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How to Fix It: Lose the Drug War

September/October 2008 Issue


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"We are the jailingest motherfuckers on the planet. More than that, the number of violent offenders in federal prisons has gone down to its lowest level ever in the history of the country—in the single digits, by the Bureau of Prisons' own statistics. And the political party that let this get out of control? It was the Democrats. The drug war has actually destroyed the deterrent in inner cities by teaching whole police departments to chase drug stats when they should be solving crimes. And, of course, because they can't put all those people in prison, it doesn't even work as a draconian policy. Most people are just thrown back onto the street. A smart politician could cite all these things, and we could stop the madness. But everyone's worried that the little old lady in Terre Haute is going to think you're soft on drugs. I think all the little old ladies in Terre Haute get it. The American people are smarter than politicians give them credit for. If McCain came to a Democratic Congress with reforms, I think he'd be a hero to moderates everywhere, because do you know people who believe in the drug war? I don't know if there's a cop in Baltimore who believes in it except as a means of getting overtime pay, hoard pay. I think everybody knows except the government."

Read an extended interview with David Simon about the Bush legacy here.


 

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I would totally agree with David Simons analysis of the contrarian results of the Feds Misguilded 'Drug War' Policies during (though he did not name Bill Clinton directly) the Democratic Clinton Presidency, except on one point; it wasn't the Democrats fault!
Why would I defend, Him, Them, and what happened during his stewardship - other then the fact that, largely because of Bill and Hill, I NOW AM ONE? (i.e.: I grew up a 'Regean Democrat' though I simply didn't realized it at first; and you can thank 'Pork Barrel Tip O'Neil', Jimmy Carter!)
I'll answer that Question with another Question: name me ONE Clinton Inspired and/or Originated Policy (Social or otherwise; sans Balancing the Budget) Initiative - one piece of Dem Sponsored Legislation - that wasn't "Monica Lewinskyed' into Oblivion by those Mother[deleted]ers in 'The KKKontract with Amerikkka' KKKrowd!
I just can't see blaming Bill and Hill -who, in my Opinion, were the bset thing since Sliced Bread - for any failures to enact or flawed enactment of ANY Programs or Policies under their watch!
Note that, as a Medicinal Cannabis Activist and Chronic Pain sufferer, I have more at stake in regards to these issues than most. You see, since 9/11, I've been 'Total Informationed' to the point that my Civil Liberties have been abolished; because - so I've been 'On A Line Informed' - I might 'share' my Herb with Innocent Children, or some such Schmaltz.
Though this, apparently, got me marked as a "Terrorist"; I just don't understand why having Pot on hand is any different than having the potentially DEADLY Oxycontin and/or Methadone - both of which I Voluntarily QUIT after becomming a 'Patient' in 2002 - on hand.
Aren't those Pills 'sharable' too?!?
If you knew how many NAZI Thugs have tried to buy them from me.....
Worse yet, though Housing for me is considered "Medically Necessary" - and this 'Right' - or 'entitlement' - is supposed to be 'protected' under 'The Americans with Disabilities Act'; I lost my Humble Apartment after an L.A. Police Chiefs Son tried to Rip Me Off - and I live in Portland, OR.!
Worse yet; ever since that NAZI Pig stunt forced me to go back on Methadone, I've been repeatedly accused of being a former Heroine Addict and told that I, "Shouldn't Complain; since if I didn't want to do the Methadone, then I shouldn't have done the Heroine".
Just to be clear: I've NEVER EVER used Heroine, and thus I take Methadone ONLY BECAUSE I'M IN PAIN AND I 'WORE OUT' THE LESS POWERFUL DRUGS MANY YEARS AGO!!!
Though I HAVE Used Pot for 30+ years - and I did "come out from under the rock' (so to speak) in 1999; it was only because I've always had PAIN to treat and - for 20+ years, starting at age 11 - a JOB to go to!!!
My troubles only began when, at Age 14, I was labled a 'Drug Addict'; as this led not only to my current predicament, but also caused me to be refused proper Medical Treatment on more than one occassion.
You see; as long as I refuse '12 Step therapy' - and Jesus (I'm a Buddhist) - then the Drug Abuser label has stayed with me - despite all of the accumulating evedence to the contrary.
Though Doctors have, for the bulk of my life, been told that I have 'Decievers Disease', and things like the Depression caused by my Bi-Polar and Serious Chronic Pain caused by my Neuropathy (it's just like having M.S.)have thus either gone undiagnosed - or, worse yet, have been misdiagnosed as the symptoms of my NONEXISTANT Drug Abuse instead; when I was Age 21 (Bi-Polar) and 37 (Neuropathy), they were finally recognized!
Though; since these diagnosis came through in 1986 and 2001, and I'm thus now my S.S.D.; you'd think that my problems were finally over, you;d be WRONG!
This is because my S.S.A. Apps and Appeals - as well as my Circulating Medical Records - have been 'Patriot Act Abused' into an Inaccurate State, in order to spare the Fed from the Law Suit that I've threatened them with over their repoeated violations of my disabled Rights; and NO DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT [deleted]!!!
They've labeled my 'Crazy' - and left me with NO 'Federal Level' Acknowledgement of my Neuropathy, while telling me that "Leaving Jesus (to become a Buddhist) is CRAZY, and it SHOULD BE PAINFUL"!!!
Again - to my knowledge - No Democrats have had anything to do with these kinds of 'Not Secure in my Documnets' anymore Patriot Act Abuses; as it's that 32% who still 'like W' who've been behind the whole thing (although some Jews who were lied to - or who I fired - have taken a few swipes at me too; I don't blame you for attacking NAZI's, I'm just NOT ONE OF THEM DAMNIT!)
Thanks for listening - if the Fed actually let this E-mail go through, that is! I LOVE My Mommy!
Posted by:James C. StaplesSeptember 22, 2008 4:26:13 PMRespond ^

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