Age of Reason

First, let me congratulate our new President, Barak Obama. Although, I don't agree with his economic ideas, it appears that he will renew some of our civil liberties and revive some of our national image in the world. I am optimistic, even if he turns out to be a miserable president he would still be leagues better than the last individual to occupy the oval office.

That being said, it appears that "Baraknaphobia", as aptly coined by Jon Stewart, seems to be deeply entrenched and running rampant in certain branches of pseudo-journalism. I'll let you guess which cable info-tainmet channel is guilty of such crimes. What's particularly gnawing about their juvenile attempts to cast the President in a quasi-demonic light is not their palpable desperation, or unfounded illogical bouts of ad hominems, but their lingering delusion that George W. Bush was a conservative. I just read a column by Jack Hunter in the Charleston City Paper . It nearly brought tears of joy to my eyes, I didn't think there was any true conservative left in journalism. He actually used rational and logical reasoning to elaborate a very lucid argument. To briefly summarize his point, he says Bush was very successful at expanding the size and power of the Federal government, attacked intellectualism and destroyed our national image and security abroad. This is to say nothing of his disregard for the constitution and civil liberties. In short he sullied the title "conservative" and perhaps paved the way for the ultimate demise of the GOP. It's my opinion that if Republicans continue to use such tactics they will find their way sitting next to the Whig party in the attic of history.

Ultimately my point is that I'm not the only one crying in the wilderness for a modicum of sanity. Its nice to know that Mr. Hunter is their too, along with all those delightful chaps at the Cato institute and the Campaign for Liberty. What's sad is that the greater portion of those who defend the former president take the drivel that falls from the lips of so called conservative pundits at face value. They live in an alternate reality devoid of reason and facts, called cable-news networks. A magical land where red faced talking heads yell at each other in order to create fantastic theater to amuse and entertain the viewing public. Here, defending their party lines simply means increasing their bottom line. Every fiery piece of rhetoric they spew, no matter how supercilious, increases their chances of landing on them the New York Times best seller list. It's not Journalism it's a farce. Although, I do have to give them points for being true capitalists. Jefferson said "Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty." People will not be educated with a steady diet of MSNBC or Foxnews.


"I'd turn off my TV if i were you" -attributed to Tom Jefferson

This is why Mr. Hunter's article was so welcome. I admire simple logic. I also enjoy forums in which people can simply debate issues like civilized individuals, showing respect and deference to those of differing opinions. Here's another idea, why don't we go into a discussion with the thought that we might be wrong? We might learn more that way. This is another item that I hope President Obama will bring, a return to a forum of debate based upon mutual respect and an exchange of ideas. Who knows what that might bring?

A Case for Mary Jane

Today people in the state of Michigan will find the ballot measure Proposition 1 when they step into the voting booth. This concerns the legalization of medical marijuana. I don’t live in Michigan and will not suggest how they should vote, but I support this measure based on simple facts. It would benefit our nation, not just the state of Michigan.

For those of you conjuring an image of me as a longhaired Berkley-ite hippy traipsing about with flowers in my hair singing folk songs, I applaud your originality, but truth is stranger than fiction. I have short hair, I live in Texas and for the record, I have never nor do I ever plan on using marijuana. I also abstain from alcohol tobacco, and any other harmful and addictive substance. That is a personal choice based on my health and moral values. I also, in no way endorse their use. So on what paradoxical conundrum do I support proposition 1? None of the arguments against this particular weed stand scrutiny.

The first fallacy is that Marijuana as a harmful drug. It is true that smoking pot is far from intelligent, but looking at statistics it is far less of a danger than many legal substances sanctioned and subsidized by our Federal government. According to the CDC there are approximately 440,000 annual deaths each year that are smoking-associated within the USA. That figure is 1.2 million deaths in Europe according to the European Heart Network. The WHO states that smoking is estimated to cause 10 million deaths per year worldwide by 2020. Those are grim butchers bills for a legal substance sanctioned by our government.

How about Alcohol? Over than 100,000 deaths in the U.S. are caused by excessive alcohol use annually. Causes of death are direct and indirect. They include drunk driving, falls, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, and stroke. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse states that Alcohol kills 6½ times more youth than all other illicit drugs combined. Once again, a very bleak substance that is lethal to thousands yearly.

So naturally, in order to merit illegality, marijuana must have catastrophic figures representing an epidemic of death and dismemberment. The truth is far different. The US Drug Abuse Warning Network states that ”An exhaustive search of the literature finds no credible reports of deaths induced by marijuana. (DAWN) records instances of drug mentions in medical examiners' reports, and though marijuana is mentioned, it is usually in combination with alcohol or other drugs. Marijuana alone has not been shown to cause an overdose death.” So once again, in case you missed it that number was zero. Cigarettes kill 440,000 Alcohol kills 100,000 and the nefarious cannabis kills 0. Which one do you think should be illegal?
The next argument is that marijuana is a terrible gateway drug that leads to harder substances like heroin or cocaine. Once again lets look at the facts. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Youth who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than those who never drink alcohol. Similar statistics could be said of cigarettes. We could infer that experimentation of stimulants of any kind in some instances leads to curiosity about more dangerous ones. However, a 12-year University of Pittsburgh study alleges that marijuana is not a “gateway” drug or that it predicts or eventually leads to substance abuse. Again, tobacco and alcohol seem to be greater proliferates of hard drugs.

The issue that marijuana is associated with criminal behavior and violence is actually a case for its legalization. The prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s created an environment in which organized crime thrived. Upon its repeal all crime related to alcohol trafficking naturally ceased and along with it all the liquor wars fought between gangs.
There is a financial toll levied by our drug laws. The FBI statistics show that arrests for marijuana possession -- not sales or trafficking, just possession -- totaled 738,916. By comparison, there were 611,523 arrests last year for all violent crimes combined. Those 738,916 people would not be burdening our criminal justice system if we legalized marijuana. It is estimated that in California alone marijuana related offenses cost the state over $100 million dollars annually.

Further statistics indicate the cost of our drug war at $42 billion. This figure comes to us according to a new study by researcher Jon Gettman, Ph.D. Our current marijuana laws cost us $10.7 billion in direct law enforcement costs, and $31.1 billion in lost tax revenues. This astronomical cost could completely avoided if we realized that this drug is far less dangerous than its legal counter parts.

The moral argument is more abstract than others that can be assailed with statistics. It is clear, however that we are duplicitous in regard to concerns over health. Our misguided hypocrisy clearly favors industries with lobbying power in our legislative branch. Still doesn’t legalizing marijuana seem to send a mixed signal to our youth if we don’t want them experimenting? I affirm that this is a moot argument. We as parents should be actively engaged in teaching our children about the dangers that exists in the world regardless of what our government thinks. We should stop having our government legislate morality and make sure that it’s addressed in under our own roofs rather than under the rotunda. I don’t want my family constrained under someone else’s morality, and neither should you.

Actions speak louder

"what is past is prologue"
-William Shakespeare

The attitude of the American people has always been one of hope. A hope that the rays that illuminate us tomorrow will shine greater than those of today. Even with the great tides of apathy that have consumed many in the latter part of the previous century, we still believe America is great and will retain it's greatness. So it was with Rome, their hubris exceeded their reason and effort. Theirs was an ignominious conclusion. Let us not follow their example, but rather give energy to that American optimism. It is the same optimism that energized the founders and gave courage to the countless huddled masses who yearned to breath in liberty upon this free nation. In both cases, their hope alone failed to produce a nation conceived in liberty. Their efforts upon that optimism, built this great nation. That is the example we must emulate, action.

We the people formed this great nation, not a single leader or a small conglomerate of the elite. Jefferson's intellect and Washington's leadership were hollow without the musket and ball of the minuteman. We the people. The masses united but fierce in independence, create the unique paradox that is America. We the ordinary citizens stand as the ones responsible for the destiny of this country. Some where along the way we allowed our government to swell to large and permitted lobbyists to convince us that the decisions are better left with them. They effectively brainwashed us to think that the individual has no real power. He simply has a vote which is little more than a quaint tradition. Money is the new substance of the election. The truth is quite different. People still posses power as long as they act.

This is not a pleasant fiction spun by idealists and dreamers; it is quickly becoming reality. We all know of the up coming election. Many of us are already disenchanted. Money, as always, seems to be the power behind the candidate. Those with deep pockets or individuals who appeal with those who posses them seem to glide forward in the polls. The apathy once again strikes us, emasculating our wills and lulling us into that familiar state of helplessness. Not so for everyone. A group of passionate supporters have decided to fight fire with fire.

On the 5th of November Congressman Ron Paul received around 5 million dollars in donations toward his campaign. The interesting thing to note about the money raised is that it came mostly from individuals. Unions, special interest groups, Hollywood and the powerful elite failed to make the list. You can guess who they like. Congressman Paul is perceived as a fringe candidate with unorthodox views. Clearly those perceptions aren't being created from the vox populi, but from other source. It seems as though people are raising their voice in the form of green backs if that's what the occasion calls for.

These actions strike back at the jeers that challenge our individual strength. You may not agree with Congressman Paul's politics or platform, but he clearly has inspired many to shake of apathetic feelings and act. That action is what is required to restore our power as a people. I heartily endorse him, and believe he would do this nation much good. I don't expect anyone to blindly follow my views, but to carefully study the issues. Act with reason and logic, not fear and emotionalism. Let's not follow the cycles set forth by the empires of the past. We cannot afford to let a chosen few decide the fate of our nation and let them weaken it through pride and corruption. Don't take my word for it, open a history book and act.