First They Put Away The Dealers Quote
The quote “First they put away the dealers, then they put away the drugs. Then they put away the prostitutes and finally the bums.” is from Bob Dylan’s song “It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)”. This quote can be interpreted in many ways, but it is generally understood to mean that society tends to deal with the symptoms of a problem rather than dealing with the root cause.
What Does the Quote Mean?
The quote is essentially saying that if society wants to solve a problem, it should address the root cause of the problem rather than just addressing the symptoms. In the case of drug addiction, society tends to focus on arresting drug dealers and putting drug addicts in jail without addressing the underlying reasons why people turn to drugs in the first place.
The quote can also be interpreted in a broader sense to mean that society tends to ignore the root causes of social problems and instead focuses on punishing those who are affected by those problems. For example, instead of addressing income inequality, society may simply punish those who are poor by cutting social programs or increasing taxes on the poor.
Why Is the Quote Important?
The quote is important because it highlights a fundamental flaw in how society tends to approach social problems. Rather than addressing the root causes of a problem, society tends to focus on the symptoms of the problem. This often leads to ineffective solutions and perpetuates the problem.
If society wants to truly solve social problems, it needs to address the root causes of those problems. This requires a more nuanced and complex approach than simply punishing those who are affected by the problem.
Conclusion
The quote “First they put away the dealers, then they put away the drugs. Then they put away the prostitutes and finally the bums.” is a powerful reminder that society needs to address the root causes of social problems if it wants to truly solve those problems. By focusing on the symptoms of a problem rather than the root cause, society often perpetuates the problem and makes it worse. If we want to build a better society, we need to start by addressing the root causes of our social problems.
