Juan Carlos Hidalgo (Author at The Cato Institute)

Get Serious about Decriminalizing Drugs; Others Are (Commentary)

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The international war against the black market trade in narcotics seems to be at a tipping point, as a new approach is gaining traction globally: decriminalization. More and more policymakers are coming to the view that it is wrong to jail drug users as criminals. Last November, Massachusetts vot...

Mexico Decriminalizes Drugs, U.S. Should Follow (Scholar Comments)

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The decision by the Mexican government to decriminalize the consumption of small amount of drugs constitutes a step in the right direction after decades of failed policy. It is in line with efforts by other Latin American leaders and governments who are increasingly skeptical of Washington’s prohibitionist drug policies.

The wisdom of the war on drugs is being challenged by countries whose stability and institutions are threatened by drug-related violence and corruption. President Obama promised to listen to Latin Americans. This is the best place to start.

Honduras: It Wasn't a Coup (Scholar Comments)

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

The international community has grossly misrepresented the facts of the institutional crisis in Honduras. What happened on June 29 was not a military coup. The decision to remove Manuel Zelaya from power was taken by the Supreme Court, not the military, after the court determined that president Zelaya had repeatedly and flagrantly violated the law and the constitution—a determination also supported by the country's attorney general, the Electoral Tribunal, and the Congress.

Once Zelaya was removed, power was handed over to a civilian, as outlined in the constitution. The democratic institutions of Honduras followed the only process the country's constitution establishes for the removal of a president that has run roughshod over the rule of law.

The military did violate the law by exiling Zelaya, rather than arresting him. But by siding unequivocally with Zelaya, the international community is largely disregarding Honduras' rule of law and is endorsing Zelaya's undermining of his country's democratic institutions—a failing the Organization of American States has been particularly guilty of in other Latin American counties over the past several years.

It Wasn't A 'Coup' (Commentary)

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT

A close reading of Honduras' constitution proves it. What happened in Honduras on June 28 was not a military coup. It was the constitutional removal of a president who abused his powers and tried to subvert the country's democratic institutions in order to stay in office. The extent to which t...

Overturning Turnover in Honduras (Daily Podcast)

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT