But, seriously -- has anybody at The Stranger ever considered simply not doing drugs? I promise you'd be a lot less preoccupied with this issue then.

You can replace the word "drug" with any word you want and the statement will still be true.

The changes will come only when the media (half of whom do or did drugs) make the politicians (half of whom did or do drugs) fess up -- en masse -- and face their huge moral hypocrisy on this issue. You've got to shame the politicians who did drugs, yet do nothing about those rotting in jail for doing drugs.

http://www.therealdifference.org/issues.html

In no instance do I see an issue where people from Slog or its readers would, by and large, absolutely agree with the Green Party position, and abhor the Democrat Party position.

The whole sycophantic ranting about BHO is ridiculous because in no instance would he ever give you anything that you ever want!

A whole host of Dems made their way through the 80s telling a bunch of other people what they could and couldn't think, do, smoke, fuck, etc...

Hopefully we'll live long enough to see them eat their words.

Read my lips, people:

http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/socjustice.html#1001998

Section H. Criminal Justice

"30. We call for an end to the "war on drugs." We support expanded drug counseling and treatment. "

If you want government to have less control of people's lives, the most realistic way to do it (electing a libertarian is not realistic) is to strive for divided government.

Who cares if Biden changes? It's actually better for us if he doesn't.

Because, until this last round, the VP was pretty much the most unimportant person in politics. So let's use Biden to smack those "Dems aren't tough on crime" douchebags around. Then, when the election is over, we can send him out to pasture. Because that's what a VP is for.

... The power brokers are convinced that they can maintain control with no serious challenge. They have it wrong!

... We will challenge them on all fronts - in every state and at all levels of government. Individual liberty must be our goal. Peace and prosperity will follow.

... Change for the sake of change but not doing the right thing is pure folly. Our Revolution must prevail. And it will!

Join the Campaign for Liberty -
www.campaignforliberty.com

So now it's been eight (8!) fucking years of regret for my youthful indiscretion, and I think it's stupid and blind to say that VP picks or cabinet affiliates don't make a difference, BECAUSE THEY DO (when you're young and stupid and believe in a cause).

And remember Joe Lieberman? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot America?

everyone pays for it in the end anyway, whether it's supporting people in detox, jail, or juvie via our tax dollars or being a victim of a drug-related crime (or "shoot first then knock" drug bust at the wrong house).

so why not pay for the kids when they are IN SCHOOL, as opposed to A LOST CAUSE? why keep feeding a system that criminalizes youth and pretty much makes schools a holding tank until they enter the prison system?

i say stop paying prison wardens more than what teachers make, stop building more jails than schools, and stop taking jobs away from parents who desperately need work to have a fighting chance at providing for their kids so they can break inviolate cycles of poverty and substance abuse

And Zander @ 18: this has damn little to do with putting down the bong (I am not a pot smoker). With the possible exception of the war in Iraq, US drug policy is the single greatest waste of US tax dollars in the last 28 years. Let alone the human suffering and misery involved.

If we diverted just a fraction (1/17th) of what we spend on drug enforcement per year to HIV/AIDS prevention we probably could have reduced new infections in this country by 75% twenty years ago.

-war
-economy
-gay rights
-etc

Youthful indescretion indeed.