Rant on War on Drugs

[whatever]

I thought I posted this, but most not have; it's the one I thought you might have disappeared there Rick Then I thought, this is awful, I shouldn't even bother. Well, anyway, I wrote this sarcastic rant about the war on drugs and marijuana. It's, well, I don't know, a long rant with some points perhaps. It wasn't a good day I would never be so insulting here!
*********************************************
Ah, I glance in and there’s a topic about something meaningful…the war on US. First, let’s take off the kid gloves…being nice doesn’t seem to fly around this forum. Well thought out comments, polite and pleasant to read, are generally ignored. Too boring? Lord, just turn of the computer right now and go watch a “reality” show. Pretty people, we’re such a pretty country, aren’t we? Get your head on straight and try to understand the facts. Keep the silly no-brain dem/rep blather; if you really think the parties matter than much you shouldn’t bother reading this forum or much of anything else for that matter. Are they in bed together, well of course not, politicians aren’t dishonest, right? Couldn’t happen. We’re Americans, we’re different. Pretty little dream world you’ve got there, too bad there’s so much violence in the streets…If you can’t distinguish between the sarcasm here, save it, I just don’t care. Go have an emotional conflict with someone else; this is grown up time, just go to your room. I’m trying to spread the truth. If you don’t care, then neither do I.

Get a clue people; this is the richest most powerful country in the world with millionaires running the show. Do you really think you little people matter? No, you don’t. You are cannon fodder. You are part of a profit margin, you are a resource. You can best be utilized in a slave capacity…jail works well. Booming industry, law enforcement and prisons. Need more prisons, facing a crisis, not enough room anymore, immoral country of ours, better let private industry fix it, only way we can pay for it…Read some history, use your brain, wake the heck up. Now would be good, later will probably be too late. Oh and sure, this is conspiracy theory nonsense…and there was no Hitler. People don’t do things like that anymore…enslaving and killing their own people. No, not us. Not US. We’re different, right?

Look you stupid small minded Midwestern fools willing to stand blithely aside while our way of life erodes, do you have any idea why we jail more people in the country BY PERCENTAGE than any other country in the WORLD? More than anyone ever has throughout recorded history? Can you maybe take an interest? Hello? In this country, our little place land of the free home of the brave, we now imprison more people for drugs than for any other crime. Try to follow me, even if you resist the urge to agree with someone who isn’t pandering to your egotistical need to feel superior and conformist; OUR COUNTRY IS PUTTING MORE PEOLPLE IN JAIL PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, ALL OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. This means, my poor deluded reader, that we are moving to a police state. Deny it all you want, it won’t change anything while you sit there and foolishly ignore the naked emperor and stubbornly refuse to consider the truth or research the facts.

Really. The world is not flat. The world is not the center of the universe. We are not riding on the back of a turtle. Prohibition did not work. People who drink beer are not evil. I could relay the original reasons and statements of the 1937 decision to prohibit marijuana, but you wouldn’t believe it anyway. Halfway intelligent people might want to look it up for a laugh though. Painfully racist and sexist and basically target toward minorities. But so what, it was a good decision anyway, even if for no apparent reason, right? Yes, you need your government to tell you what’s bad for you and your children. Told you you were stupid, when are you going to believe me?

I’m so tired of all this nonsense. Morons. You want drug wars, then you’re a fool or worse. Really. It is a stupid thing to believe. You are part of the problem. I don’t care what religion you are, if you are an adult and you still believe in the war on drugs, you are useless to everyone but your own selfish interests. No, I have no patience left for the fools who sit on their morals believing that these druggies get what they deserve. Idiots. How many of you experimented with pot when you were kids. Bunch of selfish jerks you are, I am ashamed of my entire generation. It was okay for you, but you want lock up anyone caught now. You’ve played right into the hands of the dangerously greedy.

Get over it, screw your head back on and try to figure out what’s going on. Personally, I’ve lived in this country all my life and I’m sick of the lot of you self righteous so and so’s who care more about their lawns than the people inside the houses. S rew it; I’ll emigrate, keep it, you pitiful monsters who won’t care until it happens to you. And oh how you’ll whine! I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be so bitter, but it will be deliciously ironic when you realize you’ve been duped. Don’t you hate it when people you don’t like are right? Don’t worry, I don’t like you either. It would be nice if you had the guts to face up to facts and let go of your egos for just a little bit, to avoid the destruction of the our democratic experiment. But, you gave up the “life, liberty, pursuit of happiness” as too outdated now, too dangerous and immoral. We must protect our children…so they make good slave labor? I…I think I’ll protect my children by protecting them from YOU dangerously stupid Americans culturally bereft of decency and compassion.

Maybe you agree, and maybe you don’t, but if you’re reading this now, actually you don’t have any excuse. You may all hold yourself personally responsible for the downfall of our democracy because you were too stubborn, stupid and too lazy to extend yourselves the least little bit to help someone else. You’re a Nazi, you just can’t face it yet. The blinders are off, you are being told the situation, you don’t have any excuse. You’re just a coward. I give you no leeway. Seen too many people hurt and suffering to listen to your stupid arguments of some theory about the bad stuff that legal pot would do. This IS a black and white issue, cut and dried and if you don’t agree I have no patience or kindness for you. I’ll try to be nice in person, but understand that the thinking people hold you in contempt. You thought you had nasty thoughts about us, lord if you only knew the low opinion we hold you in. Just human decency that we don’t call you out for the sub-humans you have become. Of course, you’re also dangerously violent. I will not pander to your ignorance, because if you can read and write and are reading this now, you just don’t have any reason to believe it’s OKAY to jail millions of people subjecting them to years of incarceration and rape for using a natural herbal nontoxic non-addictive in their own homes. How’s that for flame? Dems reps prayer in school war and peace oh shut up! Talk about something that matters for gods sakes, what is this, a gossip column? There comes a point in time when you either stand up or just sit there and shut up and wait for the “leaders” to tell you where to go.
snipped, more pages...

[Whatever]

I think I figured out why this didn't post the first time Rick!
*************************
I was the kid in school who didn’t care what you dumb-normals thought, because most of what you thought wasn’t very thoughtful at all. I was the maladjusted who didn’t fit in because I…knew you were stupid. I was the only one to disagree with the teacher and all the rest of you in class watched for amusement. Never wanted to raise your own hand. That would indicate independent thought, not something you’d like to be accused of unless you happen to agree with the majority. You have no clue as to your real convictions, you’re just too afraid to stick out and I despise you. Coward. You can sit there in church, but you calmly accept extreme injustice and cruelty as long as it isn’t directed at you. Well here’s a hint, it can easily affect you, you’re just to stupid to realize it. I actually have pity on stupid people, some of my friends are stupid people, and I wouldn’t wish pain on them. But I can’t help but wonder how the heck you can just sit by while others bleed. I never understood you idiots. Probably never will. Don’t know how you even manage to get by, truth be told. Eat, sleep, work, spend more time on your appearance than you do your brain, have faith in a church and gossip about the neighbors. Just shut up.

When someone told me that, “if we’re jailing more people here now than anyone else in the world, it MUST be because all those ‘other’ countries just execute the lawbreakers and so we’re much more humane because we only jail them”, I gave up on the lot of you ugly Americans. College educated contemporary individual thinks it’s somehow acceptable that we’re all of a sudden full of bad people in this country who need to be jailed and treated worse than dogs And raped, let’s not forget that. You ever been raped? Do you want to be? How about your daughter? No, no, how about your son? Spouse? You aren’t worried because your family doesn’t do anything bad enough to be sent to jail for? You’re just stupid, selfish and incapable of changing your mind because you don’t’ really have your own mind. You’re a lemming. No, I put this out there for anyone who might care. Disagree, I could care less. Truly. You deserve what you get. Dispute me if you care to, say anything you like, you’re no different from the little jerks in middle school who thought reading for pleasure was weird…you aren’t a cerebral lot. It’s no excuse to be cruel though. You won’t hurt my feelings, because if you think the war on drugs is a good idea, even now, then you’re a lost cause. I don’t care what you think. Because you don’t. You haven’t thought it through yet, if ever.

Marijuana could save our country, but with this culture, I don’t think it’ll happen. Believe it, don’t believe it, I don’t even care. And if you have a vested interest in freedom and justice, what’s right and what’s not, you wouldn’t bother flaming me, or anyone expressing sincere concern, so say any idiotic thing you want. .Read up on it yourself. Do your own damm research, I’m not trying to prove anything. I don’t care if I convince you. Only a sever knock on the head will do that for most of you. I’ve done my part. I’m getting tired of sticking my neck out for you people who don’t care about much more than getting a new car and making your kids perform various scholastic and extracurricular feats for your self gratification. Busy busy country with little sleep and less intellect.

So when you’re sitting in your jail cell, try to remember this. Recall some of the comments here. Also try to remember there are still good people in the world who don’t want you there, even if it is your own fault for inviting it. Or when you visit your friends and relatives in jail, and while you’re photographed and videoed outside, driving, in your homes, listened in on any phones, ID’d and facial recognition, nothing to worry about in THIS country if you aren’t doing anything “wrong”, try to remember YOU wanted this, you asked for it, and you have no one to blame but yourselves. Maybe the later generations will get it. I think pigs will fly first.

MARIJUANA: (wrote this earlier for someone else, hence the polite phrasing)

Marijuana is not toxic
Marijuana is not addictive
Marijuana does NO appreciable physical damage
It is a farce to use driving or working as an excuse
Marijuana helps our sickest people
Marijuana is cheap
Marijuana is helpful when all else fails
Marijuana has other uses which could help us enormously
There are many other ailments for which it can help
Marijuana is a natural chemical
Marijuana can provide peace to sick people
Dosage is safe, easy, and can be easily modified
Marijuana is not the dangerous drug it is portrayed to be
Marijuana is only targeted because the users are the weakest and the substance is the easiest to detect
Marijuana won’t kill our children
Marijuana lacks negative side effects of ALL other pain relievers
We spend billions on targeting marijuana users
Linking marijuana use to terrorism opens the door to tyranny


Marijuana is not toxic. No one will ever die of an overdose or drug interaction from it. This is something that cannot be said of any other pain treatment. All others are addictive narcotics that can kill and DO kill every day.

Marijuana is not addictive. Anyone can use it, and stop the next day. Anyone can change their dosage without fear of becoming addicted. A person can take more or less or stop, without worry and without fear of being drugged out or dangerous withdrawal.

Marijuana does NO appreciable physical damage. This may be the most controversial point, but it has been skewed out of all understanding. Let me be very clear; other substances such as alcohol and tobacco do kill, and they kill every day. It is a fact that they do physical damage; there is nothing theoretical about it. They are addictive, and have little to no medicinal properties. Any damage attributed to marijuana is theoretical and also so miniscule as to be ridiculous compared to the real and proven dangers of prescribed and illicit drugs. Alcohol will kill. Pain killers do kill. Marijuana does not. It has never. There are no proven or suspected long term effects that come anywhere near the scope of those of any other illegal or prescribed pain medication.

It is a farce to use driving or working as an excuse. In reality, it is more common and dangerous to drive drunk or even sleepy than it is to drive under its influence. Additionally, individuals under its influence realize at time, unlike alcohol, that they are impaired, unlike alcohol which deludes these senses. It is an insult to all Americans that we are denied our right to this drug under pretense of operating machinery when we use countless other medical and recreational drugs for which it is illegal to drive, work, etc. It is circular logic without basis; it is already illegal to drive impaired.

Marijuana helps our sickest people. It is very, very helpful to people who have no other recourse because they are too sick, too poor or nothing else works. One woman is the same age as me, and anti-inflammatory medicines no longer work for her because she’s had to take them for so long. There is nothing else to help her chronic arthritis. Please understand me and put yourself in her shoes; she has no recourse for every major joint in her body damaged by athletics, and she isn’t even 40 years old.

Marijuana is cheap. Street prices are artificially high, but it is a plant that will grow literally anywhere in the world. Insurance prices and medical costs are prohibitive for so many people that can’t afford the medicine they need, and this could help people at a small fraction of the cost. How can we deny this to people so poor they choose between medicine and groceries? How can we deny this when medicine for seniors is in desperate need? It is wrong. Sir, it is shamefully wrong. Honestly, I’m ashamed to live in a country that would do this to its own people. It’s what I always thought was so horrible about the USSR and China. They don’t care about their people.

Marijuana is helpful when all else fails. All the statistics and 30 year old studies don’t disprove the testimonies of thousands of people, many of them so old or so sick that saying anything is an effort; why would they lie? These people are going out on a limb, risking their reputations not to mention their freedom and their lives. Why would their families lie? If they were looking for hand outs, that’s what they’d ask for. If they wanted drugs to “get high”, they would be happier with all the prescribed pain killers. You must talk to these people. You must see them and listen to what they say. Please, these people are honestly suffering, and on top of everything else they risk going to jail and losing everything they have. If they could grow their own, they would, but they risk the extreme penalties that growing brings, which though safer than dealing with drug dealers and more ethical, is far stricter than purchasing or using. It is seen as distribution. Medical defense in court is not allowed, and they are accused of growing for sale.

[Whatever]

Page 3 - omg this was longer than I thought!
********************************
Marijuana has other uses which could help us enormously. Marijuana is not only helpful medically; it has so many other uses that it could change the world. It makes rope, we all know. Did you also know that it is more nutritious than Soy? With no THC? We could feed people economically. We could feed our people, and other people. The crop is less draining on the soil than others. It makes paper, and we could stop using trees for that, and it grows in months instead of years. It can be used for automobile fuel, in a diesel, and does not pollute. And these are only a few.

There are many other ailments for which it can help, many more than we currently recognize. Research abroad is beginning to indicate it may actually have cancer fighting properties. Cancer FIGHTING properties, and we can’t even do research. One man is doing research in this country currently.

Marijuana can provide peace to sick people. In addition to bringing pain relief, it gives a feeling of euphoria. This may be immoral, but certainly no more so than alcohol, and it is no excuse to ban it. More importantly, please think of what this means to bedridden patients. Narcotics are depressants, and for seriously ill people it quite literally depresses their entire system. They do not help sick people get better; they help them lay in their bed and quietly die, either still in pain and incapacitated or mindlessly drugged and unable to do anything even talk to their loved ones.

Dosage is safe, easy, and can be easily modified. One very important aspect swept aside. Dosage with narcotics is of course careful, with pills, liquids or shots. Marijuana can be taken in any form. It does not have to be smoked, which completely eliminates all claims of a lung cancer agent. Cancer research sited used insane amounts of smoke that would injure anyone no matter what was being burned. Marijuana can be smoked by patients who cannot hold anything in their stomach due to the nausea. It can be heated and used in a type of vaporizer which does not burn and is not a cancer risk either. It can be ingested or made into a concentrated tincture.
This means that anyone can take it, without fear of overdose or even worry about how. Many patients cannot take pills, and that’s the honest truth. This would allow them to have relief without difficulty, and it doesn’t require trying to break apart a little pill or measure out something. One puff, or two, or three; it’s effects are moderate and this is NOT TRUE OF MARINOL. Many people have a terrible time trying to use Marinol and have a difficult time regulating it. This would save lives. It will help people. We don’t have the right to tell them no. I DON’T EVEN CARE IF IT’S JUST FUNCTIONING AS A PLACEBO; SINCE WHEN WERE PLACEBOS UNLAWFUL?

Marijuana is not the dangerous drug it is portrayed. All is said is that it may cause some type of negative effect, but we aren’t sure what or how. There is no proof that it causes some type of harm that is anywhere near any other drug taken for medicine or pleasure. The scales of comparison are so far off they compare tons to ounces, and this is so unfair it is criminal. It is a lie. There is no justification to outlaw it under some pretense of what it “might” do, when we know what all the others do. Obviously many, many people have used it, and we still have no cases of death, illness or any other tragedy. Any problems due to substances being added, on the street for example, are poor attempts to slant the issue. The issue is nothing about any other substance which could be added, no sick people want it so they can “get” what pushers add, and sick people do whatever they can to find clean marijuana. The illegality of it is the only cause of other substances being added. Patients could grow their own. And it would not be the killer weed of which there is so much fear.

Marijuana is only targeted because the users are the weakest and the substance is the easiest to detect; pursuit of users is in no way proportional to the effects of the drug itself. We put more people in jail for drugs than all other violent crimes combined, 60% of the inmates, and we put more people in jail than any other country in the world. Doesn’t this scare you? Marijuana users are targeted because they are the easiest to catch, and they are being targeted vehemently at present. It has nothing to do with the good of anyone; it is the almighty dollar, and we as a society have fallen for the lie. It is not targeted because it is especially dangerous, or problematic, or to save anyone; it is targeted because it is the easiest to detect. Other drugs have less odor and take up less space. It’s all about the money. NO one is being helped by hunting down the user or sellers. I know people who supply it only because they care about the sick people who are looking for it. Does that sound like something evil or immoral to you? They honestly risk their lives and their welfare to get it for other people. It is a sad, sad country that allows it sickest people to suffer. I’ve always believed that you can judge the health of a society in general by how well it treats it weakest members; the young, the old, the sick and the impaired. We aren’t helping ours; we’re jailing them and watching them suffer. It’s only targeted because it’s easy. We’re attacking the easiest and weakest. Like cowards. All efforts are spend to get more money to build the prisons, drug rehab, etc for many expanding industries now. Sir, some people are making huge amounts of money on the drug war, obviously because the market involves large amounts of money. Who you think the rich people are? Where do you think they live? Do you think they are the young kids on the streets, or do you think maybe they are wealthy, influential, and probably look out of windows over large cities from nice offices? Do you really think payoffs aren’t happening and many people aren’t profiting off the blood money? Don’t you think maybe THEY are the ones who really want the war to continue? Listen, it’s not morals, its business, but who do you really think is running it?

Marijuana won’t kill our children. I don’t want people to take mind altering drugs all the time. I don’t want my kids to smoke pot all the time. But what I really, really don’t want is for my children to be hurt. I want them to be careful, whatever they do, be careful of themselves and others. If they do decide to try something, which I can speak to no more than any other parent, I do hope that they don’t hurt themselves or others. At least if they stole marijuana from someone’s medicine cabinet, to confront the availability issue, it wouldn’t kill them or addict them. It’s safer than the Tylenol. Availability is not an issue or an excuse; it’s just another lie.

Marijuana lacks negative side effects of ALL other pain relievers. Seldom mentioned is the fact that narcotics upset the stomach and slow down the digestive system. I am so, so sick of the lies and lies of omission about this aspect. I have seen the statement that we already have other legal drugs which work just as well as marijuana. This is not true. Patients are seeking it BECAUSE the other legal drugs do not help them. Also, how can you say that we already have safer legal drugs, when the drugs referred to have horrible negative side effects which Marijuana does not have? It is a sinful lie of omission. They make the nausea worse and also cause constipation. They can interact dangerously with other prescribed medication and kill people accidentally. They addict and they depress the entire system. Any one of these effects by themselves are dangerous, and are the very last thing sick people need, especially those dying of wasting illnesses. Marijuana absolutely does not do any of this, and it IS the only substance for which this can be said. Marijuana even helps people eat! It could be seen as a life saving medication for this property alone; how can we do this? How can we be so blinded? When did we become so stupid and cowardly? I am ashamed.

We spend billions on targeting marijuana users.

Linking marijuana use to terrorism opens the door to tyranny. If our rights continue to be suspended in cases of terrorism and subsequently drugs, where does it end? As it is now, any police officer can break into my house in the middle of the night based on a “tip” from anyone. They would beat us into submission, terrorize my children and kill my dogs. With no charge, no drugs and nothing to justify what happened; we would still have no recourse and there is no defense. We would be powerless to stop militant young male police officers from breaking down our door and shoving automatic weapons in our faces. It could happen to anyone. Just like in Germany. No day in court. No jury by peers. No justice. And this isn’t some theory about what some drug might do, maybe, if it’s studied enough and the chemicals examined and named; it’s a fact of life that is happening every day and if you think drugs are dangerous, what do you having your home broken into is? What about jail? What do you think having our homes desecrated under some pretense of morality does, and who do you honestly think it is what wants to do that to us? I can tell you this much, it’s not someone who cares. It’s greed and that’s what’s immoral.

Just don’t say you weren’t warned. Don’t say you didn’t know. And for gods sakes don’t say it was just your job.

[OutGirl]

Wow Whatever. Been drinking too much coffee or what. I feel you but why are you so angry tonight. I'm glad you got that off your chest. To be honest, I didn't read it all but I'm already convinced. I'm a pothead. Have been for 35 yrs. My last girlfriend and I broke up because (among other reasons) she wanted me to stop smoking pot. She thought that it was more important to me than she was. I told her she was right...bye. We had only dated for 7months. My relationship with Mary Jane has lasted since 1969. What else could I do?

[Whatever]

Guest-OutGirl said:

Wow Whatever. Been drinking too much coffee or what. I feel you but why are you so angry tonight. I'm glad you got that off your chest. To be honest, I didn't read it all but I'm already convinced. I'm a pothead. Have been for 35 yrs. My last girlfriend and I broke up because (among other reasons) she wanted me to stop smoking pot. She thought that it was more important to me than she was. I told her she was right...bye. We had only dated for 7months. My relationship with Mary Jane has lasted since 1969. What else could I do?

Hi outgirl
Nah, I was angry last year I wrote that last June, or at least that was when I saved it last. Yeah, when my kid came down with Chrons, and MJ turned out to be one of the viable treatements (but not in THIS damn country), I got even more ticked off about the War on Some Drugs. When I rant, I rant!

Now, with Ashcroft doing his damage and all, I've just about given up on the midwest. Stubborn can be good, but it can get you killed too. People seem too stubborn to admit their wrong; too stubborn to live. Lemmings.

When you sit down and think about ALL the facts about the drug situation in this country, and especially MJ, it can drive you nuts. It makes me want to grab everyone on the other end of the CA forum and shake them, as a friend says, until they fizz. Wake the fuck up people!

Sigh. But I'm better now Sorry about your gal; obviously wasn't the right one for you You can do better I'm sure! Come to some NORML functions, you'll meet some very nice people who won't think you're an idiot if you'd rather toke than drink.

It's MONDAY again

[RS Davis]

Wow! That was quite a rant! I moved it all into one thread, as you can see. It just seemed a bit easier to read, so more people should read it now.

Why do we do this in this country? Alcohol, marijuana - we lock our kids away, scared, and fail them. We never teach them moderation, temperance. And then they get some and go crazy.

We lie to them about the effects, and then they try it, find it's nothing like the reports indicate, and wonder what else we've been lying about. Heroin, maybe?

The truth is, throughout history and today, many productive people have and do smoke pot regularly. I know dozens off the top of my head. Here are some more:

Montel Williams - talk show host
Pancho Villa - revolutionary
Aaron Sorkin - creator, West Wing
Rodney Dangerfield - comedian, movie star
Bing Crosby - wholesome crooner
Merle Haggard - musician
Willie Nelson - musician, tax evader
Larry Hagman - actor, genie slavemaster
Bob Marley - musician, beacon of freedom
George Harrison - musician
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - athelete
Louis Armstrong - musician, satchmo
Margaret Mead - anthropologist, author
Paul McCartney - musician, knight
Carl Sagan - scientist, author
Alexander Dumas - author, The Three Muskateers
Allen Ginsberg - poet
Arnold Schwarzenegger - actor, governor
Bruce Lee - actor, athelete, legend
Charles Beaudelaire - author
Count Basie - legendary band leader
Friedrich Nietzsche - philosopher
Joan of Arc - messenger of God
Lewis Carroll - author
Oscar Wilde - author
Pablo Picasso - artist
Pierre Elliot Trudeau - Former Prime Minister of Canada
P. J. O'Rouke - Author, libertarian hero
Robert Anton Wilson - Philosopher
Rudyard Kipling - Author
Samuel Beckett - Author
Samuel Taylor Coleridge - Author
Steve Jobs - co-creator of the Apple computer
Steven Soderbergh - Film director
Stephen Sondheim - Broadway composer and lyricist
Walter Benjamin - Philosopher
William Butler Yeats - Famous Irish Poet
William S. Burroughs - Author
William Shakespeare - The most famous playwright ever
Peter B Lewis - CEO, Progressive Insurance


And that's justthe ones I had the energy to transcribe. A note from a former Drug Czar:

"Non-addicted users still comprise the vast bulk of our drug-involved population. The non-addicted casual or regular user...is likely to have a still-intact family, social, and work life. He is still likely to 'enjoy' his drug for the pleasure it offers." -William Bennet, Drug Czar, 1st Bush Administration

- Rick

Further reading:

Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed and What We Can Do About It: A Judicial Indictment of the War on Drugs by James P. Gray

Saying Yes: In Defense of Drug Use by Jacob Sullum

[whatever]

RS said:

Wow! That was quite a rant! I moved it all into one thread, as you can see. It just seemed a bit easier to read, so more people should read it now.

Why do we do this in this country? Alcohol, marijuana - we lock our kids away, scared, and fail them. We never teach them moderation, temperance. And then they get some and go crazy.

We lie to them about the effects, and then they try it, find it's nothing like the reports indicate, and wonder what else we've been lying about. Heroin, maybe?

The truth is, throughout history and today, many productive people have and do smoke pot regularly. I know dozens off the top of my head. Here are some more:

Montel Williams - talk show host and many more


- Rick

Thanks for doing that Rick. One day I'll have to pick through it and salvage useful bits. But, yeah, that was my major malfunction; post too long, and I didn't notice error message the first time.

I feel the same way you do about doing that to our kids too. I don't understand how it can have gotten to this point, and it's gone on much longer than "Prohibition". I think what bothers me the absolute most is that people don't perceive the drug war as being harmful, just the "drugs". So there isn't any way they can see the real damage it's doing to almost all of us, in one way or another. "They" also don't see the numbers growing, and don't realize it's upside down for our nation to jail the most per capita.

And that's why I'm a card-carrying member of NORML. From what I can see, the war on drugs, along with the rest of the wars, is the prime vehicle to subvert our rights and control us. Like a resource. Marijuana is now the prime target of the drug war, so it's my political cause as well as personal one

[RS Davis]

whatever said:

From what I can see, the war on drugs, along with the rest of the wars, is the prime vehicle to subvert our rights and control us. Like a resource. Marijuana is now the prime target of the drug war, so it's my political cause as well as personal one

That is an astute observation. If you look at the history of this country, we have lost more of our civil liberties in times of war than any other time. The Civil War, both World Wars, Vietnam, now the War on Terra.

Orwell knew this. In 1984, he illustrated this point very well, as the State kept the people in perpetual war to control them.

Our politicians have found more pragmatic ways of keeping us in perpetual war even in peace time. It's called The War on Drugs, The War on Poverty, etc...

- Rick

[whatever]

RS said:

That is an astute observation. If you look at the history of this country, we have lost more of our civil liberties in times of war than any other time. The Civil War, both World Wars, Vietnam, now the War on Terra.

Orwell knew this. In 1984, he illustrated this point very well, as the State kept the people in perpetual war to control them.

Our politicians have found more pragmatic ways of keeping us in perpetual war even in peace time. It's called The War on Drugs, The War on Poverty, etc...

- Rick

Yup

[Chad]

well said whatever,

i can only hope that more people will read that, and u r right-- mary jane is mot addictive and leglizing it would solve a lot of jail overpop. problembs and gain revenue for the central goverment

hope you guys get more views on this thread, because one or two peeps cant do it alone, but thats the minority for you- educated and active (or just b****ie) versus the ignorant and passive majorty

regards
Chad

[RS Davis]

Guest-Chad said:

well said whatever,

i can only hope that more people will read that, and u r right-- mary jane is mot addictive and leglizing it would solve a lot of jail overpop. problembs and gain revenue for the central goverment

hope you guys get more views on this thread, because one or two peeps cant do it alone, but thats the minority for you- educated and active (or just b****ie) versus the ignorant and passive majorty

regards
Chad

Hey Chad! Nice to see ya! Sign up and join in. By the way, don't worry about censorig your words around here - we don't give a fuck.

- Rick

[whatever]

Guest-Chad said:

well said whatever,

i can only hope that more people will read that, and u r right-- mary jane is mot addictive and leglizing it would solve a lot of jail overpop. problembs and gain revenue for the central goverment

hope you guys get more views on this thread, because one or two peeps cant do it alone, but thats the minority for you- educated and active (or just b****ie) versus the ignorant and passive majorty

regards
Chad

Thank you Chad my longest rant ever
I think...

[RS Davis]

whatever said:

Thank you Chad my longest rant ever
I think...

You've been ranting on BM for a couple days now... ;D

- Rick

[whatever]

RS said:

You've been ranting on BM for a couple days now... ;D

- Rick

Oh Rick, I am so miserable. CJ signed off his own website. This was all posted btw, Front Door, not private email, though I address him directly and it sounds like it.

Raksha wrote:
CJ, CJ, CJ...you'll never be on my shit list I'm sure you could make me sad, 'cause I like ya and I'd feel bad if you were upset with the virtual me, but not mad. Sorry dear, you just too cute, in your virtual way

I just wish you hadn't popped off there and said you weren't going back to CA. I know, it's no big deal and I'm sure you're tired of that mess. But, I still wish you hadn't, and it prompted the invocation of cursing.

cjyjtj wrote:
You're one of the few from CA that I still want anything to do with. After some comments from folks I thought

a. knew what was going on and why I was constantly on Barmax's case

b. were reasonably close to being forum "friends"

...I have no desire to return. I noticed only one person there who was on my side, and that was you.

Thus, screw the bunch of them. Only one other person knew what Barmax was really up to, and understood or made an effort to.

But... they wanted Barmax... they've got him. They can enjoy giving him his "victory."


I must admit, though, I still chuckle over Barmax's claim I posted that he had sex with cats. Never did. Others did, but not me. I just posted all those cat pictures with some taunts, and he let his mind do the rest. Of course, he had help from Homer_Jay and a few others who took the ball and were explicit. Barmax just wasn't bright enough to catch on that I never did.

And finally today he wrote:

It's been a pleasure, but I'm outta here.

I thought I left STLToday behind, but it now invades this place. When i propsed setting up these forums to VB, it was to provide a different place, a different atmosphere from STLToday.

However, the recent illness from their moderators has spilled over here, and I'm damned if I defend myself and damned if I don't.

I tried locking the thread for a few days, and I caught grief. I unlocked it, and the shit started again.

So have at it, gang. I'm getting out of STLToday, and if this place is turning into an adjunct, I don't need it, either.

I take great pleasure in knowing I don't use this name elsewhere, and I can finally be free of STLToday.

I can see Barmax celebrating now, because you let him make it unpleasant enough here that I bolted, as well. You people must really love the guy. Between Nota's defense and efforts to get in good with them and some of the comments I've seen about me lately, I don't get it, but I no longer need to.

I'm so bummed.

[RS Davis]

whatever said:

Oh Rick, I am so miserable. CJ signed off his own website. This was all posted btw, Front Door, not private email, though I address him directly and it sounds like it.

I'm so bummed.

Well he is welcome here. The only problem I ever have with him is he can be rude sometimes when he disagrees with a person. But that's more irritating than infuriating. It's because he's smart - he can get under your skin. I think I called him a dick once, on STLToday. But oh well. I hope he finds some happiness wherever he goes.

- Rick