"We're in a period of know-nothingism in the country, where truth and science and facts don't weigh in. It's all short-order, lowest common denominator, cheap-seat politics." – Sen. Kerry (D-MA) (boston.com)
This from a man who sits in his tub soaking with his Ketchup queen wife and wonder how he lost to that idiot G.W. Bush. This from a man who wants us to just sit down, shut up and let him and the other lizard overlords rule over us.
Hopefully that will be how we remember Rep. Boswell, as a name, as a footnote. As for how he represented the 3rd District it was very unremarkable. He has had no reason to be remarkable, the independent vote has asked nothing of him and just falls in line and re-elects him every 2 years. When asked what his 16 years as a congressman has produced his claim was a veteran’s bill to help with suicide issues after serving, don’t get me wrong they need all the help we can give veterans. He also mentioned live stock legislation attached to a farm bill, but after 16 years that is an awful long time to only be able to mention 2 pieces of law when he personally has collected 1.6 to 2 million in salary as a congressman. If he is defeated next week what type of pension will he receive? The only one who has benefited from our relationship with Leonard Boswell is Leonard Boswell.
It is time for a change. Brad Zaun has his own issues like all of us do, and as a people we have struggled with financial and personal issues, he too has been there. As a Councilman, Mayor and State Senator Brad Zaun has always been an honest broker and a man who has been available and in touch with his community.
Legalization of Marijuana which is on the ballot in California this November has a very good chance of actually passing. I am sure there will be some legal hurtles to jump but it most likely will be available to the general public by next summer. What does this mean for the rest of the nation and how does this conservative feel about this biggest change in drug laws since the end of prohibition.
I have a libertarian ilk in me that wants government out of our lives. Yet I know there are many areas that a government body needs to protect, namely protection of our property. The very reason why we broke away from England was because of a lack of property rights for the colonist. Until just a few years ago, this was not even an issue, however, courts began to agree with local and state government bodies that condemning property for the “greater good” under eminent domain includes for tax purposes. This and other examples are why we should not trust any level of government and should always challenge their logic.
Other areas I believe the government has a right to regulate are ones in which it is difficult for the general population to be an expert in, yet are necessary for our well being, such as pharmaceutical items and the medical industry as a whole. I cannot know the effects of drugs on my body nor do I have the time to investigate most drugs, so I rely on a government agency to regulate the industry. Monopolies in energy, electronics or any industry that is necessary to life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness can be shown to have a need for governmental oversight.
Marijuana is a controlled substance according to federal laws; however, states have used different sets of rules regarding its use. In 14 states there is a maximum amount you can have on you as “personal use” without being arrested, these are different from federal laws however, and it would be very difficult to enforce such small amounts (typically under 2oz). I whole heartedly believe that state laws should trump federal laws when it comes to rights not found in the constitution or its amendments.
According to the UN, about 4% of adults admit to using Marijuana annually, however, that number is probably higher in the US as 42% of adults claim to have used it at some point in their lives. This ranks second to Canada and I found the list of top users interesting, in 3rd is New Zealand followed by Denmark, France and Great Britain. The interesting part is that they are all industrialized, “white” majority populations, I’m not sure what it means but of interest none the less.
The theory of Marijuana being a “Gateway” drug has some validity in that almost anyone who has used harder drugs probably used Marijuana first. Much like alcoholics most likely started with beer as their “gateway” to the other liquors. This is why no one gets truly upset the first time someone drinks a beer but it is still regulated the same as all other alcohols.
To the point:
I believe Marijuana should be kept illegal in any amount for those under 18, Prop 19 allows for only over 21, but again these laws are inconsistent with most laws, either 18 is the “age or majority” or it is not. It is okay for parents to be hypocrites and tell their kids they didn’t do it and neither should they (the kids). For those over 18, a small amount (1 oz or less) should be legal for personal use. This should be sold through much regulated stores, perhaps state ran stores, and not grown in your home or farm. We do not allow bathtub gin to be bottled and sold because it cannot be regulated or taxed. I know and believe that this will continue to create a market which brings the drug up from Mexico and other Central and South America countries but that is why we need to regulate our borders through a fence and better immigration laws (for another blog)
All laws were Marijuana use is found to have influenced a person’s decisions should be the same as under the influence of alcohol. Heavy fines, jail and loss of driving privileges must be part of the punishment for abusing its use. Employers can mandate its employees to not use Marijuana while at work, like other controlled substances, with exceptions for doctor prescriptions.
The irony here is that the very progressives that would sponsor such legislation will later criticize and segregate Marijuana smokers for the same reasons they go after tobacco smokers, pollution (global warming), health issues and taxation.
I am completely satisfied with the current laws in Iowa and if it is never legalized I will be happy with that decision too. Any substance that alters your mind can potentially be harmful to you and should be avoided.
I was reading news on the internet (via popurl.com) and I came across the headline “Lauren Booth converts to Islam” I highlighted the line because the name was not typically one that would be connected to Islam, being a woman, and the summary stated “Sister-in-law to Tony Blair”. This got my attention being a person so close to an international leader who had, in 2007, converted to Catholicism.
Mr. Blair’s wife was born Cherie Booth and Lauren is a half-sister who is a journalist and human rights activist (according to Wikipedia). She works for Press TV which is an English television station owned by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. Her experience in recent years has been in the middle-east and has been pro-palestinian.
Women in their early 40’s don’t usually convert, especially to a religion like Islam without something changing in their life. The first thing I thought of was that she had married a man from the middle-east, a check told me that wasn’t it, she was married to a minor actor/screenwriter Craig Darby (not even on IMBD) and has 2 children. So what gives?
In 2009 she had 2 events that might be a clue. She had a fight with her husband, via Facebook and actually changed her status to “single”. Now this might and is nothing but a couple days later Darby had a bad motorcycle accident that put him in a coma. The second event was that all this became known in the media.
There were several articles on these chain of events and although she was treated as a sympathetic person who just got angry for a moment and felt terrible, it still had to take a big toll on her personally. Her husband did recover after about 6 months with several issues including vision and memory.
None of the articles gave any reason for her conversion, but that she has worn traditional clothing and given up pork, alcohol and prays 5 times per day. This is a woman offered in 2001 to model for playboy! I have to believe that she was forced to asses her life and she wasn’t happy with it and despite Islam’s harsh treatment of woman in the middle-east and world wide, she is going for it. No word if her husband or children are converting but if they don’t that divorce maybe coming soon. (guardian.uk)
Donna Baker, a TPN member from Gainesboro, Tennessee, for example, wrote: “Yes, things ran quite well before the swarm of manipulated underclasses invaded our country. If they stayed home and made half the effort to change their country as they do marching our streets demanding our laws not be enforced, they could change their own lives. They are blindly being used and manipulated by other forces ... [they are] a huge burgeoning looming voting bloc.”I don't believe things ran quite well before some date in this persons mind, but if these hard working people did change things back home, it might be a better place. I know that if my ancestors had also demanded better conditions I wouldn't be here either but my ancestors didn't expect this government to take care of them without assimilation.
In February 2009, Rick Santelli (CNBC) was reporting from the Chicago Exchange and called the stimulus plan government’s “Bad behavior” and mentioned a “Tea Party” protest (video). At the same time other movements were beginning in places like Seattle, WA. As these blogs got picked up by the Drudge Report and The Huffington Post things were set in motion and the April 15, 2009 tax day protest occurred in most of the 50 states.
The “movement” had identified mostly tax related and federal spending agenda items as it core reason to exist. A balanced budget, simplified tax system, limits on federal spending along with a rejection of health care legislation and “cap and trade” policies were and are at the center of the Tea Party.
However, everybody seems to pour their own beliefs into what they believe the ‘Tea Party’ stands for. If you are a progressive you see it as an “asto-turf” movement on cutting your pet projects in government. If you are a minority rights group you see it as a racist agenda organization that wants to take away the rights of “non-whites”. If only want to help the poor, they are against children and women, if you want to allow the tax cuts to sunset (as they will on Jan. 1st, 2011) you see the party as being for the rich. Everyone who has an agenda seems to somehow dump that into the Tea Party. This includes Republicans who are spending money to incorporate or hijack the movement for their benefit. This cannot be allowed to happen
The ‘Tea Party’ isn’t even really a party, it is a movement without a center and that is the way it should be. Once it has actual leaders they can be corrupted by the other parties which will lead to its demise. There are parties running candidates but they are in individual states and are not a national organization nor should one be created.
Much like the premise of our constitution and our motto “E pluribus unum” (from many one) the ‘Tea Party’ movement must be grassroots and have a singular focus of limited government and yet be open to any candidate that believes in the same agenda.
