go fuck yourself, douchebag.
15
@2,
This isn't so much a story as a regurgitated press release from the War On Drugs, reported without question by KOMO.
Theoretically, part of the job of an unbiased media is to question authority and to report opposing or alternative views. To cite multiple sources. Not simply repeat unquestioned, word for word, anything any government representative tells them. That's called propaganda.
You might think this is a simple report of a high profile bust. But lots of folks think the entire war on drugs is a colossal waste of time and tax money, and puts people's lives at risk, and throws people in jail for no good reason. And an unbiased media has a duty to report that. If they simply repeat the government press release, they are credulous hacks, not unbiased journalists.
This isn't so much a story as a regurgitated press release from the War On Drugs, reported without question by KOMO.
Theoretically, part of the job of an unbiased media is to question authority and to report opposing or alternative views. To cite multiple sources. Not simply repeat unquestioned, word for word, anything any government representative tells them. That's called propaganda.
You might think this is a simple report of a high profile bust. But lots of folks think the entire war on drugs is a colossal waste of time and tax money, and puts people's lives at risk, and throws people in jail for no good reason. And an unbiased media has a duty to report that. If they simply repeat the government press release, they are credulous hacks, not unbiased journalists.
16
@4: man, do I get tired of that "the definition of insanity" quote that everyone seems to think is so clever, and that you in particular seem to be so fond of using in your writing. Ever learned any physical skill in your life? Played a musical instrument? Learned a foreign language? Well, then you've done the same thing over and over and gotten a different result (becoming accomplished) through drill and repetition. Yes, off-topic, but that cliche "definition" sprouts up everywhere, so please forgive me. Thank-you.
18
Oh, and also, legalize. Yes. And I agree about the targets of your scorn, Dan. Sorry I'm such a hater.
20
think of all the pot farmers who are now unemployed! or worse yet, in jail! all those jobs, up in smoke?
21
@15
if it was a medical grow it'd be different. i'm all for legalization, but as of right now it's against the law.
and do you really think the article should read "cops busted an illegal marijuana grow operation. authorities say the pot has a street value of 50 million dollars. the growers face X amount behind bars. NORML reps say the pot is fine, and nothing should be done because marijuana should be legalized.
taking a stand is one thing, knowing when and how to take that stand is what makes the difference.
if it was a medical grow it'd be different. i'm all for legalization, but as of right now it's against the law.
and do you really think the article should read "cops busted an illegal marijuana grow operation. authorities say the pot has a street value of 50 million dollars. the growers face X amount behind bars. NORML reps say the pot is fine, and nothing should be done because marijuana should be legalized.
taking a stand is one thing, knowing when and how to take that stand is what makes the difference.
22
We learn from this that there is LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of money to destroy pot plants, but NO MONEY to pay school teachers to educate children.
Class over.
Class over.
23
40,000 plants. That sounds like a lot.
At one-foot spacing, that's... 200 by 200. About an acre.
A fucking ACRE. Of plants 1-4 feet high.
In June.
So, let me get this right... come August, that sort of thing is worth $50 FUCKING MILLION DOLLARS?!?!
Wow.
I REALLY need to get me some land and some immigrant labor.
At one-foot spacing, that's... 200 by 200. About an acre.
A fucking ACRE. Of plants 1-4 feet high.
In June.
So, let me get this right... come August, that sort of thing is worth $50 FUCKING MILLION DOLLARS?!?!
Wow.
I REALLY need to get me some land and some immigrant labor.
24
Somebody give me a reality check here.
$50,000,000.00 / 40,000 plants = $1,250.00 per plant
$1,250.00 per plant? Seriously?
$50,000,000.00 / 40,000 plants = $1,250.00 per plant
$1,250.00 per plant? Seriously?
25
Wouldn't it be better if they focussed their efforts on shutting down meth labs? When was the last time you read about that happening anywhere?
26
@2: With the greatest respect to Dan (whose babies I would gladly have), here's how it works:
When Dan uncritically passes on sensationalistic reports of pit-bull attacks, that's responsible journalism.
When someone else reports on a) drug seizures or b) sex scandals, that's hackery.
This despite the fact that Rottweilers are the more dangerous breed (accounting for 50% of fatal attacks), and that any dog can and will bite. Of the 800,000 dog bites leading to a hospital visit each year, 90% happen in the home as a result of the family dog attacking a child. The UK banned pit bulls in the 90's. Ownership of pit bulls went way down, but dog bite rates have remained the same. Cite.
When Dan uncritically passes on sensationalistic reports of pit-bull attacks, that's responsible journalism.
When someone else reports on a) drug seizures or b) sex scandals, that's hackery.
This despite the fact that Rottweilers are the more dangerous breed (accounting for 50% of fatal attacks), and that any dog can and will bite. Of the 800,000 dog bites leading to a hospital visit each year, 90% happen in the home as a result of the family dog attacking a child. The UK banned pit bulls in the 90's. Ownership of pit bulls went way down, but dog bite rates have remained the same. Cite.
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