Monday, August 24, 2015

Marijuana reform - Keeping non-violent people out of privatized prisons, and in productive, comfortable situations.

Sanders recently won over cannabis advocates at a campaign rally in Nevada on Tuesday, where the Democratic nominee expressed his stance on the failed War on Drugs, as well as the private prison system.

“We want to deal with minimum sentencing,” Sanders said on Tuesday. “Too many lives have been destroyed for non-violent issues. People that are sent to jail have police records. We have got to change that. Our job is to keep people out of jail, not in jail.”

Sanders has also laid out his personal drug policy clearly on his website, which calls for treatment for drug offenders over punishment and legalization of medical marijuana. As for recreational legalization, however, Sanders would like to evaluate the laws passed in states like Colorado and Washington before moving forward.

A recent High Times poll shows that 35 percent of participants would choose Sanders as president. Rand Paul, another noted pro-pot candidate, comes in next at 23 percent, while Hillary Clinton is tied with “none” at 16 percent.

http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth - an Aug. 20 item.

Rand Paul makes sense on a lot of things, and has not gotten press attention comparable to his issue positions. Also, he should be commended for his charity eye operations in Haiti. That, of course, being separate from his policy and prospects in seeking the presidency.

But how about Secretary Clinton holding her own against none of them? As a thought experiment, move the former Secetary of State's name into the listing of the seventeen [at present] Republicans, and NONE OF THEM as then a nineteenth choice, and what would you expect on a nationwide poll of registered voters who voted in at least the last two elections, 2012 and 2014? If having to guess, NONE OF THEM would top that poll or at least come in second or third. And with a poll so structured of likely November 2016 general election voters, would that be an indictment of the two party system we suffer?

And what if there were to be such a poll with either Elizabeth Warren or Bernie in a listing as a twentieth choice? Reflect on that thought experiment. What would such a poll show about the mood in our nation? Where would Trump and Jeb be in such a more-inclusive poll and what inferences would be possible were that kind of a poll to be taken? How about - if NONE OF THEM were top choice going four years with a vacant presidency? It would quell objections to law setting by executive order. Something objected to by one faction during the W occupancy of the White House; and during Obama's, with only the constituency of the objectors being different.