Simple Man Politics

Hello all my friends, it’s time for Wednesdays post, and this one is going to be really controversial. Today’s post is going to be on illegal drugs, political policies, and the laws that deal with them. I hope the people that asked me to do this one enjoy it.

The war on drugs has been going on for a very long time now, and it has cost this country a great deal of money and resources, both here and abroad. We have fought this war in Columbia against the Cartels, who were responsible for the cocaine craze in the seventies, all the way up to today in the poppy fields of Afghanistan, whose opium is responsible for 90% of the world’s heroin. Right here in the good ole US of A as well the war's been fought, going after Marijuana farmers, methamphetamine, and cocaine labs.

I have to wonder after all this time if we are winning the war, losing the war, or if we are in a Mexican standoff with all these governments, and organizations who continually try to get it in the US. The government will tell you we are winning the war, supply is down, prices are up, and that many criminals have been locked up. The opposing side will tell you we are losing, and cite the rise of drug use, especially among younger Americans, and that every time we lock some bad guy drug dealer up there are ten more waiting to take their place. They counter that the money and resources could be used elsewhere to fight real crime, and offenders with no violent crimes attached to them should be treated not incarcerated. Then you have the guys who are actually in the drug trade telling us we aren’t winning or losing and neither are they. They say supply is at an all time high, as are prices because the quality is so much better, and every time we come up with a new piece of technology, or strategy to combat them they come up with something to neutralize it, and then we are all back to square one.

Then you have the medical marijuana war. One side says it should be legalized because it relieves pain for cancer, and glaucoma patients, and they have doctors who back them up. Then you have the anti medicinal marijuana crowd who say there is no evidence that it does any better a job than conventional drugs already being used, and it’s just a pathway to legalization of marijuana period, and that the medicinal part of the argument is just a hoax.

Then you have the politicians, and their candidate’s positions on marijuana legalization both medicinal and otherwise. There is even a side by side comparison of McCain and Obama on the subject. A thumbnail description on where they stand though is that McCain isn’t for the legalization of medicinal marijuana, and Obama isn’t opposed to it. However they both appear to be in agreement on doing what ever is necessary to combat the really bad stuff, like crack, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

I interviewed two individuals for this post to see where they stood on these issues. One was a teen, and the other was a twenty something conservative. They were both in agreement that all drugs should be outlawed with the possible exception of medicinal marijuana, and then, only if there were incontrovertible scientific evidence that there was a benefit to legalizing marijuana for medical use and that it increased the quality of life for the patient it was prescribed for. They both also agreed that alcohol was just as dangerous a drug as most of the others and probably more dangerous than marijuana. They didn’t both agree that drug offenders should be incarcerated, or treated. The younger interviewee was for treatment, while the older individual was for incarceration prior to treatment.

Now, for my two cents worth. I’ve had plenty of experience with both drugs, and alcohol, and I do believe that we have some major problems with illicit narcotics in our country and with the war on drugs. First off I believe that we should do what ever it takes to take hard drugs like crack-cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine off the streets of this nation simply because they kill. I also believe that alcohol is almost as dangerous as those drugs we should be fighting to remove it, especially when it is abused. As for marijuana, I don’t believe it is near as dangerous as alcohol, and don't believe that it leads to stronger stuff. I think it should be legalized, and not just at the state level, but the federal level too. As for incarceration of drug offenders, I believe that it can be an effective deterrent against the sale, and distribution of drugs, but that to a junkie or addict it really isn’t effective unless it’s a step towards treatment for the dependency.

There you go folks, everything I know about drugs, policy, and enforcement. All I can do is find the facts, and give them to you, but you still have to decide for yourselves. I’ll see you all on Friday for the last installment of the week. Have a wonderful day, CIAO4NOW!!!!!!

Well folks, it's time for another post, so here we go, and this one is on the candidates energy policy. So bear with me, while I sort through it for you.


Lets start with Obama today. He says he realizes the pain Americans are feeling at the pump, so he agrees we should be exploring, and drilling for more oil. However, he says we should not drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, nor on the Outer Continental Shelf, but instead should concentrate on the areas already under lease, and available for these things. He also said he would roll back the Bush tax cuts that were given to the oil companies, for exploration, and drilling. He said as president he would invest 150 billion dollars over ten years, to advance the next generation of carbon fuels, and fuel infrastructure. He said he would invest federal resources to deploy cellulosic ethanol, with the goal of having the first 2 billion gallons in the system by 2013. He also states that his plan will reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil by at least 35 percent, by 2030. He will also institute programs for the development, of other energy technologies such as wind, solar, and geothermal. As well as promote new fuel efficient cars being manufactured here, rather than overseas. From what I can see, he has many different ideas for bringing us to, or near energy independence in the next 30 years.

McCain also believes we should explore for, and drill for more oil, including on the Outer Continental Shelf. However, he also doesn't believe we should do anything in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He also stated that he would increase the tax cuts for the oil industry. He is also interested in developing clean energy resources, extracting our natural gas resources, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and achieving strategic independence. He says we can do this by 2025. McCain also says he is for a temporary federal gas tax holiday, to alleviate pain at the pump. He wants to increase the roll of flex fuel vehicles in our transportation sector. He is promoting a 300 million dollar prize to promote battery technology for full commercial development, of plug in hybrid, and fully electric automobiles.

They both seem to have very similar ideas when it comes to their energy policies. However I would ask Mr. Obama, what could possibly be the benefit of removing the tax cuts awarded to the oil companies, and raising the taxes against them when the federal government already makes more profit from taxes on a barrel of oil, and a gallon of gasoline, than the oil companies make in net profit on the same barrel, and gallon, and the federal government does absolutely nothing for this revenue now. And while I agree, that we should do everything in our power to achieve strategic oil independence from foreign oil, I am also aware that most of the experts state we couldn't see any relief at the consumer end of the problem for at least 5, to 7 years. There are a few differing opinions on that subject saying it could be as soon as 1, to 2 years. Again, it is an opinion also. We would have to manufacture new refining facilities, as part of the new infrastructure, that would need to be created for the exploration, and drilling of new locations, and these refineries would need to be completed before the reserves were pulled out of the ground. I also believe that if there is as much oil in ANWR, as we are led to believe, I see no reason why we shouldn't go, and get it. We would require only 2000 acres, of the 20 million up there for the purpose, and according to the industry experts, you wouldn't even know we had been there. One other point, that has been failed to be mentioned by either candidate to any of the voting public, is what it would cost the tax payer, to implement any of their plan's, and just how much more damage, can the average consumer sustain, to accomplish these task's they have laid out for us.

That's it in a nutshell folk's. Now it's up to you to decide whose policies you support. Just remember to ask yourselves, the question's you believe are important to you, and your decision, do some research of your own, and then decide. See you all on Friday.

Well, here is my first post, and it is only fitting that it be about Americans with Disabilities, because my son is a 16 year old Trisomy 21 downs syndrome teen, and today is his birthday. So today, I'm going to write about our presidential candidates position's, on how they will deal with Americans with disabilities.

After considerable research, I have discovered that John McCain voted for the Americans with Disabilities act, but might not vote for the proposed ADA Restoration Act, because it changes drastically, the way being disabled is defined. However some disability groups do claim that McCain does support the bill, I have found no direct evidence, that John McCain has said this. There is also another piece of legislation known as the Community Choice Act of 2007. John McCain is definitely not in support of this legislation, even declaring it so to a disabled individual at a town hall meeting, saying he doesn't think it's the right sort of legislation. He didn't expand on why he thought it wasn't the right sort of legislation though. I will try to find out more about this, and let you all know why he took the position he did on that piece of legislation. And while McCain has not voted for every piece of legislation pertaining to the disabled, he does have a record, of being an advocate for the disabled.

On the other hand, I found out that Barack Obama does support both the ADA Reform act, and the Community Choice Act of 2007. Obama states that he supports the ADA Reform Act, because it will allow a more broader definition by the government of what it means to be disabled, so as to more easily qualify for programs like SSDI, SSI, Medicare, and Medicaid. He also wants to scheduling flexibility in the definition of "reasonable accommodation" under the ADA. He also supports the Community Choice Act of 2007, and said he would sign the bill into law once in office. Obama has also laid out a four point plan for dealing with disabled Americans, which I have read. I hope you read it as well.

Knowing, what I now know, on these candidates positions, in regard to how they will deal with the question, of Americans with Disabilities. I can only deduce that I can trust John McCain to keep the price tags as low as possible, being that he is such a hawk on finance, and budget matters. I can also deduce, that Obama has put a lot of thought into his four point plan, as well as willingness to greatly expand the ability to qualify, for the above mentioned government entitlement programs. I can also say, that I'm sure they will cost the taxpayer a lot of money, and I have to wonder how Obama plans to get it. Considering his economic policies, I'm sure the answer to that question is abundantly clear.