INAPPROPRIATE E-MAILED ACCUSATIONS MAKE STATE REP. LOOK LIKE DOPE

"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong." -Voltaire.

"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain
occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive." -Thomas Jefferson.

"Drop a dime and I'll break you off something proper..."-Ice Cube

I was under the impression that in America, politicians have to do
what we tell them. Now that may sound a little harsh, forward or even
like reverse fascism, but that really is a representative government
stripped to its purest form. We elect "politicians" and they are
supposed to represent the interests of their "constituents."

Apparently, newly elected New Hampshire State Representative Delmar
Burridge hasn't received his orientation yet. Seems that Burridge is
on the committee overseeing discussion of House Bill 92. For those
out of the loop, H.B. 92 would remove the criminal penalties for
possession of marijuana. The bill is sponsored by Keene State's own
Chuck Weed, poli-sci prof. by day and N.H. state rep by night.

Anyway, KSC student Toby Iselin took notice of the proposition, and
wrote an e-mail to Burridge. Here's an excerpt:

"I know you are opposed to this bill, but I trust you can understand
how important of an issue this is to many people both in Keene and
the rest of New Hampshire. I hope you will consider passing it
through committee so that all sides will have their chance to speak on it."

It appears to me that this kind of message is exactly what our
country needs more of: young people getting involved in their local
government. Thomas Jefferson would be proud.

What happened next is Orwellian in nature, the kind of thing that
would have been shocking before we all started living in "1984",
approximately five and a half years ago. Rep. Burridge responded to
Iselin's e-mail by saying he didn't care about his constituents and
that for personal reasons (weed killed his brother) he would vote no
on the bill. He went on to tell tales from his days working in "the
poorest section in Philadelphia", where he stood "eyeball to eyeball"
with "reefer users" who had devastated their families through use of
the demon weed.

Burridge then told Iselin "change all your friends," then dropped
some tactics on the Gestapo tip. I'm not even going to paraphrase
this, you just need to read it.

"You are very passionate in your beliefs and would make a great
snitch. It is thrilling to dime on your so called friends."

Wow. Instead of bowing to the will of the people as is his appointed
duty, Burridge tried to get this poor, na've kid who apparently
believed in a representative government to narc out his friends just
for what they choose to do to/for themselves.

Ronald Reagan once said "I don't believe in a government that
protects us from ourselves." Of course, he also said, "Say NO to
drugs!" Okay, he was senile. Nobody's perfect.

No matter where you stand on the issue of marijuana
decriminalization, you should be appalled that a so-called public
servant would hold a personal grudge over the needs of the people.

This modern-day Harry Anslinger is using his power as a government
official to block decriminalization of marijuana. Anslinger was the
United States' first drug czar, and he was adamant about making
marijuana a crime, mostly because it was making the Mexicans too lazy
and the blacks too uppity.

Burridge wants to keep it illegal because his brother died in a car
crash after smoking a joint. Newsflash: if you can't drive a car
after smoking a joint, don't. There are plenty of people who can
handle that, but it doesn't really matter anyway since H.B. 92 has
nothing to do with any DUI laws. Alcohol is legal, but you're not
supposed to drive a car after that. I'm sure if Burridge's brother
had died in a car crash after pounding some Wild Turkey, he would be
pushing to make alcohol illegal too.

If you think that the government officials we elect should do what
the public wants them to do, do your part to get Delmar Burridge out
of office. If you think that people should be able to control what
they put in their own body without the government, then push for H.B.
92 to be passed. I'm going to leave you with a couple more quotes
from people slightly smarter than me.

"The government is merely a servant -- merely a temporary servant; it
cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is
wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to
obey orders, not originate them."-Mark Twain

"Excuse me while I light my spliff."-Bob Marley