NH Cop Tasers MA Cop

An off-duty New Hampshire cop Tasered an off-duty Massachusetts cop and was charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

This man has likely used the same Taser numerous times previously and not charged with the same crime. The same man does the same action with the same device, but not charged when on-duty. How does a costume and a badge absolve all culpability when causing harm to another individual?

St. Louis Police Cell Phone Use

Over the last few days, I've seen several police officers driving their cruisers while talking on their cell phones. One can't help but wonder what makes this activity so dangerous when enacted by a mere mortal, but not when committed by a member of the elite ruling class (the state). To be true, driving while impaired or distracted IS dangerous. I wonder if any of the king's men would be held personally responsible if their distracted driving caused harm or even death to a member of the serfdom, or if they would have qualified immunity.

Iraq War Veteran Speaks the Truth

Here is a great speech by a "true" hero. Forget the propaganda heard in the media about how "heroic" the troops are by "protecting our freedom" in the countless wars of aggression across the globe. A "true" hero knows when to abandon the lies that have been propagated, seek and find the truth, and then speak the truth in the face of adversity.

And for those keeping score, Obama is just as much of a warmonger as Bush. Perhaps worse because he cloaks the war rhetoric with the glimmer of the possibility that he wishes to end the wars. As I've said before, today's establishment Democrats are as "pro-peace" as the establishment Republicans are "pro-small-government."

Obama Fail

Government, Violence, and Bill Clinton

Here is a great article by Radley Balko on the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing and the government lead massacre in Waco, TX.

[hat tip to Jake]

"Liberty" Protestors Are Just Republican Hacks

There was a group of people holding signs advocating "limited government" as my wife and I were driving past Walgreens in Wentzville, MO yesterday afternoon. Other signs read something to the effect of "We've had enough" and "We're not going to take it sitting down", etc. There was also an individual holding a flag pole with the US flag above the Gadsden "Don't Tread On Me" flag and other references to "liberty".

Intrigued, I circled back around in order to ask the group one simple question:

ME: Do you also support bringing home the troops?
MAN: Sure.
ME: Sure or yes?
MAN: Yes.
This conversation took place as I was yelling from my car at an intersection, so it didn't allow for further debate or questions. None was really needed as I got the answer of which I was afraid and suspected.

I must clarify that his tone as he answered with "sure" suggested that bringing home the troops was an afterthought. He answered "sure" as though I had just asked him if he wanted a second helping of mashed potatoes, hence the need for my follow up question.

Assuming this man speaks for the group, these are just more jaded Republicans upset because their brand of government expansion is not being implemented. I wonder where these protesters were as Bush grew the government for 8 years? Where were they when Bush suspended habeas corpus? Where were they when Bush invaded Iraq and Afghanistan? Where were they when Bush bailed out the big banks and auto makers?

I asked the question about the troops because Republicans only seem to start being concerned about "liberty" when domestic spending is increased, but have no problem with the US expanding the empire abroad. Until the Republicans are ready to understand what liberty truly is, I wish this word were expunged from their vocabulary in order to protect its definition.

My Suggestion for the Missouri Budget

A friend wrote to inform me that Missouri legislators are asking the public to come up with ways that the state can save money during the current budget shortfall. There is a new link on the senate website called "rebooting government" where senate bureaucrat Charlie Shields allows the public to submit these ideas.

Here is my submission:


Senator Shields,

One of the largest and most ineffective expenditures in the Missouri budget is the "war on drugs". Missouri ranks in the top ten of states with the highest increase in number of prisons between 1979 and 2000. (http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/410994_mapping_prisons.pdf)

These prisons are seeing a large percentage of non-violent drug offenders. How long must we keep deluding ourselves to think this "war" is actually working? Is it worth the cost? More importantly, is it worth the number of lives that are ruined by the unnecessary and ridiculous imprisonment for the simple possession or inhalation of a plant?

Senator Shields, ask yourself this question: “Do I own my body?” If you answered “yes” to that question, then you must take the next logical step to understanding that if you own your own body, then your neighbor owns his. To be free, one must also let others be free to do as they please provided they are not harming others. There are already laws against causing harm to others and theft, which are common crimes that have become part and parcel of the drug culture because of its prohibition.

When any service or product is made illegal, it is pushed underground and thus removes the legal recourse to solve grievances and the access to the desired substances. This is what made Al Capone a very rich man because of his virtual monopoly on the violent means of solving “disputes” and providing a product that the people clearly want.

Legislation does not change behavior – there is no marked decrease in drug usage as a result of its prohibition. End the drug war. Stop caging our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors. Let people live how they want to live and do with their bodies as they choose, even if you personally disagree with their choice.

The simple dissolution of the drug war will create a state budget surplus, which means it is the right thing to do morally and financially.

Respectfully,

Jake Smith, St. Louis