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Domain: norml.org

Stories and comments across the archive that link to norml.org.

Comments · 153

  1. Re:Gag rule by Wah · · Score: 1 · on New Cyberlaws

    I'm adding the links to my page too. There are a number of good information sites to link to The Marijuana Policy Project, and NORML are good places to start.

    You can also checkout Yahooka for a search engine type site.

    Don't be afraid to test laws you think are wrong (I know this isn't law yet), and if you do go to court the Internet is absolutely amazing at drumming up grass-roots support (at least until the governmet makes that illegal too ;-)

    To quote MLK somewhat out of context "one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws".

    The Beastie Boys also had something to say on the subject: "You gotta fight! For your right! To paaaarrty."

  2. Re:Two Choices by hardcorejon · · Score: 1 · on UCITA is passed

    > They will take power away from big government and gladly allow big business to take up the slack.

    WRONG. The purpose of a corporation is to maximize shareholder value. The only way they can do that is to sell something that people like. A very democratic process. Without government intervention, the free market MUST provide consumers with the best possible products. This gets perverted when government incentives exist (subsidies, special protections). (side note: I believe there is a case for anti-trust law, but otherwise I am against governmental interference in the operation of a market.)

    Corporations DO NOT wield the same power as govnement. They cannot force people to buy their products (M$ excepted - see above note on antitrust), and they cannot put people in jail because they don't like their personal choices.

    The point I'm trying to make here is that governmental power is coercive power. Taking that power away simply leaves we the citizens with less coercion, and more choice. This is a Good Thing. Coercive power cannot be "snatched up" by corporations, or anyone - coercive power exists solely within the government.

    > The purpose of government is to do whatever the people want it to do.

    WRONG. Madison's essays on the politics of faction make some clear warnings about a minority of people (read: corporations, christian right, etc) forcing their world-view upon everyone. The purpose of government is to allow people to do as they wish while allowing others the to same , and resolving disputes arising from the above (civil courts).

    Example: Let's pretend that the South won the Civil War, and slavery were still legal there. Even if the majority of people think it's OK, its the government's sole function to protect the individual liberty of its citizens. Consensus does not equal justice.

    Once again, pardon my rantings if you disagree... just give me a good retort. That's what America's all about (to me): open discussions and wildly different points of view.

    OK: The libertarian party home page is at http://www.lp.org/. Other sites I enjoy are the ACLU, the Internation Society for Individual Liberty, and NORML.


    - jonathan.

  3. The war on drugs IS insane by gavinhall · · Score: 1 · on Al Gore Buzzword Bingo
    Posted by TRF:

    i sure hope that you sweep the floors and empty the garbage at Motorola, but I think that I see here a classic case of denial. You can stop whenever you want to, right? It helps clear your mind, right? That is the only explanation for such a non-sensical comment. Using drugs DOES make you a loser, whether you use them for acceptance, low self-esteem, the inability to deal with reality, psychological problems or the inability to determine or care about right and wrong. It is wrong for a reason, and not because of the mafia. You benefit (if it's appropriate to use that word) from the majority of people that don't use drugs, who drive down the street not stoned, who show up for work everyday and produce, who raise kids who learn that drugs are bad, addictive and no solution for anything. So just keep the windows clean, the floors vacuumed and remember to lock the doors on your way home. What a looser. I mean luser. I mean losur. I mean LOSER.

    What I see here is a classic case of someone spewing classic FUD because they know nothing of the issues. Try to educate yourself on a topic before calling someone a loser for understanding it better then you. Either that or post as an AC so there isn't a permanent record of your foolishness.

    (The post I'm replying to flames a Motorola employee for admitting to smoking pot.)

    This discussion may be off-topic, but Slashdot is still a good forum. It is a good forum because the war against marijuana consists almost entirely of FUD. Slashdot readers are some of the best FUD fighters out there. Here's an article that should disgust even the most conservative Slashdotters.

    http://www.norml.org/news/index.shtml# story2

    Todd

    ---
    Every 45 seconds, another arrest for using Linux. 695,000 last year. It's time for a change.
    -- National Organization for the Replacement of Microsoft with Linux.
    Every 45 seconds, another arrest for Linux. 695000 last year. It's time for a change.