DPR definitely broke the law, there's no question about that. A lot of us think it's an unjust law, but whatever. He may have also put out hits on people (though, curiously, he is not being charged for that). If that's the case then he's also a danger to society and really does belong in prison.
But, it is immensely frustrating, even heartbreaking when you consider the cost in human lives, that given the choice between something like Silk Road and Mexican drug cartels, we as a society have apparently chosen Mexican drug cartels, and all the gut-wrenching bloodshed and destabilization they bring.
I'm reserving judgement on Ulbricht the person, but what he did should not be illegal, for reasons ideological, practical, and humanitarian.
I'm not entirely certain that black markets are the best way to facilitate a safe drug trade, but given a choice between Silk Road and more violent alternatives, Silk Road seems like the obvious better choice.
Right. Aside from, or in spite of, being a black market (by necessity), Silk Road was pretty benign compared to the alternatives. Surely Silk Road was taking some profits away from drug cartels. Probably not much, but a legal market would put them out of business. Now with Silk Road gone, all that trade is back under the umbrella of the cartels again, and the profits are theirs.
But, it is immensely frustrating, even heartbreaking when you consider the cost in human lives, that given the choice between something like Silk Road and Mexican drug cartels, we as a society have apparently chosen Mexican drug cartels, and all the gut-wrenching bloodshed and destabilization they bring.
I'm reserving judgement on Ulbricht the person, but what he did should not be illegal, for reasons ideological, practical, and humanitarian.