cannabisnews.com: Busybodies Trying To Stifle Debate Busybodies Trying To Stifle Debate Posted by FoM on September 27, 1999 at 13:19:41 PT By Vincent Carroll Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News Thanks to a billionaire named George Soros, Coloradans will vote next year on a plan to legalize marijuana for patients in pain. In other words, we'll soon have the same opportunity that voters in Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia already enjoyed. Is that such a bad thing? If you listen to campaign-finance reformers, you'd sure think it was. In fact, you'd be likely to conclude that money is an all-corrupting influence on political ideas and that we must do everything we can, in the words of the hand-wringing New York Times, to reject "money-driven politics." But why should I mind that Soros and his wealthy associates financed the marijuana initiative in Colorado, even if I end up voting against it? Can't the people of this state sift through competing claims and make up their minds, as they have over the years on scores of other ballot initiatives (many backed by well-heeled folks, too)? If voters decide to legalize marijuana for some patients, as other states and D.C. have done, so be it. That's what we call democracy. What I do mind is the growing legion of busybodies trying to stifle unfettered debate and free speech by preventing Americans from spending their money on causes they believe in. Just last week, Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Bradley, who is fast closing on Al Gore in the polls, proposed the most radical restrictions on free speech yet. He told a New Hampshire radio audience that groups who buy ads to promote an issue should be forced to pay for similar ads by their opponents. Brace yourself for Bradley's bumpy logic."I think the way to deal with that is to say if you're going to buy issue ads, there's got to be equal time for the other side," Bradley said in answer to a question. "Or, when issue ads are on, a 100 percent tax is given to the other side." A 100 percent tax! Bradley never really explained who he thought would buy an ad knowing they'd end up paying a gigantic penalty to finance the other side. But when one caller objected to the notion of compelling Americans to finance political speech they may detest, Bradley blandly replied that his plan was "simply a way to allow the market to work." This Orwellian response from the former Rhodes scholar is 180 degrees wrong. Bradley isn't interested in giving free rein to a market in ideas. He wants to rig or suppress that market. And he's hardly alone. A majority of U.S. senators favor a ban on "soft money" donations to political parties, as if there were something unsavory about giving money to an organization or candidate whose ideas coincide with your own. Until a few days ago, the major campaign-finance bill in the U.S. Senate, sponsored by John McCain and Russell Feingold, actually included a measure to regulate political advertisements, too -- a frontal assault on the First Amendment. Enemies of free speech like Bradley worry that politics is debased and distorted when someone like George Soros is willing to put his money where his mouth is and promote causes he supports. Now that we know what Bradley advocates as the alternative, perhaps the rest of us should begin to worry, too. Vincent Carroll is editor of the editorial pages.Reach him at carrollv denver-rmn.com. September 26, 1999Coloradans For Medical Rightshttp://www.medicalmarijuana.com/The Lindesmith Centerhttp://www.lindesmith.org/Voters Will Decide on Marijuana - 9/22/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2974.shtml MMJ Initiative On Ballot After Signature Recount - 9/22/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2979.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on September 27, 1999 at 16:22:35 PT Barr Needs To Go! Barr needs to go. He doesn't have a heart. I don't know how even a staunch republican can handle his bigotry and self righteousness. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Chris Knestrick on September 27, 1999 at 15:09:19 PT: Here's A Real Free Speech Enemy! This is nothing compared to the remarks made several months ago by Bob Barr. He said that he had hoped to use the RICO laws (the anti-racketeering laws that is used against organized crime) against Soros and others involved with the reform effort! This is obsurd! How can a creature be re-elected to Congress and still be able to say things like that! This man is evil - we need to concentrate our efforts to remove him from Congress during the next election in 2000. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: