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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,538
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Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization
#13396370 - 10/27/10 05:05 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Cato scholar: Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization October 27th, 2010 - rawstory.com
A drug policy expert at the Cato Institute challenged conservatives to take a principled limited-government stance on marijuana, arguing that the feds are only exacerbating the problems with regulations.
"There are conservatives who take a big-government stance on this," Tim Lynch, director of Cato's Project on Criminal Justice, told Raw Story in an interview. "It's hard to explain. They're just not being consistent with their stated principles there."
The right-wing Heritage Foundation, for instance, strongly advocates for small government but has concluded that government must play a large and continued role in the drug war.
Lynch viewed the problem as "a combination of being inconsistent" and a political "reluctance to step out on the issue because it'll only endanger their prospects in the next election."
As California's pot decriminalization measure, Proposition 19, wanes in the polls, Lynch also lamented the lack of support from Democrats and newspaper editorials in the progressive state. Neither of the two high-ticket Democratic candidates this election, Barbara Boxer for senate and Jerry Brown for governor, have endorsed the measure.
"But even if we don't win in California," he said, "it's going to be enough to shake up this debate."
On Tuesday, it was announced that billionaire financier George Soros had given $1 million in an effort to pass the measure. The $1 million came a day after "Yes on 19" proponents launched their first television ad.
Having extensively studied the impacts of drug criminalization, Lynch concludes that America's policies are irrational -- that legalizing marijuana and other substances with the "alcohol model" would have few downsides while decreasing crime and violence, enhancing tax revenues, and permitting us to better address the social problems from drug abuse.
Opponents of marijuana legalization, he charged, are clinging to "emotional" theories that have been discredited -- "fear of the unknown," as he put it. Parents remain concerned about their children using drugs, and believe legalizing certain drugs would make that more likely to happen.
"But the criminal laws have not in any way kept marijuana and other drugs away from the schools," he said, nor have real-life case studies in drug legalization -- most notably Portugal -- brought about increased abuse of the substances.
An extensive Cato Institute study, undertaken by Salon's Glenn Greenwald, found that Portugal's law decriminalizing personal drug use in 2000 has led to decreased usage, as well as the elimination of a socially destructive black market. Portugal's politicians have no buyers remorse and the new policy is viewed as a success.
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goldennic007
Balanced


Registered: 07/28/09
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Re: Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization [Re: veggie] 1
#13396742 - 10/27/10 06:58 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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i am a Christian but not conservative, advocate of limited government, and a proponent of Prop 19; hypocrisy and contradiction of the conservatives annoys and frustrates me to the core. either choose to stand fully for your beliefs, or don't, waffling only invalidates and discredits you when sharing your beliefs and philosophies; seriously!
-------------------- Amsterdam Honeymoon
 
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Annapurna1
liberal pussy


Registered: 05/21/02
Posts: 5,646
Loc: innsmouth..MA
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Re: Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization [Re: goldennic007]
#13397011 - 10/27/10 07:49 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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when they talk about "small government"..they mean government thats small enough to wage a global war on drugs.. force a woman to have her rapists' baby.. and declare you a terrorist..and hold you under torture as such..at the drop of a hat...etc..etc..etc..."small government" may very well be the war-is-peace/freedom-is-slavery/ignorance-is-strength of our time...
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"anchor blocks counteract the process of pontiprobation..while omalean globes regulize the pressure"...
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jerrylove
little bit further then I was



Registered: 06/19/09
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Re: Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization [Re: goldennic007] 3
#13397028 - 10/27/10 07:51 PM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
goldennic007 said: either choose to stand fully for your beliefs, or don't, waffling only invalidates and discredits you when sharing your beliefs and philosophies; seriously!
I couldnt agree more.
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THOSE WHO KNOW DONT TALK! THOSE WHO DONT KNOW CANT TALK. (Timothy Leary) "Funny thing about weekends when your unemployed they don't mean quit so much except you get hang out with your workin' friends" Les Claypool
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Green_T


Registered: 10/02/08
Posts: 4,042
Loc: UK
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Re: Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization [Re: jerrylove]
#13399189 - 10/28/10 03:57 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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That was a great article. 
Maybe I should attend a tea party rally with a sign saying "hands off my medicare recreational drug choices!"
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"I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man" - Thomas Jefferson Legalize Meth | Drug War Victims
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luvdemshrooms
Two inch dick..but it spins!?


Registered: 11/29/01
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Re: Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization [Re: Green_T]
#13399385 - 10/28/10 06:29 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Seeing as the Democrats have controlled Congress for several years now... and have done nothing to legalize pot... you should carry those signs at their rallies as well.
To all of you so short sighted to see this a a Dem/Rep issue... think again.
Dems took control of Congress in 2007. They have a President of the same party.
Ask yourself... what has EITHER party done for pot legalization?
-------------------- You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers
Edited by luvdemshrooms (10/28/10 06:35 AM)
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Green_T


Registered: 10/02/08
Posts: 4,042
Loc: UK
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Re: Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization [Re: luvdemshrooms]
#13399451 - 10/28/10 07:11 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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^ I remember writing a longer post about how I agree with you in that this isn't a rep/dem issue. (here)
I think you may need a different sign for a Dem rally. Maybe "Marriage Recreational drug equality for all!"
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"I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man" - Thomas Jefferson Legalize Meth | Drug War Victims
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luvdemshrooms
Two inch dick..but it spins!?


Registered: 11/29/01
Posts: 34,247
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Re: Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization [Re: Green_T]
#13399489 - 10/28/10 07:29 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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That was indeed a well thought out post.
Only the first sentence of my previous response in this thread was directed your way.
The rest was for those not clever enough to realize neither party is the friend of drug users.
Sorry if I failed to make that clear.
-------------------- You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. What one person receives without working for another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for that my dear friend is the beginning of the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. ~ Adrian Rogers
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 18,037
Loc: Raccoon City
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Re: Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization [Re: luvdemshrooms]
#13400002 - 10/28/10 10:20 AM (13 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
Conservatives betraying small-government values by opposing pot legalization
Is Soros known for small govt values?
What about the UN, recently mentioned, here?
Quote:
There are conservatives who take a big-government stance
Not possible. Conservatism is fiscal ($) conservatism. Programs cost money.
Author needs to get his words straight.
RINO's need to get their words straight.
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