<b>andymoon</b>: I don't think we disagree as much as you think we do. I don't see a big difference between a joint and a Manhattan. Typically, I don't partake of either. Having grown up in an alcoholic household, the only thing I'm passionate about are the abuse of either and the protection of innocents from the ravages of either.
I am aware of how close you and I are, but I have to make some things clear to the people who are way on the other side of the fence and just don't say anything. I find it a bit frustrating that most people on the other side of this issue from me will not debate (or don't have any compelling arguments) and are yet as intransigent as one can be on a subject. Despite repeated calls from various and sundry people (including Thom Marshall of the Houston Chronicle, who printed such a challenge in his column), no government official is allowed to publicly debate the efficacy of prohibition and I can only surmise that this is because the drug warriors know that they will lose a debate where they cannot just use their "reefer madness" propaganda and get away with it. IMO, dealing with people who abuse drugs (including alcohol) is the second most important issue that we need to deal with in regards to drugs (behind reducing the access our kids have). Unfortunately, our policy is geared to punish drug users, not cure them.
What are you going to do when they don't want to be cured? That is a problem of their personal constitution, isn't it?
Maybe Rush can get a "deferrment" from the pen like he did from Vietnam--Lord knows those anal cysts would SERIOUSLY flare-up if he drops his soap in the shower!
If they don't want to be cured, they can poison themselves to death as far as I care. As long as they are paying taxes on the stuff and aren't committing crimes behind it, let them commit slow, painful suicide. Some idiots will never get treatment and will die addicts. The point is that we cannot continue treating this problem as if every single drug user is one of those idiots.
Umm...abusing painkillers is not quite the same thing as being a drug dealer. Having said that, i'm totally 100% against the drug war, but I think its a bit zealous to be pointing fingers and crying hypocrite because the Republican party doesn't want to make an about face in two decades of policy because a radio announcer is addicted to painkillers.
