Generally, sitting in a city or county jail cell for contempt of court is going to be preferable to whatever high security prison you'll be in for the felony that's hiding on your encrypted drive. Just keep telling the judge that you don't recall your passphrase and eventually you'll get out since there is no way that it can be proven that you do remember it.
>And maybe the reason that those local stores closed down was from unfair competition - companies like Amazon that didn't have to charge sales taxes.
Here in Seattle, Amazon has to charge sales tax, yet they still have better prices than almost any local store. I think the lack of sales tax everywhere else is just gravy.
>The constitution embodies this while trying to provide for the maximum individual freedom.If such individuals wish to harm many more than themselves by indirectly supporting an economy based around addictive substances can...
Now I'm pretty sure you're trolling, but just in case you're just deluded, yes, the constitution had it right. It doesn't give the federal government any power at all to regulate drug use. It took a constitutional amendment for them to be able to restrict alcohol. The same should be required for other drugs. Besides, you missed my point. Even the most restrictive societies on the planet still cannot stop drug use. You cannot take the real steps that would be required to stop any significant use of drugs without turning the country into a police state. Even then, it wouldn't stop completely.
>Your altered consciousness posses an *EXTREME* higher risk to society than almost anything else I can think of.
No, it doesn't. My altered consciousness doesn't pose any risk to society whatsoever. This has been proved through 20 years of altering it in various ways without causing any trouble for anyone. Your 80/20 rule is crap, since most of those 20 would cause problems with or without substances. Give them treatment, or put them in jail if they continue to cause problems and you'd solve almost all of the problems you imagine are caused by drugs. Incarcerating anyone for the simple act of using drugs is asinine.
>Yea I may seem a little disrespectful. I've seen so much drug abuse, how it grips a person and destroys families.
If you're working with hardcore alcoholics, I'm sure it's easy to see all alcohol use as horrible even though the vast majority of people can have a glass of wine with dinner and never have any problem. The situation is exactly the same with other drugs. The undue burden on society is caused by their illegality, not the drugs themselves. If a heroin/meth/cocaine addict could get their fix as easily and cheaply as the wino can, what's the problem?
>Remove the 20% of the most harmful substances and realize 80% of the benefit.
Except that that's completely impossible in anything like a free society. People want to alter their consciousness, and as long as they aren't actually harming anyone else, it's none of your business at all and a giant waste of resources to even try. Give treatment to the people who need it, and leave everyone else alone.
>Assuming your statement is valid you still have not have addressed the addicts doing whatever they can to obtain the substance in question
Alcohol is both highly intoxicating and addictive. How often do you hear about drunks robbing the 7-11 for their cheap wine?
>It is the addiction that removes freedom.
And the vast majority of people who try any given drug never become addicted. Even heroin has a 5% addiction rate, with most users trying it a few times or only occasionally. If someone is addicted to a drug, treat them for it. If they aren't, leave them alone.
>From the comments in this thread, it seems like most US internet users (even the savvy users on Slashdot) likewise believe that US web censorship is only for blocking IP infringement, and never for censoring political discussion.
So what political discussion or topic is it that's being censored in the US?
Amazon *does* collect sales tax in Washington, and their prices are still lower. Probably because they don't have to deal with all of the extra crap that a brick and mortar does.
Strange that I still order from Amazon and live in Washington State, where they do collect sales tax. Could it be because their prices are still lower than what I'd pay at the store? Hmmm...
The mechanism for micro and macro evolution is exactly the same - inheritance plus mutation plus differential survival rates. The *only* difference is in the amount of time involved. There is no water to walk across. One species turns into 2 when they can no longer produce fertile offspring. Unless you can come up with some plausible reason for this not to happen, it's a perfectly acceptable extrapolation.
Hey! I just moved away from Cleveland a year ago. I lived in the warehouse district. If you're talking about East Cleveland or downtown, I do see where you're coming from. There are certainly places where I wouldn't even get out of my car and walk anywhere in the middle of the day. I have to laugh when I hear people talk about the 'bad neighborhoods' of Seattle - the worst neighborhood here is about the equivalent of Lakewood. There is no place here I wouldn't walk around any time day or night. It really does suck that you can't let your kid play outside on his own. I can't imagine what growing up like that would be.
It's the people who live in the completely suburban, safe neighborhoods who still act like there are kidnappers behind every bush who drive me crazy.
He's 7 years old and not allowed to play in the yard unsupervised? Seriously? Do you live in the middle of a war zone? What do you think is going to happen to him out there?
I moved from Cleveland to Seattle about a year ago and now I telecommute all the time. It definitely saves on gas and lunch expenses, since I usually just eat leftovers now. Overall, it's hard for me to say whether it's been like a raise or not since the cost of living is a bit higher here, but there is no state income tax. It is hard to put a price on the ability to roll out of bed, make a cup of copy, and start working.
"For one thing, there’s enough easily mined thorium in the ground to power the world for a thousand years. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the United States has an estimated 440,000 tonnes, Australia and India about 300,000 tonnes each, and Canada about 100,000 tonnes."
Slashdot Mirror
Oh, anecdotal evidence! You're so silly.
You know, you can select the color of the light with cfl bulbs. If you don't like the color yours are putting out, pick a different one.
Generally, sitting in a city or county jail cell for contempt of court is going to be preferable to whatever high security prison you'll be in for the felony that's hiding on your encrypted drive. Just keep telling the judge that you don't recall your passphrase and eventually you'll get out since there is no way that it can be proven that you do remember it.
>And maybe the reason that those local stores closed down was from unfair competition - companies like Amazon that didn't have to charge sales taxes.
Here in Seattle, Amazon has to charge sales tax, yet they still have better prices than almost any local store. I think the lack of sales tax everywhere else is just gravy.
>The constitution embodies this while trying to provide for the maximum individual freedom.If such individuals wish to harm many more than themselves by indirectly supporting an economy based around addictive substances can...
Now I'm pretty sure you're trolling, but just in case you're just deluded, yes, the constitution had it right. It doesn't give the federal government any power at all to regulate drug use. It took a constitutional amendment for them to be able to restrict alcohol. The same should be required for other drugs. Besides, you missed my point. Even the most restrictive societies on the planet still cannot stop drug use. You cannot take the real steps that would be required to stop any significant use of drugs without turning the country into a police state. Even then, it wouldn't stop completely.
>Your altered consciousness posses an *EXTREME* higher risk to society than almost anything else I can think of.
No, it doesn't. My altered consciousness doesn't pose any risk to society whatsoever. This has been proved through 20 years of altering it in various ways without causing any trouble for anyone. Your 80/20 rule is crap, since most of those 20 would cause problems with or without substances. Give them treatment, or put them in jail if they continue to cause problems and you'd solve almost all of the problems you imagine are caused by drugs. Incarcerating anyone for the simple act of using drugs is asinine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_Secrecy_Act
Google time, 4 seconds.
>Yea I may seem a little disrespectful. I've seen so much drug abuse, how it grips a person and destroys families.
If you're working with hardcore alcoholics, I'm sure it's easy to see all alcohol use as horrible even though the vast majority of people can have a glass of wine with dinner and never have any problem. The situation is exactly the same with other drugs. The undue burden on society is caused by their illegality, not the drugs themselves. If a heroin/meth/cocaine addict could get their fix as easily and cheaply as the wino can, what's the problem?
>Remove the 20% of the most harmful substances and realize 80% of the benefit.
Except that that's completely impossible in anything like a free society. People want to alter their consciousness, and as long as they aren't actually harming anyone else, it's none of your business at all and a giant waste of resources to even try. Give treatment to the people who need it, and leave everyone else alone.
>Neither of which are nearly as addictive as opiates
You are completely incorrect. Alcohol withdrawal can kill you, while opiate withdrawal only makes you feel like death.
>Assuming your statement is valid you still have not have addressed the addicts doing whatever they can to obtain the substance in question
Alcohol is both highly intoxicating and addictive. How often do you hear about drunks robbing the 7-11 for their cheap wine?
>It is the addiction that removes freedom.
And the vast majority of people who try any given drug never become addicted. Even heroin has a 5% addiction rate, with most users trying it a few times or only occasionally. If someone is addicted to a drug, treat them for it. If they aren't, leave them alone.
Oops. That was meant for the guy responding to you.
Didn't even bother to read past the first sentence?
"Ohio police and the DEA file at least 60 subpoenas each month for energy-use records of people suspected of running an indoor pot growing operation."
>From the comments in this thread, it seems like most US internet users (even the savvy users on Slashdot) likewise believe that US web censorship is only for blocking IP infringement, and never for censoring political discussion.
So what political discussion or topic is it that's being censored in the US?
Amazon *does* collect sales tax in Washington, and their prices are still lower. Probably because they don't have to deal with all of the extra crap that a brick and mortar does.
So what's to stop them from moving to Oregon, where there is no sales tax?
Strange that I still order from Amazon and live in Washington State, where they do collect sales tax. Could it be because their prices are still lower than what I'd pay at the store? Hmmm...
No, I think you're wrong. Wikipedia agrees...
List of community currencies in the United States...
Even if you don't drive!
The mechanism for micro and macro evolution is exactly the same - inheritance plus mutation plus differential survival rates. The *only* difference is in the amount of time involved. There is no water to walk across. One species turns into 2 when they can no longer produce fertile offspring. Unless you can come up with some plausible reason for this not to happen, it's a perfectly acceptable extrapolation.
Hey! I just moved away from Cleveland a year ago. I lived in the warehouse district. If you're talking about East Cleveland or downtown, I do see where you're coming from. There are certainly places where I wouldn't even get out of my car and walk anywhere in the middle of the day. I have to laugh when I hear people talk about the 'bad neighborhoods' of Seattle - the worst neighborhood here is about the equivalent of Lakewood. There is no place here I wouldn't walk around any time day or night. It really does suck that you can't let your kid play outside on his own. I can't imagine what growing up like that would be.
It's the people who live in the completely suburban, safe neighborhoods who still act like there are kidnappers behind every bush who drive me crazy.
Plus, if they live close to the Oregon border, they can do all their shopping in Oregon and not have to pay any sales tax!
Lol! that doesn't even have the same letters in it! What were my fingers thinking?
He's 7 years old and not allowed to play in the yard unsupervised? Seriously? Do you live in the middle of a war zone? What do you think is going to happen to him out there?
I moved from Cleveland to Seattle about a year ago and now I telecommute all the time. It definitely saves on gas and lunch expenses, since I usually just eat leftovers now. Overall, it's hard for me to say whether it's been like a raise or not since the cost of living is a bit higher here, but there is no state income tax. It is hard to put a price on the ability to roll out of bed, make a cup of copy, and start working.
How about thorium reactors?
http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/960564--thorium-touted-as-the-answer-to-our-energy-needs
"For one thing, there’s enough easily mined thorium in the ground to power the world for a thousand years. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the United States has an estimated 440,000 tonnes, Australia and India about 300,000 tonnes each, and Canada about 100,000 tonnes."
Looks like the days of freelance editors is about to arrive too!