Monday, November 21, 2016

Ending The War on Drugs and the Thirteenth Amendment




If you follow me on social media or know me in real life, you can't help but be very aware that I am a passionate and vocal advocate for repealing drug prohibition and ending America's failed War on Drugs. If you know me well at all, you know that I am a former police officer and this might seem to be a bit of a conflict of interest. Not so. When I took my oaths to be a police officer, a sailor, and a soldier, they were not to a particular law or set of laws, but to support and defend the US Constitution. it read;

"I, (state name of enlistee), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military JusticeSo help me.(God is optional here)"

What does this have to do with Cannabis and other drugs? The War on Drugs is not a war on chemicals or morality, but a war on freedom and the American People. In America, we become legal, consenting adults at the age of eighteen. We then have legal self-ownership. We have the right to make our own choices and to live with our successes and failures. Our nation is infested and overwhelmed with unconstitutional laws that are stripping us of our autonomy and reverting us to the status of wards of the state. On the one hand is Big Brother, watching over us and doing our thinking for us because we can't make intelligent, mature decisions for ourselves. On the other hand, is the Nanny State, providing all of our basic needs at someone else's expense, and making sure we don't harm ourselves.

The War on Drugs is destroying the fabric of America. It is statist government run rampant. It comes down to one thing; Self-ownership. The complete repeal of prohibition and an end to the War on Drugs. I think every time someone gets giddy because they have "allowed" limited medical marijuana or decriminalized simple possession making it "just" a civil offense with a fine rather than a misdemeanor or felony, we reaffirm that they had a right to tell us what to do with our bodies in the first place and they dig in harder about allowing more. 


California's recent legalization was not popular with a lot of advocates because it greatly limits manufacturing and other options leaving a lot of control in the hands of government and big business squeezing out small businesses and individual rights.

We are adults and we should never permit our government to treat us as anything less.

I do not currently indulge in the use of cannabis and haven't for years. I am one of many people who would greatly benefit from it in a lot of aspects. I have arthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve damage, heart disease, healing problems, neuropathy, sleep apnea, insomnia, and mild depression. Most of my medical care is through the VA. Everything they prescribe has severe side effects. Cannabis has no dangerous side effects and there has never been a documented fatality from cannabis usage alone.

People drown in bath tubs, and drink bleach, antifreeze, and drain cleaner. They choke to death on pen caps and yet we don't ask the government to ban them to protect us from ourselves.

They say consensual crimes are victimless. That is false. Because these activities between consenting adults have been made illegal, everyone pays. The laws do far more damage than the acts themselves. We turn people who hurt no one into career criminals when their record keeps them from gainful employment. Their spouses and children become dependent on a broken system when they are no longer there to provide for them. We create enormous profits that finance organized crime and turn neighborhoods into war zones. Problem users find difficulty getting help because of the stigma and legalities. Our prisons overflow with non-violent offenders with mandatory minimum sentences while dangerous violent offenders are turned loose. Our law enforcement is corrupted, militarized, and develop a Them vs. Us mentality. Racial discrimination runs rampant. Politicians are paid off by Big Pharma, Big Timber, Big Oil, Big Cotton, the private prison industry, and other special interest groups, and America loses. America loses. This is unacceptable.
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It's about time we enforced it, rather than turning everything into a crime.




I am proud to be a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) and urge you to check them out and support their efforts.
www.LEAP.cc

Friday, November 11, 2016

Castrated Nation

America has gotten soft. Castration, as well as self-castration, will do that. I am reminded of Hugh Farnham's son, Duke, in Robert A Heinlein's insightful novel, Farham's Freehold. A great read.

I don't want to be castrated by political correctness or the Thought Police. I don't want to be defanged by Big Brother or the Nanny State for thinking for myself. I served my country in the Navy and the Army as well as as a police officer. I still serve and protect. I am still under oath to protect the United States Constitution and our country from all enemies both foreign and domestic. I'm the last of the Baby Boomers. We were taught to be independent, to question authority, to think for ourselves, to stand up for the righteous underdog, to do the right thing even when no one is watching, to be proud of who we are as individuals and Americans, and to have a strong work ethic. TANSTAAFL. Much of that seems lacking in many of today's entitled, highly sensitive youth. We, as a people and as a nation, will not survive if we do not reclaim it soon! Sky Daddy might hand out Participation awards, but Real Life rarely does.

Many of the misguided liberal denizens of Academia have always tried to make the warrior class seem like mindless heathens. History is full of warrior scholars and those too afraid to get out from behind closed doors will always fear and demean them. The old military adage, "Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way." comes to mind. If you choose to castrate yourselves and bleed to death on the side of the road, you have only yourselves to blame. I face my fears head on, with intelligence, courage, and conviction. If that makes me a monster, so be it.

If you are reading this and still clueless what I am rambling on about then read Ayn Rand's Anthem. It doesn't come with a free spine, but it helps. I am a Libertarian. It is not a party to me. It is the philosophy that a people with minimal government and maximum freedom has the most opportunity to excel in Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. We are not guaranteed happiness. Life has risks. Without it there is no gain, no progress, and little meaning. "Don't hurt people and don't take their stuff." It should be simple. No Safe Places, Time Outs, or Stress Cards required. Is Donald Trump my first choice for president? No, far from it. Is he the end of the world as we know it? No. Our government is not set up that way. Quit caving to the fearmongers. Exercise your Constitutional rights, especially the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms as it protects all of the others. Nobody is coming to save us. Take responsibility for yourself and your choices. Nut up.

Twisted Faces - Caricature Art from Rock Cowles

Twisted Faces - Caricature Art from Rock Cowles
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Caricatures by Rock Kowulz