Daily Topics - Tuesday November 16th, 2010
By shawnt56
Please Welcome David Sirota of AM 760 Colorado's Progressive Talk in for Thom today!
Quote of the Day: “In prison, those things withheld from and denied to the prisoner become precisely what he wants most of all.”
Eldridge Cleaver
Hour One: The politics of illegal drugs, racism and incarceration - NYU Professor of Clinical Law and former public defender Anthony Thompson will be here www.law.nyu.edu/faculty/index.htm
Hour Two: "Decision Points" by George W. Bush - Former FEMA Director Michael Brown talks about the book and his old boss www.koaradio.com/pages/michaelbrown.html
Hour Three: What the *$@*?! Too much profanity in prime time? - Hollywood Reporter columnist Lindsay Powers will be here www.hollywoodreporter.com
Comments
#2
There is too much and not enough profanity in prime time, and that depends upon what is "profane."
Words and sounds are profane? The showing of the human body is profane, but without respect to the beauty of the human body?
The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television (George Carlin) shows an observation of really perverted values. Showing people making love is evil, but showing people killing each other is somehow laudable?
Just how perverted are we?
#3
Alexander Hamilton had the attitude that favored a new kingdom and a king; pretty much the model of the time.
Read Schirer's reporting of the Third Reich. Hitler took upon himself all of the powers of government. That anyone would be surprised is unfortunate; megalomaniacs and sociopaths behave in this manner regardless of geography.
#4
Re: Marijuana charges
First of all, marijuana is not an addictive substance, is not a "drug" but an herb. People don't go to rehab just to get off of marijuana. Marijuana use is not costing society healthcare costs. Secondly, possession of "personal use" amounts should be a misdeamonor, if enforced at all. Lastly, people don't commit crimes to buy marijuana. It is not that expensive and there is not the addictive drive to obtain marijuana that motivates theft and marijuana does not cause the personality changes that addictive substances do. Therefore, there is NO justification for treating violation of possession laws for marijuana that warrant such extreme consequences as a felony record would demand.
If possession of marijuana is on one's record, it should be expunged before the age of 25 at the latest. It should NOT be the cause of losing one's right to vote, student financial aid or employment!
#5
I forgot to add that marijuana use does not cause violent crimes. Unless eating and falling asleep are now criminal acts under this oppressive regime we are building, the use of marijuana should be treated as the relatively harmless behavior that it exhibits. One caveat: It does result in impairment that interferes with the ability to drive. Therefore, I would still argue that it should be enforced as "driving while impaired." However, the behavior that would have consequences would be the act of driving not the act of marijuana use.
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If marijuana was an occasional treat for President George Washington, it seems that there is no problem with use.
If there is a problem with chronic use of marijuana, that is a medical issue. Harry Anslinger pushed prohibition of marijuana because he wanted to keep his profession alive after the repeal of alcohol prohibition.
It's evident that punishment is not a deterrent, but works for the politicians and their donors. The private prison industry wants stoners to fill cells because they're generally not violent.