OFFERING THE STRAIGHT DOPE ON DRUGS, PRISONS AND POLITICS

It's astonishing to me how anyone can, with a straight face, call our
political system a Democracy. A Democracy, according to my dictionary
is: "A form of governance in which political power resides in all the
people." Well the overwhelming majority of the people of this Country
elected Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election.

The people of California gave the OK to use marijuana for medical
purposes, but six individuals setting on the U.S. Supreme Court said
no. They didn't strike down the California law that permitted
marijuana to be used for medical purposes but at the same time said
the federal ban on all marijuana use should also be observed.

Doesn't that sound like double speak to you?

That ban came about and is kept alive by pure hysterical hype and no
real facts.

Two who campaigned the most to have marijuana banned was Harry J.
Anslinger, the first director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and
William Randolph Hearst. Of course, they were supported in their
efforts by the Dupont chemical company and various pharmaceutical
companies who were afraid of real competition. To say their campaign
kept to the truth is a tremendous exaggeration. Among other things
Anslinger claimed that, "Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug
in the history of mankind," and, "You smoke a joint and you're likely
to kill your brother." Hearst put his vast propaganda machine of 28
major papers, 18 magazines, numerous radio stations and movie
companies to work vilifying marijuana, not because of his concern for
his fellow man. He was more interested in his huge investments in the
wood pulp industry. Check out this website if your interested in the
truth.www.askmen.com/sports/health/20b-mens-health.html.

A Dr. William C. Woodward almost spoiled their legislative endeavor
by slamming Anslinger and the Bureau of Narcotics for distorting AMA
statements that had nothing to do with marijuana which caused the AMA
to appear to endorse the ban. Dr. Woodward was also critical of them
using the word marijuana to hide the fact that they were really
outlawing cannabis or hemp. Dr. Woodward was the legislative council
of the American Medical Association.

Did you know we have a bigger prison population than Russia or China?
We wouldn't if certain individuals weren't making a lot of money from
it. For instance in 2002 California got $143 million for
incarcerating illegal aliens and certain Cuban nationals.

To verify this you can contact the State Criminal Alien Assistance
Program (SCAAP) at 1-888-549-9901 (option4). There are of course
other ways states add to their treasury through incarcerated inmates
as well. They're making so much dough I'm surprised they don't outlaw
sugar, Oops, now that I gave them the idea they might.

Sorry about that. I believe laws should punish you for what you have
done, not what you have.

In case you haven't heard, InEnTec won their appeal.

There's another case where the people's wishes don't count.

A person's high position doesn't mean he or she knows what he is
talking about or that he is truthful. Haven't we learned that from
President Bush yet!

Steve Rosen, a senior staffer at the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC) is being investigated by the FBI for spying.

Of course, nothing will come of it because of the overwhelming
influence of American Zionists. We're the main support of Israel,
even fight their wars and they have the audacity to spy on us.
Ex-President Carter is taking heat now because of his recent book. In
it he explains why the Palestinians and Jews can't seem to get along.

The plain facts of the matter is that the Israelis keep reneging on
their agreements and treating the Palestinians like mangy dogs. Sorta
like the way we treated the Indians over a 100 years ago.

Mr. Bush after being informed by the Iraq commission that his shotgun
approach in Iraq is a disaster, decided to change his strategy by
sending over more troops.

He is also salivating over the prospect of taking Iran. If he does,
he risks a nuclear confrontation with both China and Russia. If Bush
isn't stupid, he must be insane!

We, long ago, lost the moral high ground in this conflict, actually,
we threw it away when we started this fiasco.

Cheney is set to receive a $33 million retirement from Halliburton.
Would that have anything to do with the no bid contracts Halliburton
has gotten from the Pentagon these last few years?

Now, one more time, why are we over there?

Some say, well if Iraq attacked us shouldn't we retaliate?

The obvious answer is sure, but she didn't and that's a fact. Going
by what if this or that had happened is pointless. What actually
happened is what we should be concerned about. Lastly could we drop
the subject of how terrible ruthless and dangerous Saddam Hussein
was. We hung his old carcass already, so, he shouldn't be in today's equation.

He's history now, OK?