Journalism, the Drug War and Democracy: Bill Moyers' Must-See Interview with 'The Wire' Creator David Simon

Posted by David Sirota, Open Left at 8:57 AM on April 20, 2009.

Simon is firing on all cylinders throughout the interview, but I found this statement on the politics of the drug war particularly poignant.

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Over the last few weeks, I've written columns about the drug war and the demise of journalism, and I cited David Simon, the Baltimore Sun reporter turned creator of HBO's "The Wire." This week, Bill Moyers had Simon on his PBS show to expand on this topic, and it was one of those rare must-watch interviews that you see on television. You can watch it here, and I highly recommend you do.

Simon is firing on all cylinders throughout the interview, but I found this statement on the politics of the drug war particularly poignant:

Listen, if you could be Draconian and reduce drug use by locking people up, you might have an argument. But we are the jailing-est country on the planet right now. Two million people in prison. When I started as a police reporter, 33, 34 percent of the federal inmate population was violent offenders. Now it's like, seven to eight percent. So, we're locking up less violent people. More of them. The drugs are purer. They've not-- they haven't closed down a single drug corner that I know of in Baltimore for any length of time. It's not working. And by the way this is not a Republican/Democrat thing. Because a lot of the most Draconian stuff came out of the Clinton Administration. This guy trying to maneuver to the center, in order not to be perceived as Leftist by a Republican Congress.

Simon is absolutely right - the dynamics of Washington politics have long required Democrats to try to look more "tough on crime" than Republicans, for fear that they will be successfully tarred and feathered as "weak" via derivatives of Willie Horton ads. But I think things might be changing, if ever so slowly.

With lawmakers like Virigina Sen. Jim Webb (D) now starting to lead the fight on drug policy and criminal justice reform, it will be much harder for the GOP to use the "weakness" canard. Webb, thanks to his military background and gruff style, just doesn't fit that stereotype...at all. And while I'm uncomfortable with politics automatically ascribing extra credibility and "toughness" to anyone with military experience regardless of what they are pushing, I'm thrilled that that oversimplistic framing will actually help the cause of drug/criminal justice reform, thanks to Webb.

Again, I encourage you to watch the entire Moyers-Simon interview. It's definitely dark, and Simon seems really pessimistic. However, despite some of his darkest declarations, I think he is an optimist at heart - because why would he be doing the kind of work he's doing if he didn't think it could matter? He's a real hero, and personally, I consider him something of a role model and an inspiration - a guy who fights the good fights through journalism and the media.

Tagged as: drug war, bill moyers, david simon

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Faulty premise [Report this comment] Posted by: drmflorida on Apr 20, 2009 1:28 PM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] One minor quip. The idea that Webb cannot be successfully portrayed as soft because he is a war hero etc has been disproved. John Kerry was dodging fire in Vietnam while Bush was AOL in Tiajuana. Nevertheless, the right wing noise machine was able to successfully paint Kerry as a traitorous wuss and Bush as a candidate for the Medal of Honor. All it takes is a network of blowhards reading from the same script. Obama (prior to 01/20/2009) was able to diffuse this by standing on principles and not trying to out-testosterone his opponent. We do not need any military poseur figurehead to advance the progressive agenda, we need to more fervently believe in ourselves. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » Kerry failed Posted by: aahpat » RE: Obama won by misrepresenting himself to the drug policy reform community Posted by: Sister_Lauren PROFOUND AND SOBERING [Report this comment] Posted by: VZEQICVA on Apr 20, 2009 1:47 PM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] The man has important things to say and he shouldn't be limited to HBO and Bill Moyers. He's entitled to broad exposure and the country can only benefit from what he knows and can share with us. I saw the interview and while nothing shocked me, he certainly puts it all in perspective. I couldn't help but think of Newark,NJ after the race riots and New Orleans after the flood. Just left there to rot. Both big beautiful cities. Just part of the plan. ANNA [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] "The Plan" [Report this comment] Posted by: TheJamea on Apr 20, 2009 11:43 PM Current rating: 3 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] The PTB are just getting rid of some "useless eaters." Google the phrase. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » they want your soul Posted by: kungfuma The Wire [Report this comment] Posted by: Inskeep on Apr 21, 2009 5:48 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Anyone who has not seen The Wire should do so. I signed up for HBO just to see it; since then it has been on broadcast TV and is available on DVD. It is incredibly realistic and presents a true picture of many important aspects of life in Baltimore. One season shows clearly the how and why of the drug traffic; another shows the dock workers and their union; one covers the schools (which, by the way, are finally starting to improve), and one deals with the Baltimore Sun (known universally by its initials). It is probably the best television series ever. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] excellant excellant [Report this comment] Posted by: kungfuma on Apr 21, 2009 7:05 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] great video great article.I like the way it exposes the organic and holistic truth of drug war,class war [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Anthony D'Auria Medical Microbiologist [Report this comment] Posted by: Tony D on Apr 21, 2009 9:31 AM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] So, the answer to the decriminalization of drugs appears to be enticing the money and voter hungry politicians to change the laws. That should be easy once millions of voters can effectively make their point. One of the problems to consider is that there are millions who make a good living as intimate players in the war on drugs and therefore would not easily be persuaded to back decriminalization because it would be against their best interest; it would eliminate their jobs. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Anthony D'Auria Medical Microbiologist Posted by: uncleeddie There needs to be a tally day to show #'s of supporters [Report this comment] Posted by: hardwroc on Apr 21, 2009 11:07 AM Current rating: 5 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Ballot measures have trouble getting on the ballot to legalize or restructure drug laws. What needs to proceed is some method to show the gross numbers of supporters for drug law reforms. Just a collection of the true number to prove to the lil old lady next door that she is already surrounded and still not in danger. And that the false premise that if legalized there would be an increase in use, or a creation of users,when the truth is there are millions of users that are invisible because they must be invisible to stay free. All reform would do is stop incarcerating people for behavior that is non violent and non threatening. Creation of a web site that would only allow one vote per web address, or lottery game where a single ticket would reflect a single vote and financially support a good cause, such as reforming laws that costs the USA a fortune in wasted law enforcement and imprisonment. I bet the true numbers are double or more what estimates are to date. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: What needs to proceed is some method Posted by: Sister_Lauren » RE: There needs to be a survey of THC Ministry membership Posted by: Sister_Lauren Common Class & Culture NEEDS Representation in Law and in Congress [Report this comment] Posted by: nobyjingo on Apr 21, 2009 2:45 PM Current rating: 4 [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] * http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/604.html * http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04172009/watch.html The above 2 links give insight into how the 30% NEW CLASS/Republican Coalition made laws for advantage to destroy the 70% majority common class & culture. The 70% majority common class & culture MUST struggle for real political representation. Political representation won't just happen, it will be a difficult struggle for a separate distinct congressionally legislated political party for representation of the 70% MAJORITY common class and culture in the Congress of the United States, the law and the states. The common population's class & culture is politically separated individuals without any actual representation as a body to actually obtain equality with the other two classes and cultures, only a swing vote choice for a candidate of one of the other two classes and cultures. The struggle is NOT between Democrat and Republican. The struggle is for the 70% majority common population to unite as the common class and culture of the United States that they are. Barbara Ehrenreich's book, "The Fear of Falling" brought the NEW CLASS & CULTURE to light. The NEW middle CLASS are vying for the elites position in the nation, while the elites have chosen to run the rest of the world. The Republican Party ACTUALLY only represent 10% of the population while the Democratic Party's NEW CLASS ACTUALLY only represent 20% of the population, leaving the lower 70% majority common population without representation in law or in the Congress of the United States and the states. Therefore, the major struggle MUST be for the 70% MAJORITY common population to obtain actual representation as a class & culture in a new constitutionally legislated political party, a third EQUAL party, perhaps the Commons Party or the Labor Party. There is nothing the REPUBLICANS could have done to destroy the economy or cause war without the New 'middle' Class Democrats cooperation. Alan Greenspan made it plain that Bill Clinton was the best REPUBLICAN President EVER; he paved the way for the REPUBLICAN/New "middle" Class Democrat 30% Coalition to be able to destroy the economical infrastructure of the common class & culture. The conservative/moderate DEMOCRATIC PARTY cooperated with the conservative REPUBLICAN PARTY in their every effort to accomplish the plans of their 30% minority Democrat/Republican Coalition, which has proven through the years to always be without benefit to the rest of the nation's population, the common class & culture, that have lost and are still losing their jobs, homes, savings, health care, retirement, etc. account the 30% political coalition between the New Class DEMOCRATS & REPUBLICANS; e.g, NAFTA,CAFTA, etc. that are part of their PNAC free trade plan for them, not us of the 70% common class and culture. The 20% NEW CLASS got in front of Governor Dean and still run the DEMOCRATIC PARTY, and the ELITE CAPITALIST CLASS will always run the REPUBLICAN PARTY, which is the reason when polls ALL say that the majority of the people want the war to end -- nothing is done, OR the polls say that the majority of the people want the Bush administration punished -- nothing happens, OR when the polls say the majority of the people want Cheney & Bush impeached -- the impeachment process is glaringly thrown completely off the table. It is not hard to recognize that there are 3 distinctly different political classes and cultures in the United States. It is time that there be a 3rd legislative body in Congress to represent that 3rd class and culture, the Common Class and Culture of the United States. England has always recognized the common class and culture, it is time the United States government recognize the common class and culture as well. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Cannabusiness [Report this comment] Posted by: Sister_Lauren on May 7, 2009 9:22 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Cannabusiness The atmosphere of purposeful endeavor was like what you might find at a night-school business class of aspiring franchisees. This is fitting, because Oaksterdam has big ambitions. Richard Lee hinted at them when he founded the school, by creating a seal, or, more accurately, remodeling one—Harvard’s, actually, the Latin VERITAS replaced by CANNABIS and the oak clusters swapped for marijuana leaves. Like the great universities, Oaksterdam seeks to imbue its students with a vision of the world and the zeal to go forth and change it. As Ilia Gvozdenovic, Oaksterdam’s sallow, 20-something chancellor, explained, the aim is to mold a generation not just of pot dealers but of pot idealists, comrades in the struggle against federal persecution. So, really, Oaksterdam is less like Harvard and more like the University of Chicago, only with the complaint against government intervention in the market confining itself specifically to the market for cannabinoids. Not convinced? You need to think with an open mind. And I can help you there—I’m a trained professional. Joshua Green is an Atlantic senior editor. LOL, that was great Josh, I can see you have a shining future in herbal medicines. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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» Kerry failed Posted by: aahpat

» RE: Obama won by misrepresenting himself to the drug policy reform community Posted by: Sister_Lauren

» they want your soul Posted by: kungfuma

» RE: Anthony D'Auria Medical Microbiologist Posted by: uncleeddie

» RE: What needs to proceed is some method Posted by: Sister_Lauren

» RE: There needs to be a survey of THC Ministry membership Posted by: Sister_Lauren

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