cannabisnews.com: Baloney Behind the Billion
Baloney Behind the Billion
Posted by FoM on July 18, 2000 at 13:14:35 PT
By Frank Lingo - Special to The Star
Source: Kansas City Star
As the Clinton administration redoubles its viciously racist war on drugs, it's time for citizens to raise their voices in protest. Like the endless quagmire of Vietnam left for Richard Nixon, President Clinton's drug war leaves a legacy of victims but no victory. Clinton got a splash of publicity for his token release of four women and a man from prison -- a grand total of five out of America's 400,000 nonviolent drug convicts.
In June, the international group Human Rights Watch issued a major study finding that America's war on drugs has been waged overwhelmingly against black people. The group said that five times as many white people as black people use drugs but black men are sent to state prisons at 13 times the rate of white men. Hispanics are also jailed in hugely disproportionate numbers. Drug-war supporters should get this straight: The one and only reason for turf battles and addicts' thievery is that making dope illegal means higher prices for dope. Most alcoholics and nicotine fiends don't steal to support their harmful habits. Now, Clinton and his accomplices in Congress have arranged for $1.3 billion of our tax money to be sent to the notorious thugs in the army of Colombia. As ugly as our drug war is, it's a schoolyard spat compared to the 35-year civil war in Colombia, which is hopelessly entangled with the drug trade. A July 14 article in The New York Times recounts the February massacre of at least 36 persons in a Colombian village, carried out with the knowledge and complicity of the army by their paramilitary pals. Not satisfied with guns and helicopters, Clinton wanted to add to the arsenal use of a fungus to combat coca. Colombia refused. Here in "the land of the free," the drug warriors are out of control in many ways. An investigation by The Kansas City Star found that in every one of two dozen states investigated, law enforcement agencies are deliberately circumventing state laws restricting asset forfeiture or dodging requirements that seized funds be used for drug education and treatment. That's on top of unconstitutional seizures before suspects are even charged, much less convicted. The spirit of American freedom has taken a beating throughout the drug war and the hypocrisy is starkly cruel. "Slick Willie" has been known to like a drink and cigar sometimes even for smoking. But he presides over imprisoning those with alternative habits that have been criminalized. Of course, those habits are unhealthy. Of course, we don't want our children getting hooked. But should we trash the Constitution and wage war on an entire race to control people's private habits? It goes beyond persecution of personal proclivities. Our federal government has tried to nullify voter initiatives passed by seven states to allow medical use of marijuana. The results can be tragic. Best-selling author Peter McWilliams, suffering AIDS and cancer, died last month from choking on his own vomit. McWilliams was free on bail in California for his use of marijuana to ease the nausea caused by chemotherapy. Authorities had threatened to seize his elderly mother's home the bail security if McWilliams was caught with marijuana, so he was forced into a fatal endurance of the extreme nausea that such patients say can only be relieved with marijuana. This summer the drug war will come into sharp focus with the so-called "Shadow Conventions" to be held alongside the political confabs. As the Democratic and Republican parties nominate one confirmed and one suspected illegal drug user for president, authors and experts in the field of drug policy will meet to engage voters in the debate. Campaign-finance reform and poverty will also be spotlighted at these alternative conventions. For more information, visit:http://www.shadowconventions.com/ and http://www.drcnet.org/Although politicians prefer such policies as "zero tolerance," the truth is that people on hard drugs need treatment for recovery, not prison, which only hardens addicts into criminals. Many treatment centers could be operated with that billion bucks we're paying to a corrupt Colombia. In our culture's Judeo-Christian custom, 2000 is a jubilee year, a time to forgive debt and free prisoners. Let's keep the violent cons locked up, but for our drug prisoners, get them help instead. Frank Lingo's column appears on alternate Tuesdays. To reach him, send e-mail to: lingo earthvote.net Published: July 17, 2000© 2000 The Kansas City Star Related Articles & Web Sites:DRCNethttp://www.drcnet.org/Human Rights Watchhttp://www.hrw.org/Shadow Conventionshttp://www.shadowconventions.com/ Drug War Options http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6432.shtml4 Women Granted Clemency By Clintonhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6347.shtml TLC & DPF Invite You To The Shadow Convention http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6386.shtmlDrug War Hypocrites Kill A Troublesome Authorhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6167.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help
Comment #3 posted by mitchell on July 19, 2000 at 01:14:49 PT:
Off Strategy
OFF STRATEGYOver 2300 of the most influential media outlets in the United States run anti-drug public service announcements as well as anti-drug public affair stories and broadcasts without informing their readers, viewers, and listeners of a significant detail. That the Office of National Drug Control Policy requires it of them in order to get a slice of the ONDCP’s billion dollar ad budget. Help keep the free press free of government carrots that undermine its integrity. Please read this sample letter copy it or adapt it your own views and send it your local newspaper, radio, or television station. EditorAsbury Park PressNeptune, NJDear Editor,Congress has authorized the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to wage a mass media public health campaign against illegal drugs. With a one billion dollar advertising budget to be spent over five years, the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign,” has set about convincing America’s youth to reject illegal drugs, especially marijuana and inhalants. Congress also mandated that for every ad dollar a broadcaster or publisher receives from the ONDCP, it must be matched on at least a one-dollar-for-one-dollar basis with public service efforts in the form of “pro-bono contributions. In the past two years more 2,300 companies matched ONDCP ad buys with these pro-bono contributions, according to Drug Czar Barry MCcaffrey. The ONDCP stipulates that at least 51 percent of the matching public service efforts must be in the form of Public Service Announcements. To a news reader, television viewer, or radio listener, a public service announcement is just that, an advertisement donated as a public service. A PSA announcement reviewed and approved by an ONDCP “Strategic Message Specialist,” however, is not a PSA. Instead it is a discount in the form of additional ads from one of the biggest and most dependably paying advertisers in the world, the federal Office of National Drug Control Policy. These faux PSA’s imply a concern by the media outlet with the issue of illegal drug use which may or may not be accurate, warranted, or justified for a given media outlet and its customers, given other pressing community needs, problems, and concerns. Furthermore it also involves the newspaper in taking credit for a charitable donation to the community with what is actually an explicit quid pro quo financial arrangement with an advertiser through its “Media Match Task Force.” What is even more alarming is that ONDCP allows media vendors to meet up to 49% of its dollar-for-dollar obligation to the ONDCP with “Other In Kind Public Service Activities.” These can take a variety of forms including web-site content, feature stories, television programs (including sitcoms, dramas and other fictional programs, as well as public affairs radio and television broadcasts. This “content” must “accurately support the research based drug prevention strategies of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign.” McCaffrey compares his media campaign to the end one waged on behalf of the designated driver programs a decade ago. Compared with designated drivers, however, there is a great deal of ambivalence and confusion in the United States about the nature of illegal drugs and what rightful role society should play in regulating their use. That reality is most particularly true with one of the ONDCP’s two prime targets, marijuana. News reports should reflect this ongoing controversy where reputable and sincere people on both sides have agreed to disagree. However, that cultural ambiguity is clearly lacking in the messages put out by the ONDCP which measure its success purely by down-ticks in its drug use statistics. For example, McCaffrey has been openly skeptical of the claims of chemotherapy patients and others that marijuana helps them improve their appetite. Yet an ONDCP sponsored website for kids called “The Straight Scoop News Bureau,” http://www.straightscoop.org warns that “Some people find that marijuana can increase their appetites, an effect known as ‘the munchies’ – which may lead to gorging and weight gain.” The site also resorts to the kind scare mongering that only serves to undermine any real effort to keep kids off drugs: “Today’s marijuana is not only more potent than it was in the 1960’s but may even contain powerful drugs and hallucinogens that can cause coma or death.,” McCaffrey Straight Scoop reports.But even if McCaffrey’s campaign was honestly waged in a just cause, the idea of television, radio and newspapers, receiving compensation for their stories from advertisers-- especially without their readers knowing about it undermines the credibility of the newspaper, the government and in this case the anti-drug effort. In years past, the ONDCP actively worked with the creative community in crafting “Other In Kind Activities.” But thanks to “earlier creative community feedback,” the ONDCP says that “Programming/content now must have been aired or published before it will be considered for pro bono match credit.”We applaud the feedback given the ONDCP by the creative community. However, we believe the best way to improve the ONDCP “Other In Kind Public Service Activies,” is to elminate them altogether.We believe that journalism is a profession, and the hallmark of professionals is to fulfill their duties to those they serve faithfully and without respect to personal gain. Ultimately a journalist’s clients are the readers, not the advertisers. Advertisers like the ONDCP who make deals with strings attached, strings that if not secret are at the very least hidden from view undermine the relationship of trust between the journalist and the reader. We believe The First Amendment most especially protects the media because media is not just a business it is a public trust. As readers of your newspaper,, and as members of this community we believe that we have a right to know: What the editorial position of the Asbury Park Press is on the Pro-Bono Match Program, with its 2,300 particpants, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, WB, Parade Magazine, U.S. News and World Report and the New York Times. Does The Asbury Park Press have any policies pertaining to the ONDCP’s “Pro-Bono Match Program or other similar programs and can readers find out what that policy is? Does the Asbury Park Press accept advertisements from the ONDCP?If the Asbury Park Press intends to participate in the Pro-Bono Match program, which entails the deployment of additional advertising in the guise of Public Service Announcements, will the Asbury Park Press notify its readers that these so called PSA’s are in fact paid for by the ONDCP. Will the Asbury Park Press notify its readers if it submits features stories from its newspaper or web-site to the ONDCP for an “Other In Kind Public Service Match”?In describing the review process of the “Other in Kind Service Activities” The ONCP Pro-Bono Match Program Guidelines States:“5. If the Strategic Message Specialist advises the media contractor’s pro-bono match specialist that the submission is off strategy, the media contractor’s pro-bono match team will review the submission and determine the value based on industry-standard practices.” Does this sound like journalism to the editorial board of the Asbury Park Press?Sincerely,Mitchell and Loretta Greentower www.amabong.comReference:National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign: Statement of Pro-Bono Match Program and Guidelines, July 2000Adobe Acrobat File (59k)http://www.mediacampaign.org/index.html
http://www.amabong.com
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #2 posted by dddd on July 18, 2000 at 15:46:57 PT
"splash"
"Clinton got a splash of publicity for his token release of four women and a man from prison --a grand total of five out of America's 400,000 nonviolent drug convicts." Yes,,and it was a very small splash,,in fact I thought it was quite a sheepish and subdued slash.There was very little national mainstream coverage of the humanitarian gesture.I suspect it was well tuned to maximize the appearance of kindly benevolence,yet cautiously tread into the realm of,"what about the other 99 percent of unjustly incarcerated innocents?";..... I must admit ,,that it was masterfly expidited.The compassion factor was noticed by the few who were interested,,yet the,"what about the others" question,was quite nicely glossed over.A fine balance.....indeed.............dddd
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 18, 2000 at 13:39:55 PT
Important E-Mail News
Drug Reform Coordination Network (DRCNet)Rapid Response Team Drug War Bill Still Threatening Freedom of Speech House Judiciary Committee Vote Tomorrow VISIT: http://www.drcnet.org/freespeech/ Received: July 18, 2000In May DRCNet alerted its members that an insidious attack on the 1st Amendment was taking place, and that help was needed to stop a bill being considered in the House Judiciary Committee. Since that time, H.R. 2987, the so-called "Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act" has been repeatedly delayed in committee -- perhaps due to your strong opposition -- but is now scheduled to come to a vote TOMORROW (Wednesday 7/19). Please visit: http://www.drcnet.org/freespeech/ to send a free e-mail or fax to Congress, to tell them that H.R. 2987 won't stop meth but will injure the Constitution.Please also visit http://www.house.gov/judiciary/mem106.htm to find out if your rep is on the committee, and if so, click through to his or her web site and find out the phone number to call -- or write down the number provided by our system at: http://www.drcnet.org/freespeech/ when you are using it, or call via the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Please tell Congress you oppose H.R. 2987 in its entirety, but that you're particularly opposed to the sections titled "Advertisements for Drug Paraphernalia and Schedule I Controlled Substances" and "Criminal Prohibition on Distribution of Certain Information Relating to the Manufacture of Controlled Substances."Please visit http://www.drcnet.org/freespeech/ and make your voice heard today, while you can! VISIT: http://www.drcnet.org/freespeech/Visit:
http://www.drcnet.org/wol/140.html#editorial to readDRCNet's editorial on the disloyalty of elected officialswho swear to uphold the Constitution yet deliberatelysponsor unconstitutional bills like these.To subscribe to DRCNet's weekly newsletter and action alert list, visit http://www.drcnet.org and enter your name, e-mail address and state in the "quick-signup form to the right. To unsubscribe from DRCNet, send e-mail to listproc drcnet.org with the words signoff drc-natl as the message (not the subject), or e-mail listhelp drcnet.org for assistance.DRCNet needs your support! Please visit our registrationform at http://www.drcnet.org/drcreg.html to make a donationon our encryption-secured credit card form or enter yourname, address and pledge amount to print out and send in with your check. Or just send checks or money orders to: DRCNet, P.O. Box 18402, Washington, DC 20036-8402 , or call your credit card info in to (202) 293-8340.
[ Post Comment ]
Post Comment
Name: Optional Password:
E-Mail:
Subject:
Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]
Link URL:
Link Title: