en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/956915 Comments by texastoni http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69751828 DUDE...if you want to be taken seriously, I suggest starting with a spell check program and moving on to an over-all grammar lesson. Now, concerning your post --- As far as the self-destruction of urban blacks, I don't think that was actually what I said. I didn't say the government intended to destroy the blacks, but since you brought it up...actually, I think I'll just leave that argument for another day. But the drugs for guns fiasco. Yes, I'm sure...never happened. As for being a fool's argument..at least I MADE an argument, rather than offer up a pointless He said/She said denial ("Sorry not true didn't happen") followed by a quick attempted insult. That's how my cheating ex-boyfriend used to argue. As for Reagan & Bush being the sole source of evil: I don't subscribe to the popular opinion that one man rules on high, being responsible for anything that happens in this country. For that matter, I'm quickly learning that no party is responsible for anything, good or bad. There's always a deal. In case you didn't know, the U.S. of A. runs by committee. PS...View the movie American Drug War: The Last White Hope (2007) Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:16:23 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69751828 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69746068 Not a clue this is probably the 2nd or 3rd post I've ever done. I was actually surprised it was so long, sometimes I get on a roll. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:56:04 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69746068 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/22/thursday-open-thread-earth-day-edition/#IDComment69680057 Usually, I agree with the info that comes out of this sight. But this one actually makes me feel a little sad. Does it seem to anyone else that right or left, at the end of the day all anyone cares about is disagreeing with the other? I mean, the more I read and get involved, the more I see time wasted trying to win the point. I will say that from the conservative side, the argument is usually a lot more intelligent, and takes a lot longer to devolve to the name-calling, grade school insults (teabaggers? really? are they 12??) Sorry, may be off topic, but I guess for open thread that shouldn't be a problem. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:55:31 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/22/thursday-open-thread-earth-day-edition/#IDComment69680057 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69004841 This is not a brave new world situation. Pot is not the future brain-number for the masses. I agree with Skeeter, it's about moderation, and for some, completely abstaining. But as for ruining society, I think that's lack of involved parenting, loss of family unit, and utter breakdown of moral values. Pot makes it easier to forget those things. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:58:02 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69004841 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69004609 From the mouths of babes. And excellent South Park reminder. Really, those kids figure out EVERYTHING how do they do it?? Oh yeah, they are KIDS who get to PLAY and EXPLORE and have essentially loving, caring supportive parents to come home to when they get a little screwy. Except of course for poor Kenny. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:55:50 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69004609 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69004081 No, I haven't seen the movie, but truthfully I get most of my opinions from experience, not the latest manufactured image. Not trying to be rude, but honestly it's another stereotype that every person who has tried marijuana is essentially a lazy, worthless food-obsessed zombie. As for employment rights, I've seen an number of job ads stating only non-smokers need apply. Seems kind of self-explanatory how you deal with that one. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:51:15 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69004081 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69003696 This is why legalization is the wrong answer. Decriminalization is ignored as a possibility, but it's the only common sense solution to the argument. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:47:41 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69003696 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69002548 Here's an argument against legalization, and in favor of decriminalization. It's means a huge difference between the government getting control of yet another revenue stream (imagine the IRS code additions for that particular income source), and wasting time under the artificial premise of creating a whole mess of laws for regulation. 1. If the poll showed 1/2 the country is in favor of legalization, seems to me a pretty good start towards compromise. Chances are, the other half is probably uneducated about the history of pot prohibition, and uninterested in the politics behind the continued "war". 2. Personal experience: Pot is absolutely less disruptive and safer for the user than any legal, regulated intoxicant (tobacco, alcohol). Trust me. 3. 1930s hysteria was hyped by the government as "Reefer Madness" (BTW..that's a movie you should watch). But consider another reason the great Leaders might have decided to go after what was essentially no more than a naturally occurring weed, absent of any chemical modification: the sudden increase in the Mexican migrant working population. White people got scared. Imagine that. And since back then, brown people didn't shoot back like Al Capone et al, the "underground dealers" never really got violent enough to get the public aroused. That, and everyone was growing it themselves. Of course, 72 years later, after spending unthinkable dollars to go to "war", and the government is finally telling the truth. I dare you to visit the border. 3. While most Americans agree the War On Drugs has been a colossal failure, I would argue that a small number of politicians, police agencies, and government contract holders would say it's been a financial goldmine. And I shudder to think of the liberties lost under the invisibility cloak of "drug enforcement". Trust me, there is no shortage of happy faces in that regard. 4. It is absolutely ridiculous to believe that the government hasn't contributed, directly and indirectly, to the problem. See the history of CIA involvement in the distribution of crack cocaine in the early 80s. And do I need to bring up the nonexistent poppy fields of our new territory, Afghanistan? So while the fight it, they fund it. Almost reminds me of that little industry DDE mentioned. Perpetual war = perpetual profits. 5. Please consider who stands to lose the most were pot decriminalized rather than legalized/regulated. What would you do if suddenly a seed became available that you go home and plant, spend a few weeks practicing minimal cultivation, then harvest. Used prudently and with a responsible attitude, this natural remedy could help alleviate any number of minor medical ailments. It's not a joke when we mention Grandma's eyes. Also not a joke: the growing number of retired individuals asking little Johnny what he would recommend pipe or paper? So, this miracle medical breakthrough hits one major pocketbook and who is it?...Wait for it...Big Pappa Pharm. Those lobbyists are working overtime to make sure they don't lose half the pill-popping client base currently delivered via every new commercial. Hope you can ignore the list of side-effects ending every ad, luckily they talk real fast during that part. So all the stoners miss it, I guess. And backing them up: Tobacco on the right, Bud Light and friends on the left. They have been the only legal intoxicants for the last 72 years, right? That's like the WWE belt it ain't leaving without some blood. But if we tax it, regulate it, let the CORPORATIONS handle it, why then, we can make money forever, huh? No, thank you. Why pay you to deliver to me what I can grow myself? Imagine a garden, with vegetables and fruits and pot. Some people don't like to garden, so let them go to the store and buy it from someone who did the work for them. Kinda like insert your regional supermarket here does with corn and potatoes. So to wrap up...pot is not evil. It does not make you a lazy, unproductive leech on society. That's bad parenting. And OH MY GOD it's not a gateway drug. That's boredom and lack of direction, again usually due to bad parenting. Forget legalization. It's like legalizing broccoli. Focus on decriminalization. It's grows in the ground, and has no chemical alteration. In fact, if we were to hand it over to regulation, the government will only end up genetically modifying it anyway. And the tax argument will cut you. Don't give the government more money to play with. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:38:26 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/20/tuesday-open-thread-420-edition/#IDComment69002548 http://biggovernment.com/libertychick/2010/04/18/indoctrination-on-campus-seiu-arrests-give-new-meaning-to-cutting-class/#IDComment68713625 Yes, but we can hunt the buffalo. And of course, we all know where the lemmings end up. Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:08:27 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/libertychick/2010/04/18/indoctrination-on-campus-seiu-arrests-give-new-meaning-to-cutting-class/#IDComment68713625 http://biggovernment.com/libertychick/2010/04/18/indoctrination-on-campus-seiu-arrests-give-new-meaning-to-cutting-class/#IDComment68712433 I only hope the day will come when I get my favorite color back... Sun, 18 Apr 2010 15:56:00 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/libertychick/2010/04/18/indoctrination-on-campus-seiu-arrests-give-new-meaning-to-cutting-class/#IDComment68712433 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/08/afl-cio-chief-to-breitbart-i-witnessed-racism-at-tea-party-rally/#IDComment66690878 That is not evidence. That is still 2 sides to a story, not the truth, which is somewhere in the middle. My bet: No racial slurs, since no one is 100K richer yet. As for the spitting, I thought the tape showed a guy who stood too close to a messy protester. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 00:59:20 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2010/04/08/afl-cio-chief-to-breitbart-i-witnessed-racism-at-tea-party-rally/#IDComment66690878 http://biggovernment.com/krasmussen/2010/04/08/national-backlash-against-public-pensions/#IDComment66582469 "Former state employee (and now U.S. Senator) Roland Burris received a pension payment of $121,747 in 2009. " Ahhh...such is the paradise of the career politician. Great pension, exempt from HC, etc etc gag me Thu, 8 Apr 2010 14:13:13 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/krasmussen/2010/04/08/national-backlash-against-public-pensions/#IDComment66582469 http://biggovernment.com/ngillespie/2010/04/07/reason-tv-21-is-it-time-to-lower-the-drinking-age/#IDComment66466260 And...I'm back, nice to meet you. I needed to get an Intense account so all the faceless ones can let me know if they approve of my opinion. I've been told my two-cents can be very shiny. Wed, 7 Apr 2010 21:39:35 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/ngillespie/2010/04/07/reason-tv-21-is-it-time-to-lower-the-drinking-age/#IDComment66466260 http://biggovernment.com/ngillespie/2010/04/07/reason-tv-21-is-it-time-to-lower-the-drinking-age/#IDComment66465771 AAAAAAND...I'm back :D and thumbs up for both of you. Next question: Would it be bad form to repost my two comments (here and on the aircraft decommissioning) as my new self? Wed, 7 Apr 2010 21:35:44 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/ngillespie/2010/04/07/reason-tv-21-is-it-time-to-lower-the-drinking-age/#IDComment66465771