United Liberty
Barr & Drugs
Mon, 09/15/2008 - 5:32am | posted by Michael Orion Powell
In an article at the Huffington Post, Bob Barr lays out why he has changed his mind on the issue of federal drug policy. He also lays out how he would change the policy as President:
As both a U.S. Attorney and Member of Congress, I defended drug prohibition. But it has become increasingly clear to me, after much study, that our current strategy has not worked and will not work. The other candidates for president prefer not to address this issue, but ignoring the failure of existing policy exhibits both a poverty of thought and an absence of political courage. The federal government must turn the decision on drug policy back to the states and the citizens themselves.
My change in perspective might shock some people, but leadership requires a willingness to assess evidence and recognize when a strategy is not working. We are paying far too high a price for today’s failed policy to continue it simply because it has always been done that way.
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has addressed this issue a few times, sounding quite sensible but not advocating the sweeping change that Barr does. Republican presidential nominee John McCain is nowhere fast on this issue, and will likely continue federal drug policy as it has been for the last thirty years. Barr presents the best choice on this issue.
So you just copy articles from other internet sites.
Cool. Not real cool. A little cool.
Yawn.
There are better, more consistent choices if your issue is ending the war on drugs. Namely, Ralph Nader. And unlike Bob Barr, Ralph Nader follows through with his personal and professional commitments, and he does not intentionally alienate vast swaths of his supporters.
Sharon - The site editor is currently in the process of moving and the assistant editor is trapped with no electricity, water, internet, or cell coverage - so give them a break.
Sharon - In addition to what Austin described, I also am without a computer of my own while my laptop is being repaired in another state. It’s pretty hard to write lengthy and substantial essays when your access to the internet is substantially limited.
Of course, if you are interested in full-length articles by me, I have plenty at my personal blog: http://mopowell.blogspot.com/
I look forward to your comments there.
Eric - I also have great respect for Ralph Nader. He has spent a good deal of his life trying to protect individuals from massive corporations and trying to diversify American politics. He deserves our highest praises. If you’re more inclined towards Nader’s communitarianism than Barr’s libertarianism, by all means vote for Ralph Nader and spread the word about his campaign.
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