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The deadly genius of drug cartels

T

TEDTalks

Here's another interesting video from TED. It's a bit long (18 minutes) but it's a good one.
Up to 100,000 people died in drug-related violence in Mexico in the last 6 years. We might think this has nothing to do with us, but in fact we are all complicit, says Yale professor Rodrigo Canales in this unflinching talk that turns conventional wisdom about drug cartels on its head. The carnage is not about faceless, ignorant goons mindlessly killing each other but is rather the result of some seriously sophisticated brand management.afeeds_feedburner_com__r_TedtalksHD__4_p8DAszPhGz0_.gif
Click to expand...

See the video

1. What are your thoughts on this?

2. How can we relate this to the Star Army universe?
 
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1. Wow. The video really underlines just how organized, effective, efficient the cartels are. They're also very bold and merciless. The idea that organizations need to be built at the bottom, one interaction at a time is a good lesson. The other thing is that market demands are incredibly strong in the right conditions.

2. It makes me think: What is the Star Army universe equivalent to drugs? Who are the shadow organizations of the Star Army universe? Drugs are not strongly regulated in most SARP factions so maybe it's not necessarily drugs. What are the big market demands of SARP? What is it that people need desperately?
 
Wes, what is banned? Any government ban or restriction of an item will automatically create a black market whether we like to admit it or not. A perfect example may be slaves. Yes, there are androids out there, but that isn't the same as a human slave and I doubt that it would placate the slave market in the least.
 
In the Neshaten, drugs are not regulated and there is no ban, the reason being is because if a ban was in place then there would be people going underground to illegally sell the drugs. Since there is no ban, the Monarchy can lightly tax the use of certain types of drugs (not all, just certain types)
 
This is actually makes me think an interesting question. Is there a list of the setting drugs? On top of that, how would regulations work for races who react differently to various types of drugs? Take the Vekimen for instance. Alcohol is actually lethal for the Vekimen to consume, where Sugar gives a similar effect to Cocain. It either makes them ungodly hyper, or it makes them incredibly mellow. With the discoveries of this would regulations be changed in regards to certain races and such?
 
It's kind of impossible to regulate sugar, since it's used for everything. It'd be about like trying to restrict oxygen consumption. Alcohol's not quite in the same boat, but since it can be made from anything that has sugar in it, it's impossible to fully prohibit, too, if anyone has a spare closet and the desire to make some. For other compounds, like rare spices and synthetic drugs that require a laboratory, it's probably easier to handle.
 
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