“War on drugs” was hyperbole to stoke up enthusiasm to fight against a real problem. And somehow ended with millions of broken lives, millions behind bars for victimless crimes, worse racism. Maybe it was taken over by racists, or maybe we all got caught up in the moment, but it was mostly not being able to face when it went wrong, then eventually only the worst conservatives were in charge
“War on organized crime” also well intended hyperbole to mobilize effort against a real problem. People forgot lessons about whether the “means justifies the end”, and now after trying to get back to a normal life we’re left with legalized rights violations. “For our own good”, a surveillance state, more racism, legalized theft, and cops above the law. As we tried to recover, only the worst authoritarians were left in charge and it got worse quickly.
Some of those were well intended over reactions.