Most recent public comments by Aaron Winn https://nowcomment.com/users/51117 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314254 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314254 These characters demonstrate two different motivations for being in the game. For Stringer, it's about becoming a successful businessman and making money. For Avon, it is more about the social prestige offered by the game. While these are entirely different motivations, the drug game provided the opportunity for both of the characters to achieve their goal. Wed, 03 Apr 2019 19:55:20 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314233 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314233 The inability for drug dealers to hold onto their money is likely related to their mistrust of the legal economy. If a drug dealer saves up large amounts of money, it won't be long before someone asks where it came from. Making investments could also appear suspicious if they do not have appropriate fronts that could be used to convince others their wealth is legitimate. (I can't imagine quarter arcade machines would make someone rich). This factor encourages them to simply spend money when they have it, in a wasteful manner. Wed, 03 Apr 2019 19:49:30 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314224 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314224 I agree that the drug economy can offer opportunities for a better life for some, as we see with Benzie in this story. However, Stringer and Proposition Joe are extreme examples of how luxurious a life in the game can be. While these characters got a lot of the benefit of drug dealing without having to risk their lives daily, it would not have been possible without the protection of a network of lower-level workers. Just like with any job, the higher-ups in the drug game are able to thrive at the expense of hard-work and suffering from the less privileged workers. In particular, the mid-level dealers and enforcers such as Wee-Bey and Slim Charles provided protection for Avon, Stringer, and the organization as a whole. While their job was risky, it was generally more predictable and infrequent than the jobs to be carried out on a day-to-day basis by street-level dealers who must regularly deal with cops, rival gangs, and addicts on a daily basis. It is still worth considering if the life of these lower-level dealers is better than it would be at a minimum-wage legal job, but the disparity between the drug-dealing versus legal job is less dramatic. Wed, 03 Apr 2019 19:39:48 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314175 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314175 This passage reminded me of the use of confidential informants, particularly Bubbles, in The Wire. Throughout the series, Bubbles identifies high-level dealers and gives information on their activity to Kima. The loyalty of Bubbles is due to Kima's humane treatment and genuine interest in his well-being. Bubbles is willing to work in exchange for the money he needs, but he also puts himself at risk giving information about dangerous criminals. Despite these risks, he is motivated to return to Kima because he trusts her. It is this trust from individuals in the community that is necessary for police to understand the daily activities in their neighborhood. Thu, 04 Apr 2019 02:05:44 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314157 https://nowcomment.com/documents/136072?scroll_to=1314157 It is tempting to think that people begin selling drugs because there is no other job opportunities or because that is all they have ever known. However, this story shows that even when alternatives are available, selling drugs can be a more rewarding job than a legal job. While paying bail and lawyer fees can be seen as a business strategy to keep a business functioning, I found the thought of holiday bonuses and lobster dinners to be particularly interesting. Not only does Primo have more money, power, and social status as a dealer, but he is also treated with greater respect by (at least some of) his coworkers. This recognition for quality work is generally not present for minimum wage labor. Wed, 03 Apr 2019 20:05:18 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307888 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307888 The lack of success stories, in particular during the final clip at the end of the series, is what made The Wire stick with me after my first viewing. While we are all rooting for Dukie to be successful in school or to become a father figure for Bug, we see him become a drug addict, likely condemned to live a life closer to that of Bubbles. His financial and social struggle that eventually leads him to a criminal life is closer to reality than the success story we see with Namond. Tue, 26 Mar 2019 02:27:40 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307882 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307882 Cutty is an excellent example for how someone can be drawn back into crime after leaving prison. While he was not eager to reconnect with Avon, he was promised the riches and high social status that the drug game brings. More importantly, this was the only way for Cutty to quickly attain a high social and economic status given his circumstances, so it is not surprising that he took this opportunity. I also think the scene where he meets with city officials in order to legally open his gym portrays another struggle that those trying to get out of a criminal life face. He is overwhelmed and oblivious to the formalities that are required to live a fully legal life. He would not have been able to do it without the help of some individuals like the Preacher and Odell Wadkins who were more familiar with the rules of the city. Wed, 27 Mar 2019 21:51:23 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307881 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307881 You bring up a good point, Anna. Affirmative action is a relatively simple issue to comprehend. While people can debate how it should be treated, the answer can be summarized in simple statistics. While mass incarceration is clearly not effective, civil rights groups are probably less likely to address the issue of crime because making a proposition for an effective way to handle it is very difficult. Tue, 26 Mar 2019 01:55:12 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307876 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307876 The idea of prisons creating crime was particularly powerful to me. Those who make it out of prison are likely to return to the circumstances that pushed them into crime in the first place, only worse because they have been so degraded by the prison system and branded to be unfit for hire that there are even fewer opportunities as before. For instance, those imprisoned for selling drugs who did so because of a lack of job opportunities, are going to have an even harder time finding a job after serving jail time. The low quality of life for criminals after serving jail time makes the threat of serving additional jail time less threatening. There needs to be a tangible means for former criminals to live a positive life after prison or there is no incentive to give up a life of crime. Tue, 26 Mar 2019 02:18:00 -0400 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307866 https://nowcomment.com/documents/134033?scroll_to=1307866 This section reminded me of the quote by one of Nixon's aides in played in "13th". The aide explains that the Nixon White House had two major opponents: antiwar protesters ("hippies") and black people. By targeting marijuana and crack, the War on Drugs was able to suppress these groups without mentioning the specific groups. While many people during the Nixon-era were uncomfortable with blatantly racist language, the War on Drugs allowed Americans to reformulate their same discomfort towards blacks in a way that they could accept. As immoral as this is, it is an interesting political tactic to be able to appeal to the racist desires of Americans at the time without explicitly bringing up race. Thu, 28 Mar 2019 00:49:22 -0400