Germans understand the U.S. populations frustration with politicians better than President Obama

09/16/2010 

The World from Berlin

'Obama Has Underestimated the Frustration in the Country'

Smiles for the camera: The Tea Party's Christine O'Donnell won the Republican Senate primary in Delaware.

The dramatic ascent of the Tea Party continued in America this week, with the conservative movement scoring another surprise victory in the Republican primary in Delaware. German editorialists digested the news on Thursday and warned that both Republicans and Democrats were right to feel uneasy.

Even a few weeks ago, it was considered impossible that the Tea Party favorite Christine O'Donnell would win the primary in Delaware. She was long seen as being too far to the right to woo enough votes. On Tuesday, such predictions were consigned to the trash when O'Donnell beat a veteran congressman to secure the Republican nomination in the Delaware race for the US Senate.

The Tea Party movement has won a succession of Republican primaries, with its conservative, anti-establishment candidates. O'Donnell is known for her pro-gun, anti-abortion stance. In the Delaware primary, O'Donnell got 53 percent of the vote, ousting Mike Castle, a long-standing politician who has represented his party as a state governor and in Congress.
Palin-Backed
"The people of Delaware have spoken. No more politics as usual," O'Donnell told enthusiastic fans after results came out. "The cause is restoring America."
In the weeks running up to her victory, O'Donnell gained publicity with endorsements from Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice presidential candidate, and the National Rifle Association.
Recent weeks have brought a string of successes for the Tea Party. In another boost to the grassroots movement, Carl Paladino, its candidate in New York, surprised pundits by wining the Republican nomination to run for governor in November.
The Tea Party movement has enjoyed a comet-like rise since last year. It provides a haven for voters for whom the mainstream Republican Party is not conservative enough, and its popularity is widely attributed to dissatisfaction with US President Barack Obama and frustration with the lackluster US economy. Many observers expect its rise will force the Repubican Party to move further to the right.
On Thursday, German editorialists look at what the latest victory means for US politics.

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NJ Gov Christie telling it like it is

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I don't particularly agree with burning the Koran, however the pastor has the right! Why should we give up our rights because some other people in the Mid East don't agree?

I don't particularly agree with burning the Koran, however the pastor has the right!  Why should we give up our rights because some other people in Afghanistan don't agree?

The big issue I have with the whole thing is the fact that we are capitulating to the Terrorists.  Obama, General Petraeus, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates all share the same opinion.   Don't do this because it might make them mad.  Don't do this because it will increase recruitment to Al Qaeda.

So because we might offend our enemies we shouldn't do this...

AMERICA!  HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!!!

Our freedoms are OUR FREEDOMS!  If burning a Koran will increase Al Qaeda recruitment GOOD!  More terrorists to rid the world of.  I mean come on anyone that would join Al Qaeda over the burning of a Koran already has a terrorist mentality.

While I may be against burning books regardless of context, I AM FOR OUR FREEDOMS AND LIBERTIES.  I REFUSE TO LET THESE PEOPLE DICTATE WHAT WE CAN AND CAN'T DO AS AMERICANS!

Do the Mid Eastern governments care when the people burn American Flags?
Do the Mid Eastern governments aid us in our struggle?  Iran is now offering 1k per dead US soldier.

Yeah, I'll agree to the building of a Mosque on ground zero...When they build a Synagogue and a Catholic Church 3 blocks from Mecca.

Burn Away Pastor Terry Jones, and God Bless America!

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Quickest way to fix the economy? Set the rules.

Business is about limiting risk.  While there is a certain amount of risk surrounding each and every business deal, the object is to limit risks to the point that a profitable outcome is the most likely outcome possible.  The parameters for business in the United States are framed by both ethics and laws.  Lately it seems U.S. Business has been lacking both.  Congress seems to be in polar opposition to both ethics and law.

It really doesn't surprise me that we are in the situation we are.  Congress keeps changing the rules in the middle of the game.  This type of behavior creates instability.  Instability increases risk.  Increased risk makes the United States a less attractive place to do business.  China however has very stable rules set.  Albeit different rules than we have they are SET.  I'm not suggesting we imitate China, however we do need to SET RULES and let the business grow accordingly.  Now is not the time for socialist experimentation!

Congress is very unstable.  Nobody can predict what the hell those politicians are going to do next.  That instability destroys confidence and economies.

Set the rules so we as Americans can restore this nation to where it should be, to where it is intended to be.

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Is it STILL all Bush's fault??? How long until it isn't Bush's fault?

It's All Bush's Fault, From the Denver Post:

Here's an opinion piece by Chuck Green who writes "Greener Pastures" for the Denver Post/Aurora Sentinel...one of the more liberal papers in the country.  Additionally, Mr. Green is a life-long Democrat...so this is a stunning piece.

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What has caused more long term destruction - the A-bomb, or U. S. Government welfare

HIROSHIMA   1945

We all know that  Hiroshima and  Nagasaki were destroyed in August 1945 after explosion of atomic bombs.

However, we know little about the progress made by the people of that land during the past 64 years.

HIROSHIMA - 64  YEARS LATER

DETROIT,  USA - 64 YEARS AFTER  HIROSHIMA ...

What has caused more long term destruction - the A-bomb, or U. S. Government welfare

programs created to buy the votes of those who want someone to take care of them?

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Ben Quale wins Nomination, but is he sincere?

I have doubts about his ability to be effective.  He talks a good game, but what politician doesn't?  Especially one that was raised in a political family.  He comes across as insincere to me.  We will have to keep a sharp eye on him, the republican party can't afford another ineffective naysayer. 

I don't like the trend in the United States to elect people from "political families".  This makes our nation look like more of a political party based monarchy than a represented republic.

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Top politician: "Government as a Community Organizer has failed"

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/24/boehner-obama-must-fire-entire-economic-team/

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Nostrodomus: The man who saw tomorrow

I remember being a young boy and for some reason I almost memorized the end of this movie instantaneously. Chilling how close these final predictions are. Why aren't more people pointing this out?

Just listen to what Orson Welles says about the Middle east back in 1981. The end of part 8 and 9 (below) are the most intriguing.

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Never Tax MEDICAL Marijuana

How do you go about telling a terminally ill person that they'll have to pay more for their medicine? Do you just pass the tax without so much as speaking with them? Do you ignore their hardships and pain? Have they ever even bothered to visit someone in true pain?

With that said, what kind of no-soul-having-black-hearted-son-of-a-bitch would seek to tax the medicine of someone suffering from AIDS, cancer, or a multitude of other terminal diseases?

In passing medical marijuana legislation, politicians admit the medical utility of marijuana while rejecting recreational use. They may not understand how marijuana helps but they only need to know that it does help. This is why they gave marijuana the respect of "medicine" as it deserves. If you respect medicine, especially the kind that truly helps the worst of the worst, then you shouldn't seek to worsen a terminally ill patient's overall condition by increasing the cost of their medicine even further.

In taxing marijuana, politicians show it disrespect as a medicine. If they don't respect marijuana as medicine then why pass the medical marijuana legislation?

What's happening here is that politicians are playing a game. Unfortunately, this little game they're playing is on the backs of dying people. I'd rather see marijuana re-criminalized than to see greedy politicians seeking to tax terminally ill patients' medicine.

It's just not right.

If politicians want to tax marijuana, then legalize it completely. You can't have it both ways. Unfortunately, that's coming from a person with a heart. It might not be a heart of gold but it isn't blackened and hardened to the world around me.

Unfortunately, this is coming from some very cowardly politicians who want to try to juggle the lives of the constituency between rabid law enforcement, a not-much-better criminal element, and budget deficits. This is totally NOT the right or honest way to go about it.

You do NOT close your budget gaps on the backs of the sick.
That is just filthy.

At least if you legalize marijuana you could affect a lot of positive change in the US. For starters, we could free up law enforcement funding to fight true crime - rape, murder, battery, robbery, and so on. Instead, police officers are busying themselves with petty marijuana arrests simply because it's easier and safer to do. At the same time, it makes them look like they're doing their jobs which they rarely do.

You can allow an entire industry (that already exists) to be legitimate. Businesses can open up, employees can be hired. You can also protect the citizens by regulating for quality control. And, you can collect taxes on it all - newly developed businesses, purchases, imports/exports, and so on.

I am not saying that legalization will save the economy. But, it can not hurt us more than the mess we're in now. And, you won't have to do it on the backs of sick and dying people.

Either, respect the medicine or legalize the "drug"!!

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Thoughts on Medical Marijuana in NY

Yeah. You read the title. On Feb. 23rd, the NY State Senate Health Committee passed medical marijuana legislation. I'll admit, I don't fully understand all of these political procedures that NY State government must go through before a bill becomes a law. It seems a bit more complicated than the cartoon of the bill on the steps of Capitol Hill (ha, I'm a rapper now) in DC.

Wait.. it was Capitol Hill right?

Anyway, on the surface, I am happy that NY is finally coming to its sense on medical marijuana. Honestly, it should have happened at least at the same time as California who passed their medical marijuana legislation in 1996.

However, as I read the bill, I am quite upset with the language.

Read for yourself: S4041B: Provides for medical use of marihuana

Low Limits

It would seem NY politicians want to be super strict and allow for tiny amounts of marijuana for seriously ill patients. While they get the gist of medical marijuana, they need to fully understand that they are NOT patients or doctors. Even most doctors don't understand how to prescribe marijuana. The amounts allowed under this bill - 2.5oz - don't factor in the need of the patient or the tolerance of the individual.

Some patients are known to use up to an ounce of marijuana a day. I am not talking about the typical recreational user. As a recreational user myself, I don't think I could do more than a gram a day which amounts to an ounce per month. But, I am talking about seriously ill patients for which this bill is intended. On top of that, the "caregiver" is not allowed to care for more than 5 patients. (Sections 3362 and 3363)

It's like saying you're only allowed 10 regular strength Tylenol pills per month for serious migraines. Of course, you can buy a box of Tylenol, thousands of pills, and no one will think twice about it. Unfortunately, you can't have enough marijuana for terminal illness.

I don't need ID for Tylenol

The other thing that bugs me is the registration for ID cards. Basically, you're getting a driver's license for medical marijuana - name, address, picture, etc etc etc. It says that the Dept of Health will keep the information confidential, that is, until they have a reason to snitch on you which could be as simple as a DEA or FBI or even some local cop requests it.

If marijuana is to be considered medical, why do you need to alert a government agency that you're using it? It's medicine, right? I am sure we all, at some point in time, visited a pharmacy to fill a prescription for various medications from asthma pumps to antidepressants to oxycontin and percocet. Did any of us have to register with the government to use these medications? Did you have to stand in line at the DMV to get your picture taken?

I can understand the caregiver, much like a pharmacist, needing registration as a business. But, I don't see why patients need to be registered with the government to take medicine. It's an unnecessary invasion of privacy.

No Plant Limits?

The other problem that I have with it so far is that I don't see any specific information as it pertains to cultivation. For example, how many plants would someone - patient or caregiver - be allowed to grow?

Section 3364 defines "registered organization" as a pharmacy, a licensed facility, a non profit corporation, the department, a local health department, or a registered producer. However, the registered producer, which seems to be the grower/cultivator/manufacturer, can not provide directly to the patients. Such a designation completely separates the grower from the potential role as a caregiver.

Edit
After re-reading this section, it looks like I want plant limits. As far as I am concerned, the more the better. No plant limits is great. However, I am afraid that it will be addressed and severely limited by politicians. If they think that 2.5oz is good for a seriously ill person, I can't imagine what they would believe is acceptable in a grow operation.

At any rate, there is a lot missing from this bill and far too many limits. I have to question politicians that wrote this bill. I wonder if they had any input from the patients that use marijuana. Did they even bother to look into the other 14 medical marijuana states and their provisions. This bill is so very incomplete. If it passed, as is, it would cause more trouble than it's worth.

If Senator Tom Duane ever reads this or any senator that has to vote on this bill, I'd beg him and them to please talk to patients from other states. Do not ask police or the DEA for their input as they are not doctors nor are they patients. They aren't even growers/botanists. Speak with the people who need the medicine, not the people who benefit from its control. It would not be unreasonable to allow for more marijuana per patient and to allow patients to grow their own. It would be sensible to allow caregivers to also be "registered producers."

As a marijuana grower and user, myself, politicians have a lot to learn about the use of marijuana. If they are willing to admit to its medical utility, at some point, they will have to be willing to learn and comprehend why different strains exist outside of the cute names.

I think I need to make some phone calls.

Just as a reminder.. marijuana should be legalized, regulated and taxed. Medical marijuana is nice but it still leaves the door open to the black market and violence against citizens from gangs and police.

Legalize it.
(It's been 70+ years. It's obvious you can't stop it.)

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Haaa, can't tax my marijuana!

Legalization/Taxation

The fight to legalize marijuana seems to be making major inroads as politicians, greedy for funds of any kind, find ways to get those tax revenues without a direct increase to the taxpayer. While there are some politicians have a more honorable reason for promoting the legalization of marijuana, there are many others who have no interest in the welfare of their own friends, family, and community; they're in it for the money.

At any rate, I could care less about their reasons for legalization. All I care about is that it get legalized.

However, what I do care about is how legalization takes place, particularly in the way of taxation, for now. I assume that quality control will be an issue in the future as I am sure companies like Altria, makers of smokable poison like Marlboro cigarettes, would find ways to weaponize marijuana as they did with tobacco.

But, I have a solution for all of that.

The problem with taxation are the high expectations for tax revenues. These politicians believe that the current pricing for marijuana will be stable. For them, that high cost equals high tax revenues. But, they don't recognize that these high costs are in part due to prohibition. Once prohibition is repealed, marijuana prices will drop considerably and those major tax revenues will drop with it.

This is why legalization is not a particularly great solution for the economy. And, here I am making that prospect even worse.

The reason I intend to make it worse is because there's a segment within the marijuana community that believe in absolutely no taxes for marijuana use. This is because they consider marijuana a medicine and you simply don't tax medicine. However, it stands in the way of legalization because it if we're to get it legalized for everybody, taxation has to be a reality.

Besides, medicinal users are already being taxed by having to pay upfront fees for licenses, doctors prescriptions, and the ability to grow if they are providers.

Side Note
I call that the Republican way to tax. See, Democrats tax you from the front so you see it coming - income tax, sales tax, etc. Republicans reduce face-front taxes. They just wait for you to turn around and bend over so they "tax" you up the behind with increased fees for anything you want to do. Democrats will rather tax your income to pay for roads. Republicans rather put tolls at every street intersection they can find. For example, in NYC, Mayor Bloomberg has sought to lower "face-front" taxes, yet proposed fees for entering the Manhattan below a certain street. Hey, you'll pay either way so just laugh about this now, think about it later.

The real issue is that medicinal marijuana users don't like the idea of being taxed at the rates proposed under complete legalization. It truly is their medicine and they shouldn't be taxed for it. And, let's be honest, those rates are incredibly ridiculous no matter who's paying. Not even alcohol or tobacco are taxed as heavily as what's proposed for marijuana. So, I don't blame people for getting upset.

Proposal

As a consumer, I propose that, under legalized and severely overtaxed marijuana, users, for whatever purpose, do not buy any marijuana until competition increases supply causing prices to come down and the tax rates are reasonable, at least within comparable levels with alcohol and tobacco.

The question at this point is how can this be done.

First of all, the politicians will do most of the work for this effort to be a success. By promoting prohibition level pricing, even after the repeal of prohibition, it wouldn't make sense for a marijuana grower to sell his product at wholesale prices when he can still operate and compete as though prohibition still exists. In fact, it can be considered as prohibition-plus since taxes are going to be a major factor. As a consumer, it would make sense to simply go directly to the grower and avoid any taxation whatsoever.

Side Note
While this may not be desirable, the politicians will have to learn a hard lesson here. It's not a lesson that wasn't already anticipated in history. During the repeal of alcohol prohibition, politicians, then, knew that the legal market would have to price-compete with the illegal market. Otherwise, it would be impossible to regulate and collect taxes. If today's politicians are too stupid to anticipate such competition and too arrogant to listen to the people, then they deserve to look like fools when their ridiculous taxation scheme doesn't produce the kind of tax revenues expected.

The second and most favorable method is self-reliance - grow your own marijuana. I am always promoting growing your own marijuana for personal use, so nothing new here. If marijuana is legal, who's going to come looking for you if you're growing a few ounces. Even though that marijuana is illegal, it's still safer because you completely remove yourself from law enforcement radar. You're not a Mexican drug cartel. You're not out trafficking bricks of marijuana. And, you're not out dealing on the streets. The only problems you may have is if smell gives you away or someone you tell decides to snitch on you. So, limit your exposure by investing in heavy odor control and not telling anyone.

Final Side Note
Personally, the only reason I would ever get caught is because of this blog or perhaps the few people that know about me. And, I know what I am doing by exposing myself. But, if I can motivate more people to grow their own, I can help limit the violence injected into the lives of peaceful people by careless drug dealers and aggressive law enforcement as well as reduce the profits of violent drug cartels that most law enforcement protect with their support of prohibition. It's worth it if I can save another life.

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Obama's Medical Marijuana Memo Means Nothing

Background

Today, President Obama released a memo in regards to states with medical marijuana laws. Basically, this memo is telling federal prosecutors along with the DEA and FBI not to waste their time and energy on [destroying the lives of] medical marijuana patients and their suppliers IF they conform to the state's laws.

Feds Can't Touch This
Justice shifts course on medical marijuana prosecutions
Feds: Medical marijuana prosecutions not a priority

Reality

This memo is nothing more than a piece of paper. It doesn't change anything. Think of this policy change as a mother asking her child to do his chores five minutes earlier at 5:55 PM instead of 6 PM. Although, it would be nice if you did it five minutes earlier, it's not anything you have to take into consideration. It just would be nice.

Think about it.

What laws were changed with this memo? Did marijuana, all of a sudden, become legal? Was marijuana removed from the Controlled Substances Act? Will the federal government begin recognizing marijuana's medicinal utility?

NO!

This memo hasn't changed anything. As long as prohibition remains the denominator in the nation's marijuana equation, this memo is nothing more than words on paper. Without the protections and consequences that come with actual changes to the law, nothing has changed.

Problem

President Obama has failed to alleviate or even address the problems that millions of marijuana users, medicinal and recreational, face against violent law enforcement. Well over 800,000 people are arrested and incarcerated yearly. Billions of dollars are burned by law enforcement officials that are only interested in playing 'Judge Dredd' with the lives of nonviolent people. When President Obama has the courage to face these gun toting animals, that's when the memos and speeches will stop. That's when laws begin to change.

Until then, I'd rather President Obama just shut up and leave it alone if he doesn't plan on truly changing anything or helping us. I'm used to the status quo and it's how I operate. It's how thousands of us operate on a daily basis. I won't change how I do things because of some useless memo. I would hope that my grower friends, especially those in medical marijuana states, keep their heads low as well. I don't want them falling for this nonsense.

Just know one thing. Marijuana is not going anywhere. No matter how hard the prohibitionists push against us, we'll still be here - growing, smoking, and teaching!

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Why wait until you're suffering to care?

I just read a story over at 420 Magazine via Wacotrib News and it pissed me off so much that I had to say something. Enough with the formalities, let's go.

Waco Man Teams With NORML in Push for Medical Marijuana

Alan Caruthers, of Waco, says he was 18 years old the first and last time he tried marijuana. It didn't do much for him. Until this year, he saw no reason to try it again, and he dismissed arguments for decriminalizing it as pothead talk.

It took a four-year struggle with myelofibrosis to change his mind. His leukemialike bone marrow disease gives him constant bone pain. The chemotherapy gives him nausea that makes him vomit daily. The Vicodin, Ativan and other drugs he's taking to relieve those symptoms are losing their effectiveness, and he's afraid of getting addicted to them.

So now, at age 44, this Christian family man and lifelong Republican is considering medicating himself with marijuana. And he has become an unlikely advocate for the right to do so legally.
(click title for the rest of the article)

Here's my response to the article:

This pisses me off.

"It took a four-year struggle with myelofibrosis to change his mind."

Why in the hell do you wait until it's YOUR problem before you actually give a damn about people suffering?? That, to me, is the most selfish reason for advocating for medical marijuana. You don't need to be in the "crap" to give a damn about those already living in it. What's next? His healthcare costs are going to bankrupt him so he'll be advocating for the public option or even universal?

Or, worse. What's going to happen when his issue is resolved? Will he go back to not giving a damn because he's out of troubled waters, so to speak?

The most that medical marijuana advocates and legalization advocates would ask of people is that they listen and get all of the facts. But, he was not that kind of man. Many people in this nation aren't willing to listen. I have absolutely NO respect for people like that.

I hope he gets his marijuana. I just want to see how he acts after he gets the treatment he requires.

That's all I am going to say at this point. I am just severely disgusted.

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Racial Profiling, Statistically Speaking.

Racial Profiling

First of all, what's racial profiling.

Racial profiling basically states that certain races are prone to committing certain crimes.

However, the problem with racial profiling is that it is based on statistics or past history. Statistics is just a representation of data collection.

Therein lies the problem with racial profiling.

See, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be arrested and end up incarcerated, statistically. This is because, statistically, African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to commit crimes. Therefore, statistically, it makes sense that African Americans and Hispanics are targeted by police more often.

Wait.

Where are these statistics coming from? Who's collecting and compiling this data?

Well, statistically, White people are the data collectors. Statistically, White people are the data compilers. Statistically, White people are the ones doing the arresting and incarcerating. And, statistically, White people are the ones who report this data.

Hmmm.

Am I wrong? Statistically, no. Statistically, I am right. Whites do collect, compile, and report these statistics - statistically, of course.

So, what? Does it matter that Whites collect, compile and report statistics?

Hell yeah!

Statistically, this nation, of mostly Whites, has been anti-non-white! From the very day the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Whites have been the scourge of non-whites in North America from sea to shining sea. Statistically, that's true.

If you can deny that reality, please try to do so, statistically.

At any rate, since before the inception of this nation, African Americans and Hispanics have been targeted by Whites the most, statistically.

Targeted for what? Eh, let's not get into that.

And sure, many other people have been targeted, statistically. Ask the Japanese, Native Americans, Arabs. Or, check the statistics.

Statistics would show that the statistics for the criminal behavior based on race or ethnicity is severely skewed. By what? Racism.

Hey. You can't take one statistic and not the other. That's not how statistics work. Ah, but that is how racial profiling is being used by a mostly White majority, statistically.

Racial Profiling Misused

Have a look at this chart...
Hey, statistically, Whites make up over three-quarters of the marijuana users in the United States. However, statistically, African Americans and Hispanics make up more than 70% of those arrested and incarcerated for marijuana use. Check the statistics.

Hmmm.

Statistically, it would seem that local, state, and federal authorities don't do any racial profiling. If they did do any racial profiling at all, then wouldn't it make sense, statistically, that more Whites would be targeted, arrested, and incarcerated for marijuana offenses.

Also, if racial profiling is based on statistics, which set of statistics is being used. Think about it. If we're going by marijuana usage, then Whites should be targeted more. However, if we're going by crime statistics, the targeting, arrests, and incarceration of Blacks and Hispanics would make sense.
But, do current crime statistics - based on racism, statistically - justify the current state of racial profiling? Absolutely not!

Are you tired of statistics, yet?

I support racial profiling - REAL racial profiling - based on statistics that are not inherently skewed by the racist attitudes of those in power.

Does this mean that I want to see more White people arrested for marijuana offenses?

HELL NO! I want marijuana to be as legal as tobacco and alcohol for all of us.

However, if local, state, and federal authorities are going to racial profile people in general, wouldn't it make sense they follow statistics that aren't created through racism? Then again, that assumes they are actually racial profiling based on statistics and not just blatant racism.

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The Myth of Marijuana Potency

Intro

I've been keeping up with marijuana news more and more and something has gotten to me. It seems that the government has decided to rehash another long dead lie about marijuana in an effort to scare people into their way of thinking. The big lie is that marijuana is now more potent than it was 40-50 years ago. This is an old lie, debunked time and time again. The people that fall for it, the citizen drug warrior whose too stupid to know any better, makes it worse by extrapolating various absurdities from government-sanctioned drug DEAlers.

One of the great liars is the former drug czar, John P. Walters. Here he is lying about marijuana's potency via TheFreshScent.

The Great Marijuana Lie

One of the greatest lies, and my personal favorite, happens to be that marijuana growers are somehow genetically engineering some kind of super weed to explain why it's more potent. First of all, genetic engineering as a science is still very much in its infancy. To apply it to marijuana cultivation would be very costly and I doubt your local grower has that kind of money and the Mexican drug cartels are far from interested in delivering more potent marijuana. If they cared at all, Mexican cultivated marijuana wouldn't be some of the weakest marijuana available after hemp.

Do you really think "El Diablo" wants to drop his fortune trying to genetically modify marijuana when he could easily use it to buy another yacht, hotel, bank, federali, or military person? If you're one of these citizen drug warriors, you're probably stupid enough to believe that one. I wouldn't be surprised.

The reason people come up with these outrageous lies is because:

1. the naive don't know who to get the truth from and
2. they have to figure out some way to justify the lies.

Well, that's what I am here for.. to tell the truth about marijuana potency. Marijuana is NOT any more potent today than it was back in the 1960's. Allow me to repeat that...

MARIJUANA IS NOT ANY MORE POTENT TODAY THAN IT WAS BACK IN THE 1960's.

Fish Analogy: Explaining different potencies

People have to first understand that there are different kinds of marijuana out there. It's like the different types of fish. Fish have developed these traits over the last few million years long before genetic testing was so much as a glimmer in anyone's eye due to their environment. Just as environment can produce all kinds of cool, weird, beautiful, big, and small fish species, the earth's differing environments have produced different kinds of marijuana plants from small to tall to bushy to lanky with light green to purple colors. The potency ranges from less than 0.5% (hemp) to upwards of 20% (skunk). It's simply been this way for thousands of years. No one has done anything different to marijuana other than search and grow the best kinds.

As a grower, of course, I am going to look for strains that have the highest potency. It's no different than a home owner choosing which type of flowers, shrubs, and small trees he or she wants in their backyard. You want the best, so you look for the best. If you can have the most beautiful garden with a large variety of plants, what would you do?

Lacing the Truth

Although the government is blatantly lying about the potency of marijuana at every turn, there are some nefarious types out there. They do modify marijuana after it's already grown and harvested. These people will spray marijuana with chemicals that are harmful, if not fatal.

However, this can be compared to the lack of regulation that existed in the meat packing industry. Unregulated, you'd find all kinds of substances in your canned food from metal shavings to rats. It took the creation of the Food & Drug Administration to clean up the meat packing industry.

So, what are we to expect when it comes to a wholly unregulated marijuana industry? In the UK, people are spraying marijuana with some kind of silica to increase weight. In the US, almost everything is used to lace marijuana from roach spray to formeldahyde. If we want to protect ourselves, we're going to have regulate the marijuana industry to eliminate violent drug cartels as well as limit the danger that is inherent to a black market system.

Last Word

Unfortunately, the US government continues to leave the marijuana industry unregulated and dangerous. This is why I advocate growing your own marijuana. You can control the quality as well as keep money out of the hands of violent drug cartels. Unfortunately, growing your own marijuana, no matter how much it actually helps save lives, is a crime where men like Eddy Lepp and Charlie Lynch go to jail for providing good, clean, quality-controlled marijuana to various patients.

8 decades later and the best this government can do is continue lying about marijuana instead of controlling it.

Good job, America.

One More Thing

While the government is claiming that marijuana is reaching some kind of dangerous potency, pharmaceutical companies have created a synthetic (fake) 100% THC pill called marinol. And, it can't get any more potent than 100% pure. As long as marijuana remains illegal, drugs like marinol can be created so that pharmaceutical companies can make as much money from prohibition as possible.

If marijuana doesn't have any medical value then why would a pharmaceutical company develop synthetic marijuana in pill form? The sad and pitiful part is that it doesn't even work because it's too strong. Patients on marinol report of incapacitation for days at a time and terrible hallucinations. On top of that, marinol does not contain any of the helpful substances like Cannabinoids (CBDs) and Cannabinols (CBNs) which specifically help relieve nausea, alleviate pain, and relax you. Natural THC degrades into those CBDs and CBNs. How is unnatural, synthetic THC in pill form going to degrade into CBDs and CBNs? It won't which is why it does not, will not, and can not work.

But, thanks to the US government, terminally ill patients who can actually use natural marijuana can't get their hands on it. Their only option is a pill that doesn't even work.

Once again, good job, America.

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Marijuana still criminal! Fuck it!!

Is that all for marijuana legalization?

At this point in time in the marijuana legalization movement, I have to wonder: what's the problem, now? What's the hold up? Everything is pretty much in place - votes, politicians, sentiment is changing. Various politicians at local, state and federal levels are money hungry for marijuana taxes (sorry to say, you won't get as much as you think). Law enforcement, at the least the ones who give a damn about human life, are calling for marijuana legalization (some even calling for legalization of all "drugs"). And, the people are speaking up. Obama has asked for our input and on every occasion we've spoken up. They're voting for medical marijuana and decriminalization all over the nation.

So, what's the hold up? Is this really "it" for the movement? No big serious discussion in Congress outside of making the same mistakes since 1913 (yes, I am counting alcohol prohibition as well)? Just a bunch of small victories here and there while this ridiculous war on innocent human beings rages on?

YES! I've realized this is IT. This is the status quo and it isn't going to change. Let's settle for what we can get - a laughing dismissal from our President and small battles won here and there.

NO! Fuck that!

It's time to kick this shit into high gear. If these idiots in the government think they will win this war, they are sadly mistaken. I want my fuckin marijuana and I'm gonna get it whether you fuckin like it or not. Let NORML and MPP and ASA and all these nonprofits do what they must. They've done so much already but even they've hit a roadblock in my opinion. It's time to do more.

I have new aim or a renewed aim in this struggle. It's time for a fuckin shit load of civil disobedience. How is this to be done?

Before I became a grower and more politically aware of marijuana, I was buying that same Mexican ditchweed. At the time, it was good enough to do what it was supposed to do. After I'd finished my first grow, got to meet other growers, and introduced to quality marijuana, I put that nickle and dime seeded shit behind me.

Part I: Fresh support for Mexican drug cartels

Buy their cheap seeded marijuana. The purpose in doing this is because these animals in our government want a fight. The DEA wants a fight. The police want a fight. SO LET THEM HAVE IT. Give the Mexican Drug Cartels all the money they need to continue killing off the animals that want to continue fighting. Let them kill each other.

Goal: If the violence isn't enough now, I would only hope it could get to levels that make people really think about the problem at hand (since they clearly aren't thinking at all) and legalize marijuana.

Part II: Keep and plant those seeds

The good thing about Mexican marijuana is that it comes with plenty of seeds. Most people just throw away those seeds. Keep them and plant them. But, it's not going to help to plant them just anywhere. Plant them in your local park. They've got to go somewhere that will be healthy and visible. You only need to push the seed into the dirt up to your fingertip, about a 1/4 of an inch deep, so it shouldn't take more than a few seconds. Cover it up, throw a little water on it to get it started.

Goal: With feral marijuana growing in every part of the nation, it will surely cause a sort of local anarchy. Each pothead should let their government know that we're here and we're not going anywhere.

Part III: Grow your own

The future of marijuana is small, indepedent and co-op grow operations - around 5 to 10 plants per person, reaching no more than 4 feet tall. With a decent sized wardrobe, you can have your own grow op, easily. In fact, I, as well as others I know, can put your own grow closet together for under $300. In 4-6 months time, you could have a few ounces of high quality marijuana to call your own. When you get really good, you can be harvesting ounces of high quality marijuana every 2 months (perpetual harvesting). If anything should happen, throw some wheels on your "growbox" and move it to another location.

Check out ICMAG for Micro Growing.

Here are some direct links to what you can do with a small closet.
Super Silver Haze | Unidentified Strain | Critical Mass
Make sure you check out the entire thread for start to finish growing.

Here's another post on that forum that will help you build and maintain your own small grow: Micro Grow Library

Goal: Big grow ops attract too much attention. But, small grow ops are harder to find. The heat signatures are smaller, the smell is minimal to nonexistent if done right, and the risk is lower to you as an individual. With no big grow ops for local police to tout as "victory" in the War on Drugs, the failure becomes more evident.

Part IV: Each one, teach one

The one problem that marijuana suffers from is this misinformation campaign that's been waged against it since Harry J. Anslinger spoke to Congress in 1936. Our government continues to lie about marijuana usage. But, it's only through honest education about marijuana have we been able to progress since 1936. There's a medical marijuana is real. There's a reason why decriminalization occurs. It's because the people are smarter today than they were yesterday. That's why the laws are changing.

Goal: One more person that knows the truth about marijuana is another vote we have on our side.

Part V: Donate

Donate your time and your money to these non profits. At the end of the day, they do help.

Goal: Every movement needs a voice!!

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Can SimCity teach us how to run govt?

As I am without the internet until sometime Thursday when the technician comes, I've tried to find other things to do since I am not networking as much. And, I've been getting busy with some SimCity 3000. Unfortunately, I can't find disc 1 to my SimCity 4

One thing that I know about SimCity is that if you're hemorrhaging money, you won't last long. The game is set up so that you run a successful city indefinitely.
Well, what defines success?

Simple enough, as long as you're in the black or making money, you can maintain and expand your city, you're a success.

You zone for residential, commercial, and industry from light to medium to dense. Basically, it's the difference bewteen zoning for small homes to large industrial complexes. And, a burgeoning city will have a mixture of all these zones. People need a place to live, a place to work, and a place to buy things.

And, unfortunately, the government needs taxes to support services such as roads/bridges, water, electricity, education, fire department, and even police. Taxes also allow for ordinances which include things like smoke detectors, junior sports, and neighborhood watch programs. Finally, who's going to build and maintain those parks?

One cool facet to keep your city healthy is the neighborhood deal which may include buying or selling water delivery, garbage disposal services, and/or electricity. Depending on your excess of allocations for those services, you may be offered a deal.

If at any point, you run out of money, you can always get a loan. If you go in the hole deep enough, it's game over.

I know SimCity is a case of art imitating life but, it's still based on fundamentals. How "real" is SimCity? How close to life is this art?

I find that I am very Republican when I first start a city. Low taxes and low spending. Low taxes bring the people in fast. Low spending allows me to run a deficit. However, my Republicanism ends very quickly after which I turn into a Democrat because I can't run a deficit forever. The game will end, obviously.

Mostly, I do this because in SimCity, as is in the real world, people want this and they want that. For example, the elderly want shuttle service. Well, if that's going to happen, I'll need to find a way to afford it. Eventually so many people want so many different things that some will be ignored and others, to my thinking, are required. There's only so much "dealing" I can do. Therefore, I have to raise taxes so I can afford it.

One thing that I've learned is that you've got to plan for the future. In case something happens - natural disaster - I'll have some funds that I can quickly spend to rebuild the area quickly. That makes perfect sense doesn't it? However, I don't have to hoard all of the money! This is SimCity, not SimDictator or Tropico, which is a fun game as well.

At a certain point, I'll feel it is necessary to lower taxes because I am running on a surplus. What else would I do with that money after I've filled the city's "emergency fund"? Pay down the "city" debt? Well, if I had a debt, I'd be concentrating on getting rid of it, not lowering taxes. But, I guess that's the Democrat in me. Besides, I'd lose the game otherwise.

The most important thing to do in SimCity is listen to the people - petitioners and advisers. They come with gifts, advice, demands, and anger. It all depends on how you run the city.

I know if I run the city like a Republican, crime will go up, fire hazards will increase, traffic will get out of control, and people will leave the city and what little taxes I do get won't even begin to cover any of my expenses. Then, I have to cut back services which end up causing strikes, riots, and protests in the streets. At that point, all the bad things have taken hold and I couldn't attract people to my city with 0% taxes. The point is that I have to stay in the black or lose the game.

But, if I run my city like a Democrat, I know it will go on forever. Sure taxes will be higher than a Republican would like but, people have a home, they are working, and they are buying. Crime is low; my jails are only 10% full which equals about 0.06% of my population in jail. The RCI indicator is letting me know that people desire more industry and residential while commercial desirability is stable. My taxes are comfortably are lower than what I started with. And, I am well above my "emergency fund" so I can actually begin deficit spending by lowering taxes even more. Why not? I can afford it since my cash flow has increased almost 300% even with the lower taxes.

Interesting! How exactly does it work that I have lower taxes and more income even though my spending increased? Well I also have 6,000 more people in my city! I didn't need to increase services so they can pay more into the system for the same efficient and effective services! And, that's how you run a government.

Unfortunately, SimCity is not real life. When you have problems in SimCity, you can start over again. You can't start over in real life. You've got to actually fix problems or else they persist and worsen. And, you definitely can't fix your problems by ignoring them or continuing the same policies that caused problems in the first place. That's not just a political reality, it's personal reality.
End
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

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Reality Check: Marijuana won't boost economy

Intro

First and foremost, let me say that I would love to see marijuana legalized in the United States. As a user, with some growing experience, I believe it will be the best thing in the long run for this nation. Let's continue...

Now that I am down from the high - that is, the high I got from hearing that California may legalize marijuana outright and NJ's attempt at medical marijuana - I realize or at least believe that marijuana will not be that great of a boost to the economy. In fact, I'll go so far as to say that it's the worst idea yet regardless of what side your on - for the economy or for legalization. In fact, I believe, if anything, it may be a boost to anti-marijuana groups in the long term when it does NOT work to boost the economy as many expect.

Problem One: Fallacy of Worth

Today, marijuana is the number one cash crop valued at about $40 Billion in the United States alone. No one argues that figure. California alone expects to reap in $1 Billion of that in tax revenues if they are successful at legalizing it. But, anyone with any business acumen, if they think about it carefully, knows that is not true. When gauging the worth of a product, we take in all factors - costs, supply vs demand, taxes, profit margin, etc.

Cost
If we discuss the costs, all one needs to remember is the very reason marijuana is such a high value cash crop is due to prohibition. The fact that it's illegal drives up the price considerably. Take away the prohibition and the prices plummet from cultivation to trafficking to the final point of sale. No prohibition = no risk = lower operational costs.

Supply vs Demand
Also, it's a given that growers will not only grow more marijuana but will be less likely to lose crops to DEA/police raids and theft. Factor in the long term potential that marijuana may have foreign suppliers from all over the world. All of this leads to a greater supply and much lower costs of cultivation along with the competition from many different suppliers from around world. Any kid, after a high school economics class, will tell you all about that supply vs demand chart. Granted, once prohibition is lifted, demand will increase but it will be wrong to imagine that competition alone won't drive down the prices especially if US growers are competing with South Africa or Zimbabwe where you can get damn good landrace sativas for around $20 USD per pound.

Taxes
Califorina Assemblyman Tom Ammiano proposed a fixed tax of $50 per ounce of marijuana. How feasible is this when marijuana prices hit rock bottom? You get more than an ounce of tobacco in a carton of cigarettes which you can buy online for $10-$20. Imagine paying another $50 for marijuana that not only costs considerably less but probably isn't even rolled for you.

When NY started to increase the taxes on a pack of cigarettes, it opened up a black market. I recently gassed my car at a Hess station off the University Heights bridge and there was a sign stating $7.56 for a pack of cigarettes, "lowest price allowed by law." You can get the same pack on the street for $4. While I believe in taxation, we need to be equitable and reasonable in taxing policy, something the United States has not done very well intelligently.

All one needs to do is look up information on the 1920 and 1930's era of alcohol prohibition to understand the TRUE value of marijuana as a cash crop [Wiki].

When [the] repeal of Prohibition occurred in 1933, organized crime lost nearly all of its black market alcohol profits in most states (states still had the right to enforce their own laws concerning alcohol consumption), because of competition with low-priced alcohol sales at legal liquor stores.

We've been here before. Let's not act "new to the game".

Problem Two: Smoker Beware

As a person with growing experience, I know what it takes to plant, care for, and process marijuana properly. One thing we don't do as growers is use chemicals in the drying and curing process of marijuana. While I expect that to continue in the short term, in the long term, we WILL have companies like Altria (Phililp Morris/Marlboro) who infest their tobacco products with all kinds of manmade chemicals. This is to be expected if marijuana is actually legalized.

Also, let's mention the idea that when the regulations hit, the potency will be controlled. As a user and grower, I will NOT be purchasing marijuana when they begin this practice especially when I can grow my own more potent marjuana and it should be legal for me to do so if they're legalizing marijuana. Or, maybe I'd just get my product direct from the grower. That's how everyone does it now, technically.

Problem Three: What about hemp?

We're talking about legalizing marijuana but where's the conversation about hemp and all of its benefits. It seems as though these politicians are counting on the potheads to rescue the economy without making any mention of the use of hemp as a cash crop. I'd like to assume that if the consumption of marijuana is made legal then also hemp itself, a very low-thc version of marijuana which can be used to produce food, clothing, and a million other things. I just hope my assumption isn't far from reality.

Problem Four: Greed is always a bad idea

Legalizing marijuana because you think it will be a boost to the economy isn't a smart reason; it's a greedy reason. People who are greedy don't think carefully about the actions they take. While I do believe it will be a boost in the short term as demand will increase faster than supply, in the long term, legalized marijuana will be a huge disappointment.

Legalize marijuana because it's the right thing to do to repair the backward drug policy that does more harm to the United States than good. Even if people believe marijuana is dangerous, prohibition is a great deal more harmful to society than the substance itself. And I think with the fact that no one has ever died from marijuana use, we can safely assume that it just might be safer than drinking too much water [Water Poisoning].

Anti-marijuana ammo
In forgetting about the safety and benefits of marijuana and ignoring anti-marijuana groups' concern for the love of money, we may give these fringe groups all the ammo they need to recriminalize marijuana in the future. Why should it be legal if it doesn't boost the economy? It's a pitiful backdoor attempt at legalizing marijuana, much like the people who have the audacity to piggy back onto medical marijuana efforts. I am NOT for it. NOT THIS WAY!

One Benefit: Lower Law Enforcement Costs

The greatest benefit of legalizing marijuana is the cost savings associated with the paring down of law enforcement expenditures. I've written about this recently [Budget cuts? Police first!]. I'd rather the United States, or California, make the smart decision to legalize marijuana instead of thinking it will be a major boon to the economy.

Perhaps, the short term boost is all this economy requires. But, then what?

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