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News & ArtsThursday, May 14, 2009
Drugs Headline (and Subhead) of the Day
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Thu, May 14, 2009 at 8:16 AM
From The Wall Street Journal:
White House Czar Calls for End to 'War on Drugs'
Kerlikowske Says Analogy Is Counterproductive; Shift Aligns With Administration Preference for Treatment Over Incarceration
In his first interview since being confirmed...Kerlikowske said Wednesday the bellicose analogy was a barrier to dealing with the nation's drug issues...
"We're not at war with people in this country."
No namby-pambying around, just a straight-up call for an end to stupidity. As Dominic said here, our hometown hero was a brilliant choice.
Thanks, Slog tipper Rochelle.
2
Weren't people who were against Kerlikowske afraid that he was going to take a stance opposite of this?
4
Nice graphic. Jen Graves can use it to support her argument of why training in the arts is more important than handing out copies of Photoshop to any talentless asshat off the street.
5
@2 Yeah, but there's always a fear of that. He's been a great moderate on drug policy, but who knew what he wanted his national profile to be.
This post makes me so happy. To think, we might be able to have intelligent conversations about the rights of adults.
This post makes me so happy. To think, we might be able to have intelligent conversations about the rights of adults.
7
it's still a long way from a rational statement on semantics to a sane drug policy, and the rabble in congress,the doddering patricians in the senate, the entire prison industrial complex, the idiot media, and big pharma stand firmly in the way.
8
I am pleasently suprised... I think this might be the begining of a beautiful relationship, however it could just be a cheap sweaty one nighter; Therefore I am hesitant to get all excited about it.
9
Talk is cheap. Obama claimed to be in favor of letting states set their own medical marijuana policy: two months into his administration, the DEA raided practically every dispensary in San Francisco. Show me results.
(The point isn't that Obama and Kerlikowske are lying or hypocrites: the point is that the prohibition bureaucracy is an enormous ship that was not designed to turn on a dime or even ever slow down. Actually changing America's disastrous drug policies will require more than "conversations" or "realigning priorities" -- sooner or later you're going to have to tell a lot of people who get paid a full-time salary to put their fellow citizens in jail: "Sorry bub, you're out of a job." Good luck with that.)
(The point isn't that Obama and Kerlikowske are lying or hypocrites: the point is that the prohibition bureaucracy is an enormous ship that was not designed to turn on a dime or even ever slow down. Actually changing America's disastrous drug policies will require more than "conversations" or "realigning priorities" -- sooner or later you're going to have to tell a lot of people who get paid a full-time salary to put their fellow citizens in jail: "Sorry bub, you're out of a job." Good luck with that.)
10
Talk is cheap. Saying we are not at war is a far cry from saying "you know this whole approach is baloney. Major successes from Obama to Arnold to half of all 'leaders' in society did pot or a little blow and so we are immediately asking congress to decriminalize and tax, and the president is pardoning everyone whose only crime is nonviolent drugs. He will also give them a phone number to get treatment. We need our jails for the truly violent." And sure if it's a first step great let's take the next 999 steps it will only take what, another 20 years?
11
So with that graphic, are you saying that Kerlikowske is a DOPE, or that he is an ally to DOPErs, or what, exactly? Cause on point 1, I'd have to disagree based on the actual content of the post.
12
that's really good. maybe next he can call for the end of using the word "czar" for U.S. government jobs.
13
I also think the graphic is a poor choice here. We should support any effort to bring sanity to the arcane drug policy that is sapping our country. This is a great first step - let's not marginalize it with a silly snarky red-blue avatar.
14
I'm with @11 here... the graphic is very bad in relation to the news it's accompanying.
And with @10: The privatized prison industry in this nation is prolly not going to be happy with fewer "non-violent drug offenders" being arrested, and less so with any move to release those they have incarcerated already. Private prisons are on the federal teat, remember, they like their comfy paychecks.
I hope Kerlikowski/Obama back up their talk with serious action in the coming months.
And with @10: The privatized prison industry in this nation is prolly not going to be happy with fewer "non-violent drug offenders" being arrested, and less so with any move to release those they have incarcerated already. Private prisons are on the federal teat, remember, they like their comfy paychecks.
I hope Kerlikowski/Obama back up their talk with serious action in the coming months.
15
@11/13/14: "dope: A word that describes something that is extremely cool, such as music, clothes, people, etc.
'Ain't nobody dope as me, I'm dressed so fresh so clean...' Outkast"—urbandictionary.com
'Ain't nobody dope as me, I'm dressed so fresh so clean...' Outkast"—urbandictionary.com
17
@15, I think we all get the reference. It's the fact that the image is f***ing ugly and uninventive that detracts from any usefulness an image with this article should have.
18
Tina, it's gonna be like back in highscool. It all sweaty and hot retoric, but we will not even get one night, just the anticipation followed by sitting in the dark smoking a joint and beating off.
The politicians are in the pockets of the corporations, we as the people must begin passing legalization measures from the ballot box. Force the issue, don't wait for a top down solution.
The politicians are in the pockets of the corporations, we as the people must begin passing legalization measures from the ballot box. Force the issue, don't wait for a top down solution.
19
aka "I'm In Now, Bitches".
I wonder if he'll pooh-pooh use of the term "drug czar" in favor of something more feely like "drug dude".
I wonder if he'll pooh-pooh use of the term "drug czar" in favor of something more feely like "drug dude".
23
This whole War on Drugs was dreamed up as a way to keep the revenoors employed after we killed Prohibition.
Total waste of tax dollars.
Total waste of tax dollars.
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