Some Difference! 16/17

Trey Smith

1 The 40 year war on drugs must continue, and even mention of the prison state is unthinkable. There are 2.3 million people in US prisons and jails today, a per capita total that beats the world. Politicians of both parties wag their fingers in multiple directions. But as Michelle Alexander points out, if the US prison population were rolled back to say, only 1 million, the level it was about 1980, this would mean one million jobs, as contractors, sheriffs, cops, bailiffs, judges and functionaries of all kinds would have to go out and find real jobs.
~ from Closer Than You Think: Top 15 Things Romney and Obama Agree On by Bruce A. Dixon ~

Just like his predecessor, Obama has gone after those states who have had the temerity to legalize medical marijuana! Though both Democrats and Republicans talk about the important concept of states rights, they only defend this ideal when states pass laws that they like!

There is no logical reason for marijuana to be illegal, IF alcohol and cigarettes are legal. If you truly believe that pot is a health hazard, then you should jump on the band wagon to outlaw the consumption of liquor and the smoking/chewing of tobacco.

Of course, few "serious" politicians would recommend this because both employ powerful lobbies and contribute big money into campaign coffers. In addition, since our prison system is more and more being shifted to the private sector, the legalization of weed would mean far less inmates and this would wreck the bottom lines of the prison-industrial complex.

I mean, we can't allow a sane public policy decision to bankrupt a few well-connected corporations, can we?