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Radio Debate: Directing America`s Drug War: Which Way to a Safer Society
NPR Justice Talking ^
| 10/4/2002
| NPR
Posted on 11/16/2001 1:24:11 PM PST by WindMinstrel
5th Amendment: "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself"
It was President Richard Nixon who first declared a war on drugs after the 1960’s counter culture ushered in a decade of widespread recreational drug use. Nixon called America’s drug addiction public enemy #1 and he created the Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA. Since then, Americans have spent billions of dollars on drugs and billions more supporting government efforts to keep drugs out of our country and crack down on users and dealers. Are we winning the war on drugs? Or is it time to re-evaluate America’s anti-drug strategy?
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Gary Johnson is the first governor of New Mexico to be elected to two consecutive 4-year terms. Governor Johnson has used his bully pulpit to push for a reform of drug laws in his state and in the nation. He is a successful business man, an accomplished athlete and a graduate of the University of New Mexico.
Asa Hutchinson is the administration of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, the DEA. A former federal prosecutor and state chairman of the Arkansas Republican party, Mr. Hutchinson represented the 3rd District of Arkansas in Congress from 1997 to 2001. He is a graduate of Bob Jones University and got his law degree at the University of Arkansas.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: wodlist
To: WindMinstrel; *Wod_list
booting for wod_list
To: WindMinstrel
When will people realize that getting rid of vice through governmental force is as much of a wishy-washy utopian idea as a classless society where no one wants for anything?
3
posted on
11/16/2001 1:24:15 PM PST
by
dheretic
Comment #4 Removed by Moderator
To: WindMinstrel
I was especially alarmed by this from Asa Hutchinson: "The law is a master teacher in our country. It guides each generation as to what is acceptable conduct in the community."
Yes, we are all little children who need the government to tell us what is acceptable and what isn't. He sounds like a social engineer of the worst sort. The purpose of the law is not to teach us right from wrong. It is to protect us from force and fraud.
That said, this unfortunate statement comes from Gary Johnson:
Moderator: "What has shaped your views on drugs and drug policy, Governor Johnson."
Johnson: "Well, my views have been shaped by personal use of marijuana."
I know the drug warriors are going to have a field day with that one. :)
To: Optimus Gladius
Another zinger from Johnson, regarding the current view of the Drug War: "I do think the needle is moving nationwide."
To: Optimus Gladius
I was especially alarmed by this from Asa Hutchinson: "The law is a master teacher in our country. It guides each generation as to what is acceptable conduct in the community." Yes, we are all little children who need the government to tell us what is acceptable and what isn't. He sounds like a social engineer of the worst sort.
"Social engineer" is far too mild---try "paternalistic tyrant."
7
posted on
11/16/2001 1:24:58 PM PST
by
MrLeRoy
To: WindMinstrel
Gov. Johnson is a hero and a patriot, and a true defender of freedom. The Republican Party needs to recognize him as the voice of a new generation of conservatives, ready to move beyond the failed policy of drug prohibition and return to the laissez-faire policy that served our republic well for its first 138 years.
Hutchinson, on the other hand, is yet another drug warrior beating the same tired old prohibitionist drum. The recent 10th Amendment violations committed by DEA agents against lawful California medical-marijuana practitioners have clearly underscored that he is on the side of big, intrusive, socialistic government and cares not one whit about Constitutional limitations of federal power.
8
posted on
11/16/2001 1:25:06 PM PST
by
bassmaner
To: MrLeRoy
well, he did graduate from Bob Jones University...
To: fod; central scrutinizer
Hey, anybody seen fod or cs lately?
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