cannabisnews.com: On DEA's 35th Birthday, Not Much To Celebrate On DEA's 35th Birthday, Not Much To Celebrate Posted by CN Staff on July 15, 2008 at 05:54:09 PT By Bill Steigerwald Source: Morning Call USA -- ''Of 17 countries surveyed, China and Japan had the lowest rates of drug use and the United States had the highest rate -- by far.''The Drug Enforcement Administration, which Richard Nixon created in 1973 and charged with the impossible but politically useful mission of winning the ''all-out global war on the drug menace,'' turned 35 this month. So, how's its track record after 35 years of difficult, often dangerous drug-war-making? If the DEA were a heroin addict, it would have overdosed on its own incompetence by age 6.Despite its failures and the harm it's done to American society, however, the DEA has done more than merely survive. It's become a typically bloated, self-preserving federal bureaucracy whose power, budget and continuing existence bear no relation to its performance.In 1974, the DEA had 1,470 special agents, a budget of less than $75 million ($346 million in 2007 money) and 43 offices in 31 countries. Today, it has 5,235 special agents, a $2.3 billion budget and 87 offices in 63 countries.If you consider locking up mostly pot smokers and other perpetrators of victimless crimes a valid measure of success in the war on drugs, the DEA and its fellow state and local drug warriors deserve high praise.Annual drug arrests have tripled in the last 25 years to 1.8 million in 2005 (when 43 percent of all drug arrests were for marijuana offenses). And we had about 500,000 drug criminals in various federal, state and local slammers in 2005, compared with 41,000 in 1980. The DEA touts its latest alleged successes in cutting demand for drugs on its Web page - http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/cngrtest/ct031208--successes08.pdf If you can believe the DEA's current statistics or those annual pronouncements of tough-talking White House drug czars, we're winning the drug war -- again and again.Yet, today, illegal drugs are as plentiful and cheap as ever. And rates of drug use are essentially the same as they were when the DEA was born, according to Monitoring the Future, which, each year since 1975, has studied the behaviors, attitudes and values of 50,000 American high schoolers.Based on Monitoring the Future's latest study, the DEA's most significant career victory over drugs is that the percentage of 12th-graders who reported using marijuana dropped from 40 percent in 1975 to 31.7 percent in 2007. Otherwise, despite untold billions blown on the war on drugs, the percentage of kids in 1975 who reported using cocaine (5.6 percent) and heroin (1 percent) has dropped insignificantly to 5.2 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively, in 2007.Meanwhile, a new study of drug use by the World Health Organization casts further doubt on the long-term efficacy of our war on drugs. Of 17 countries surveyed, China and Japan had the lowest rates of drug use and the United States had the highest rate -- by far.Obviously, culture, economics and politics play important roles, but WHO's researchers found that there's no relationship between a country's strict anti-drug policies and its levels of drug use.Maybe it's unfair to dump on the DEA, especially on its birthday. After all, it's only following orders.It's not the DEA's fault that for 35 years Congress and seven presidents haven't had the brains or the political courage to decriminalize marijuana or at least work to humanize America's drug policy.So, happy birthday, DEA. But not many happy returns.Bill Steigerwald is associate editor of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Source: Morning Call (Allentown, PA)Author: Bill SteigerwaldPublished: July 15, 2008Copyright: 2008 The Morning Call Inc.Contact: letters mcall.comWebsite: http://www.mcall.com/CannabisNews DEA Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/DEA.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #120 posted by FoM on July 23, 2008 at 19:57:40 PT Hope That's cool. I had a profound revelation with that one too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #119 posted by Hope on July 23, 2008 at 19:50:41 PT The Three Little Pigs. "Very impressed". Me, too!I learned the first time I heard it how important it was to have a strong house, be industrious, not to take shortcuts or the easy way, and not play my musical instruments until my work was done and done well. I, too, was very impressed. All that huffing and puffing and swearing by hair on chinny, chin, chins, and chimneys and boiling pots and all. Quite an impressive tale for a toddler who paid attention. [ Post Comment ] Comment #118 posted by websterpark74 on July 23, 2008 at 17:36:17 PT: The DEA : Deadly Evil Ambitions The evil ambition of the DEA reminds me of a line in the Star Trek movie, "The Search For Spock". The female vulcan officer learns of her human colleague's reckless ambition and says, "How many people have paid the price for your ambition? How many have died? How much damage have you done- and what is yet to come? [ Post Comment ] Comment #117 posted by FoM on July 22, 2008 at 10:09:22 PT Hope I like watching home construction shows and one of the things that shocked me is how they are making support beams and headers with strand board. Bugs just love to eat that stuff. You must have a strong foundation and support system for a home to last. I remember how impressed I was as a small child when I read The Three Little Pigs. LOL!http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Little_Pigs [ Post Comment ] Comment #116 posted by Hope on July 22, 2008 at 09:37:03 PT "Ticky Tacky" it was not. [ Post Comment ] Comment #115 posted by FoM on July 22, 2008 at 07:11:52 PT Hope It was built to last. People back then knew how important it was to have a strong and long lasting home. The slots in the house and spring house for shooting fascinated me too. I never saw any farm in the area that was run down. One home was as beautiful as another. When we first saw the land where we live now it looked just like the land on the farm and we bought it within days. I think why my home means so much to us is because I want it strong and nice looking and to last for many years after we are gone from this earth. [ Post Comment ] Comment #114 posted by Hope on July 22, 2008 at 07:00:40 PT Built to last or built to come in under budget. It shows... sooner or later.You're lucky to have been a part of the life of that place. It exudes determination. [ Post Comment ] Comment #113 posted by FoM on July 22, 2008 at 06:41:56 PT Hope Thank you. It is really cool to be able to see a place where I made so many memories alive and looking good. I learned so much from living on the farm. My neice took a picture of a horse grazing in the field. She said it was like Deja Vu. You know how horses have different markings but this horse had almost identical markings of my first horse. This horse was in the pasture that we used too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #112 posted by Hope on July 21, 2008 at 21:59:33 PT The homeplace It is lovely... and it's so neat that you've found these great pictures of it and all this information on the internet and were able to make a video of it all. What a delightful treasure that must feel like to you. I'm tickled for you. I can understand why it would mean a lot. Very cool, indeed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #111 posted by FoM on July 21, 2008 at 16:43:06 PT fight_4_freedom We lived on the farm in the big house for about 10 years. My parents were friends with the owner and they wanted to live in the country because I was so involved with horses. We owned a home in suburbia and my parents rented it and we rented the farm. When I got married my parents moved back to suburbia. My father was 48 when I was born and he retired at 65 and I left to move on. They could have bought it for $65,000 but my father's health was failing so they didn't buy it. I have great memories. I believe real estate is the only worthwhile long term investment. [ Post Comment ] Comment #110 posted by fight_4_freedom on July 21, 2008 at 16:35:43 PT: It worked FoM The first time I went through the slide show there was maybe 7 or 8 pictures that didn't show up. But on the 2nd try they all worked. It is absolutely stunning. I can see why it's going for so much. Very well maintained.But I know it wouldn't be an easy task to keep up with that place. There is always something that needs to be done on a farm, especially one that size.So does someone in the family still own it? [ Post Comment ] Comment #109 posted by FoM on July 21, 2008 at 16:18:22 PT fight_4_freedom Thank you. I have had a really interesting day finding more about the farm. When they made homes back in centuries gone by they lasted. I loved the farm. It was an adventure since everything was so old. They remodeled the inside. I hope this works for you. http://tour.circlepix.com/tour.htm?id=607011&mls_tour=1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #108 posted by fight_4_freedom on July 21, 2008 at 15:59:30 PT: I bet that will make an excellent DVD FoM I love that song! And those were some beautiful pictures you posted. Looked like the house of my dreams. [ Post Comment ] Comment #107 posted by FoM on July 21, 2008 at 08:42:07 PT Hope I did it! I took the pictures of the farm and put them on a DVD and the song I used was Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo. I feel like I accomplished something today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #106 posted by rchandar on July 21, 2008 at 04:14:21 PT: OverwhelmSam I will, however, concur with one particular facet of your analysis:The War on Drugs is basically a feudal-like system, close to the Spanish Inquisition in width and consequence. We lock people up for a crime of one's imagination, for what goes on in their brains. That's feudalism, where no one has the freedom to think what they want. [ Post Comment ] Comment #105 posted by rchandar on July 21, 2008 at 04:07:43 PT: OverwhelmSam I disagree. If the country is ruled by religious fundamentalists who wreak havoc upon our system, it's very useful and valuable to believe in God--especially, if it is a different God with a different mission than theirs.You've identified a faith and a constituency bent on civilizational destruction. So I'll worship a faith that wants to preserve and progress the human race.And we aren't any "weaker" than atheists are. That's a myth. I admit that it does look bad; the Vatican recently added drugs to the list of "sins," while in Morocco drugs are "haram," or forbidden by Islam--a sin. But come on, people. These are HUMANS determining what GOD wants for human beings. It's surreptitious; that can't mean that we can always put our trust in humans, who make mistakes, and costly ones, all the time. If there is a being beyond our reach who judges us, s/he also judges those in power. An atheistic leader may only be responsible to his/her ideas, convinced that they will work for everyone rather than just for themselves.What I know has happened, since the time of Reagan, is that "God" became a misnomer, a stepping-stone towards earthly power. So that neither "believer" nor "atheist" were true categories of man's morality.An atheist could easily be a "weak" person--a lush who watches TV all day--whereas a believer could easily be a "strong" person--like a Rastafarian who has faith in his personal strength and ability to judge and act within society because of the truth of his cause(s). It depends, and I doubt we are lucky enough to generalize, on either side of the coin.It's a contention you should consider. Of course, I too grew up hating the Religious Right.--rchandar [ Post Comment ] Comment #104 posted by FoM on July 20, 2008 at 21:28:55 PT Hope The oven isn't called a dutch oven but I'm not sure what it was called. The women baked bread in it mostly I think. It was like an upside down U and made of stone built into the interior wall. I have enjoyed the pictures so much I didn't realize how late it is. Talk with you and everyone tomorrow hopefully if God is willin and the creek don't rise. [ Post Comment ] Comment #103 posted by FoM on July 20, 2008 at 20:39:17 PT Hope I have another picture but instead of uploading it I will send it to you. They built on the back of the house and I couldn't figure out how they did what they did. I had to look at it for awhile and then it dawned on me that they took the two story carriage house and moved it from where it was and attached it to the house. You'll see it in the picture. That must have been unbelievable work to move that very old building like they did. The upstairs was for the people who cared for the horses back when that was done. [ Post Comment ] Comment #102 posted by FoM on July 20, 2008 at 20:25:40 PT Hope This is the barn. We were only about 5 or so miles from the Daniel Boone Homestead. Stone was abundant and many of the houses were built this way back then.http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/barn.jpg [ Post Comment ] Comment #101 posted by FoM on July 20, 2008 at 20:10:35 PT Hope That's the house. If you look you see on the left the stone is brown in color. They uncovered a baking oven in the wall when they started remodeling in that section. I think is was called a dutch oven. The ceilings in the first section were really low. That was the section built in 1757. The wider middle section was in the early 1800 and the last section was finished in the mid 1800. I had my bedroom on the second floor that had two windows and overlooked the pond in the front yard. I would put my elbows on the wide window sills, lean on my chin and dream when I looked out the window. [ Post Comment ] Comment #100 posted by Hope on July 20, 2008 at 19:56:10 PT Your Childhood Home It's beautiful! That's the house you rode your horse into, on a dare, across the hardwood floors? [ Post Comment ] Comment #99 posted by FoM on July 20, 2008 at 19:24:59 PT Hope My niece just sent me a bunch of pictures she took when they were back in Pa. This was my home. I loved it so much. The first section was built in 1757. It was expanded two more times and it was finished in the mid 1800. http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/childhoodhome.jpg [ Post Comment ] Comment #98 posted by FoM on July 19, 2008 at 09:23:24 PT Just a Car For those who didn't watch the interview with Charlie Rose this is the car they are modifying to get 100 mpg. http://www.lincvolt.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #97 posted by FoM on July 19, 2008 at 09:03:43 PT Hope I remember that too. I don't know about you but my energy level could never keep up with all I did back then and with dial up to boot. I really cleaned my front porch and got rid of all the spiders that love to live there. Then I mowed for a little while and I am still moaning and groaning today. LOL!PS: I don't drink any sodas full of caffeine anymore. Maybe that's another reason everything seems harder to do. Stick and I are getting in a Neil Young frame of mind. We're watching the Making of Greendale from the first tour. Like Neil said it's all one song. [ Post Comment ] Comment #96 posted by Hope on July 19, 2008 at 08:02:12 PT FoM Just thinking of the first time I remember speaking to you on the internet. You were at the Map chat and you complimented me on the articles I'd hawked. You were so nice.Which, after speaking with you, got me really interested in keeping tabs on C-News, it's news, and the people who comment on it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #95 posted by FoM on July 18, 2008 at 17:23:32 PT museman Neil always has a way of helping me to put things in perspective. I am looking forward to the CSNY Deja Vu Documentary this Fall and the Live CD next week. [ Post Comment ] Comment #94 posted by museman on July 18, 2008 at 16:14:36 PT FoM I watched it. Neil is just an incredible dude, and I really identify. If more folks with his resource had his heart we would live in a different and much better reality.Thanks, it is inspiring to know that "Neil's on the case." [ Post Comment ] Comment #93 posted by FoM on July 18, 2008 at 15:38:51 PT museman The video is on Charlie Rose now. It says it isn't but click on where the video should be and it's there. I'm going outside to wash the front porch and I will watch it again when I am done. It is almost an hour long. [ Post Comment ] Comment #92 posted by FoM on July 18, 2008 at 14:20:04 PT Hope The feeling is mutual. I think my life would be beating my head against the wall without your friendship. [ Post Comment ] Comment #91 posted by Hope on July 18, 2008 at 14:18:18 PT "I feel so sorry for Hope." Don't do that!I'm honored to be your friend. [ Post Comment ] Comment #90 posted by FoM on July 18, 2008 at 14:11:22 PT museman Thank you for keeping in touch with unkat. [ Post Comment ] Comment #89 posted by FoM on July 18, 2008 at 14:10:09 PT museman I just posted this on the wrong thread. Here it is again.Here's a thread where we talked about Robin. It was really upsetting when we put two and two together. She told us somewhere on a thread a day or so before she took her own life that she was going to do it. Thank you for your prayers. I feel so sorry for Hope. She puts up with me in email. If you didn't see the hour interview on Charlie Rose with Neil Young last night when the video is posted you MUST watch it. It was so spiritual and so Neil. He talks about Families and how he became part of the song. I am not explaining it the way he did. You really must see it.http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2008/07/17/1/a-conversation-with-neil-younghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread23433.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #88 posted by museman on July 18, 2008 at 13:40:57 PT FoM OT:) As others have posted, I have concerns about your health and well-being. I have you in my prayers from time to time. Please do what is necessary to get your healing, we need you.I did not know about Mai Bong City, I am sad to hear about it.To reiterate, and say again;FoM your dedication is a wonderful thing. Your insight and clarity, especially your abilty to state things so simply and to the point, is a rare asset that I surely do respect.How you manage to treat each and every one of us with your attention, equanimity, and tolerant attitude is an admirable quality, and an example worthy of emulating.by the way, I am in correspondence with unkat. He thinks he may have an option to being homeless, so we should extend him so hopeful prayers as well.Peace, Love, and YHWH's blessings. [ Post Comment ] Comment #87 posted by museman on July 18, 2008 at 13:26:35 PT On topic "The Drug Enforcement Administration, which Richard Nixon created in 1973 and charged with the impossible but politically useful mission of winning the ''all-out global war on the drug menace,'' turned 35 this month."The Rainbow Family turned 37.The Hippies were in power 2 years before Nixon tried to put the kabash on 'em. Sometimes I think it was because of the Rainbow that the WOD was enacted in the first place. Its the only event/place where freedom and liberty has been practiced to any measurable degree by any group of people since the Vietnam protests, and the very brief decade known as 'the 60's.'The BLM was created in 1976, a 'legal' enforcement agency in the National Forests. Their first action was to go after the miners, burning them out, and administrating their claim rights away, but their main priority was to get the Rainbow under control. They started the IMT just for the rainbow, using the new unconstituional poewers granted by the WOD, which gave them the excuse they needed to harass and in general make life difficult for anyone attempting freedom in the woods. The BLM was one of the first acts of Reagan, followed closely by the official WOD. Then there was the Bush, who set us up with Clinton so they could arrange 911 behind our backs, and then the next bush who folowed through with Nixon's NSA, Reagans WOD, with the Patriot Act.The DEA is a bunch of demons. Their masters are the Nephalim. Cops are minions of Satan, and while they wear those uniforms they are the biggest criminals of all. Politicians are corrupt, they do not serve the tenets of freedom and liberty, no matter how much lip-service they give to the concepts. The system in place is composed of error after error, and every institution sanctioned by this system is at the very least suspect, and in all probability just as corrupt as the next. Freedom and liberty are not commodities and products to be derived, devised, contained, controlled, or legislated. They certainly aren't defined by the social or economic class of any set group of individuals. They are an experiential fact of life, which cannot even begin to be understood, in hand or practiced without some idea of where they come from in the first place."We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all people are endowed by THEIR CREATOR (whose identifications and 'names' unclude YHWH) by certain inalienable rights...."If you don't believe in the source of freedom and liberty how in hell (literally-in my book) can you expect to get and keep it? Oh yes you can have the 'freedom' of concept, the 'liberty' to hope and dream, the 'freedom' to speak your mind -to those who aren't full of themselves, but without the greater empowerment of the knowlege and faith in that 'Creator' your liberties are severly limited, because 'freedom and liberty' without direct orientation to love is irresponsible, and prone to destructive behaviors -just look at the results of our so-called 'leaders.'It doesn't really matter to those of us who know these things, because we have found the 'place to stand from which to move the world' and all the vain insults to our faith and belief is obviously just hot air, and dissipating as fast as it is uttered. Whining about ones lack of substantial reality by trying to put someone elses down is a useless, profitless action that is oh so obvious to the intelligent and informed, even if the ignorant laugh in their beer over such low-brow attitudes.This is why we are winning. The DEA, their masters, and all the minons have only fear to empower them. YHWH, Jehova, The Most HIgh Great Spirit, My Father In Heaven, empowers us with Truth, Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, like a rock that cannot be moved. If you cannot stand on that rock, I do pity you, but I'm not going to waste my/our time in attempting to 'prove' it. I have witnessed many people dash themselves against that rock, including judges, District Attorneys, and about every cop I've ever met. As I have said before, the 'proof is in the pudding.' I don't know how easy it would be to get my 'record' out of the hands of the state, but if you did you would find some very unusual stuff, including how I kept my rights and liberty under conditions that few others have. Why me? Truth and Faith. The most powerful tools we have in this fight. As long as we keep bending over to take what is shoved down our collective throats, any bitching about our lack of liberty is a hypocricy. Try a little faith and belief. Like the everready rabbit; 'still going, going,...Sorry if there are greater truths to be discussed than one narrow aspect of the entirety of the issues facing us,... that's one of the reasons I am here, joining this 'front porch' discussion. When narrow minds dominate the scene (which won't happen as long as we have FoM here) I will move on. [ Post Comment ] Comment #86 posted by museman on July 18, 2008 at 12:22:50 PT Lovely Poem Hope And in brief response to insult; What do you expect from a guy who uses 'John Wayne' as his alias?I tell you its great to know that with all that was stated, that the best somebdy like that can do is make fun of my spelling (which - even though I excel in spelling when I'm not using a keyboard made for people with small hands -my fingers usually hit more than the keys I'm aiming at)As I reponded to a post already made, I didn't feel it necessary to put "OT:" in my heading. I guess some folks just need so much direction in their life they can't see past anything not within the narrow confines of their own focus and attention. "Hey that guy over there isn't in this line, following my well-trodden path, there must be something wrong with 'im. Get the enforcers out there and get that guy, put 'im back in his place!"I heard that line of shit before. Funny, but I always thought freedom, and liberty-minded folks had evolved past that point, but I guess some peple's definition of liberty and freedom is a bit Republican - which as far as I can tell has nothing whatsoever to do with the terms.I can play with words too; actually quite well, are ya jealous mr johnny weanie? [ Post Comment ] Comment #85 posted by Dankhank on July 18, 2008 at 11:53:42 PT Mark Twain said ... "Naked people have little influence in society ..." [ Post Comment ] Comment #84 posted by Dankhank on July 18, 2008 at 11:52:26 PT sad we can't rip our clothes off when we want ...The fig leaf was the first artificial barrier 'twixt us and existence.ever hear of the "naked guy?"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_MartinezHe knew the truth ...:-) [ Post Comment ] Comment #83 posted by Dankhank on July 18, 2008 at 11:45:32 PT Hope lovely poem, I never knew it, but will save it and share ...There are lessons for all of us in that poem ...Thanks ...Peace all who speak of peace ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #82 posted by Hope on July 18, 2008 at 06:09:20 PT Laughing... "Hot flash city!" means that terrible period in a woman's life, usually around middle age that she might become a victim to "Hot flashes". You just can't really imagine until you've experienced it. It makes you want to rip off all your clothes and get some air. I used to wonder, before I experienced it, why some middle aged women seemed to be prone to sometimes wanting to strip their shirts off if they got a little too much to drink. They were HOT! Damn it! I don't mean sexy "Hot" either.:0) [ Post Comment ] Comment #81 posted by Hope on July 18, 2008 at 06:02:25 PT A very good morning mantra. I love these words... Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait. [ Post Comment ] Comment #80 posted by Hope on July 18, 2008 at 06:00:27 PT There's will and courage in these words.... Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait. [ Post Comment ] Comment #79 posted by Hope on July 18, 2008 at 05:56:44 PT .................................................. Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,—act in the living Present! Heart within, and God o'erhead! Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing o'er life's solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #78 posted by Hope on July 18, 2008 at 05:54:23 PT .................................................. In the world's broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! [ Post Comment ] Comment #77 posted by Hope on July 18, 2008 at 05:52:58 PT ............................................ Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us farther than to-day.Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. [ Post Comment ] Comment #76 posted by Hope on July 18, 2008 at 05:51:12 PT I'm thinking.... TELL me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream!— For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem.Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. [ Post Comment ] Comment #75 posted by Hope on July 18, 2008 at 05:47:16 PT Good Morning Since this thread has gone off topic all over the place... I'm taking it still more off topic.I've been a whiny, depressed slobbish lunk for a while now. Woe. Woe. Woe. (Our Mai Bong City's (Robin's) death certainly didn't help.)"I can't stands it no more!" I got's to get me some figurative, spiritual "spinach" and stop this "Woe is me" and "Woe is us" crap.Today a poem I love and have loved since I was a child is on my mind. I'm going to throw it into this wild hair thread. It'll do me good and someone else, perhaps, "Seeing, shall take heart again".This poem can be mental "spinach" for me some times. [ Post Comment ] Comment #74 posted by Hope on July 17, 2008 at 16:48:17 PT I couldn't help but think, "Hot flash city!"... but I'm past that now.:0) [ Post Comment ] Comment #73 posted by Hope on July 17, 2008 at 16:46:52 PT Lol! Just goes to show how communications can get convoluted. [ Post Comment ] Comment #72 posted by Hope on July 17, 2008 at 16:45:49 PT Lol! Men! I was visualizing a good Queen Victorian Era style scolding. That is funny, though... what you thought. [ Post Comment ] Comment #71 posted by BGreen on July 17, 2008 at 13:02:12 PT I have to admit, Dankhank I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought Hope was keeping a "secret" from us. LOLWell, it's official. The Reverend Bud Green will NEVER grow up. LOLOh, and a belated good morning to you, Hope. Please forgive our manliness, er, I mean childishness.Bro. Bud [ Post Comment ] Comment #70 posted by Dankhank on July 17, 2008 at 12:24:38 PT going Victorian ... that convoluted database known as my brain conjured up a vision of exposing 90% of their breasts as going "Victorian."I was amused, but decided to stay mum.If I'm off base, I apologize. [ Post Comment ] Comment #69 posted by ripit on July 17, 2008 at 07:53:31 PT: hope just to let ya know i thought yer refference to going victorian on them was truley funny!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #68 posted by Hope on July 17, 2008 at 05:52:40 PT *smile* to BGreen... and Good Morning! Yeah, John.. what about this article? [ Post Comment ] Comment #67 posted by Hope on July 17, 2008 at 05:48:43 PT Write letters, make phone calls. Visit your representatives. Write to media, newspapers, and writers like the one that wrote this one and let them know what you think. Know what's going on and speak your mind whenever you can in a way that would be persuasive... not insulting.Prove to the world that cannabists are not people any other decent person needs to dread the presence of.C-News isn't the place where policy is changed. It's where you get lots of your information, understanding, and courage to help you get back out there and raise hell, or consciousness or reason among people you know and meet. We're looking for a sort of "trickle" up or "trickle" out effect. The more people you can get to see reason and truth the more likely it is to reach the halls of legislature in an important way. C-News has been a haven for meeting, learning, and discussion among like or similarly thinking individuals and it's a launching pad to refuel at and get us back out there amongst them.Sometimes we hang around over a cup a coffee and maybe say more than some people want to hear. We used to have some laughs. I thought my comment about going Victorian on someone if necessary was funny. But nobody laughed. Yes, I'm the class clown that wastes people's time but makes them laugh... sometimes, which I think is good for them... and me. All in all, I would say that C-News, considering FoM, considering FoM's promise to her son, Tim, and his memory, has already helped to accomplish what FoM intended it to accomplish. I think her hope came true and her goal was met with California's 215. 215 is not perfect yet and people keep finding wrinkles and other people keep trying to iron them out... but there it is. [ Post Comment ] Comment #66 posted by BGreen on July 17, 2008 at 05:22:55 PT Welcome back, johnwayne You have nothing productive to add, as usual.BTW, where are your comments on this story? Oh yeah, you didn't write anything, did you? You just came to criticize.Ooh, you burned us, didn't you.Yawn.The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #65 posted by john wayne on July 16, 2008 at 23:47:17 PT Well, since we can't affect policy. Might as well have religious arguments. And read long-winded screeds from wanna-be preachers. The story about the DEA? Unimportant compared to my experiences with YWSHWYHZKL. (I'd like to buy a vowel, Pat!) [ Post Comment ] Comment #64 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 21:24:46 PT OverwhelmSam What you say is true. I must have misunderstood your comment. [ Post Comment ] Comment #63 posted by OverwhelmSam on July 16, 2008 at 20:57:41 PT Whoa Hope, It's Not All That There are really good people who are Christians, Jews, Muslims, etc... It's the people who use religion for their own personal gains in life who are truly evil people. [ Post Comment ] Comment #62 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 17:38:44 PT Comment 58 Museman You are such an amazing good explainer, Museman. Thank you. [ Post Comment ] Comment #61 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 17:23:39 PT The guy's mom kicked him out. The daughter kicked him out of her bed and the friend keep's thinking "Poor kid!!!" My friend is a very charitable soul. Very charitable.It's complicated... I just keep thinking why doesn't the young man do something. He has the power. The ball is in his court... all that good stuff. [ Post Comment ] Comment #60 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 17:18:34 PT Yeah... Dankhank, I thought I said "Jobless", instead of "Homeless". [ Post Comment ] Comment #59 posted by Dankhank on July 16, 2008 at 16:28:16 PT homeless I don't consider anyone homeless if they live in a house ... [ Post Comment ] Comment #58 posted by museman on July 16, 2008 at 16:09:51 PT a conclusion or two YSHWH, the "Kingdom of Heaven" and all resource to truth, love, happiness, eternity, understanding, liberty, and freedom - all of the REAL artifacts, the REAL substances of value in the Living Universe are within each and every one of us.No one has exclusive access to the truth, and everyone has all potentials.Love IS the answer, but understanding and practice are the whole of the expression, and not seperate. One cannot practice love without understanding, neither can one understand without practicing, or living love -at least to some degree limited only by the exponential amount of practicing, and understanding:) It is also the labor of many many generations who came before.To an 'athieist' this might seem to be an almost catch-22 situation, a closed loop. To one who views 'love' as an electro-chemical reaction in the neural events in the physical brain, connected to the glandular release of hormones and peptide pathways - which it is on a very finite physical level- the kind of understanding perceived necessary to get into such a 'closed loop' isn't available, logicly on such a finite level of mind-only, brain-oriented preception. Which is why Quantum Physics adherents may marvel at what they know is there but cannot observe, or interact with except on very primitive, and destructive levels.So how do you get into that 'loop of love'?:)Here's the part that just defies mental 'understanding' at first; we call it Faith. Faith may be 'thought about', discussed, known, catalogued and filed quite elegantly and efficiently within the storage/memory functions of the mind/brain, but its essence resides in another place, called 'consciousness' -the place where 'I' am, where 'we' are in our living, natural being. Consciousness exists in a timeless space called now. The passing of that now can certainly be measured, but that measurement is not the experience of it, therefore the measurement OF it is not the essence or substance of WHAT it actually is. Faith and consciousness are partners in the New Paradigm. You can have neither without the honest, pure intent to understand and practice Love, and cannot remain conscious and faithful without keeping the integrity of that intent alive. We still have plenty of 'time' to dwell in our thoughts 'for the time being' but soon we are going to have to let go of the fetters of mental limitation, and by the faith of our practiced and established love in a Grand Universe that is giving us a long awaited gift, not throwing us a human-type curve ball, we will be free to embrace the now, totally conscious, without fear of the unknown- a state that has had our consciousness looking backwards at the past through mental filters for a long, long passing of time.Long before I got to understanding of Faith, I just Believed. I 'believed' in a lot of things in my life, but because my honest intent was about truth, and an intuitive attachment of love to that truth, my mistaken beliefs have always been open to a greater light, so I don't believe in Space People anymore, for example. I had that cleared up for me. Even though it was a wonderful fantasy with more than a modicum of truth in it, greater truths have long left it behind like forgotten useless toys. But it was my belief that carried me forth into discovery, practice, and understanding.Belief and faith, are integrated together as well. When first I consciously experienced 'being in the now' it was a high point of my spiritual journey. It would have never happened if I hadn't been blessed with a truly open mind, open enough to know on a fundamental level (unconscious before that particular moment) and feel that "I" was not my mind, which left my consciousness open to receive what happened next, it is a grand tale, and I had witnesses - but I won't go into it.Suffice it to say I discovered how to consciously participate in the cosmic and mundane events unfolding around me, essentially without stopping to think about it. A very liberating state I assure you. I couldn't have done it if I had analyzed, compared-with-past-experiences, searched the mental registry...the opportunity would have been gone.., passed me by. I had Faith, Belief, and Trust that everything was OK. That I was OK, and that the Universe said it was OK to go ahead and go there, where so many had feared to tred. So I went, or joined actually, the events in progress on a very, very high level of experience and being (that I won't go into here)Again my words have run away down the track.... I do enjoy the opportunity. (At least this time I'm not fighting a trojan - my main comp is battling it as I write- so I can check my spelling, which because of increasingly bad eyesight, and dyslexic typing habits, is often atrocious) [ Post Comment ] Comment #57 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 16:00:23 PT Or "something" "He could do well in life... but he doesn't seem to want to get started on it, too soon... or something."Unless he's one of those people who just uses people... or just uses women. [ Post Comment ] Comment #56 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 15:57:03 PT I hope he's not truly handcapped... That's always a possibility. One that makes me very, very sad for him. [ Post Comment ] Comment #55 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 15:54:18 PT The guy I'm speaking of is not that kind of homeless man at all.He's a tall, handsome, healthy, strong nineteen year old with an expensive gas hog vehicle, screwing my friend's daughter and being "at home" in my friend's daughter's bed and buying gas and cigarettes with the money my friend's daughter earns at her job.The young man heeded my outrage about the fact that he simply could not, would not work in food service...EVER... no matter what.Yes... there is a lot of human "dysfunction" all over the story. Dysfunction abounds. But he's not the "homeless man" you're thinking of. I do pity and fear for him, though. He's very likable in so many ways. He's sweet and gentle. I've tried to help him. I've prayed for him. He's setting himself up for a sad life. He's manipulative, beautiful, and feels terribly sorry for himself. He could do well in life... but he doesn't seem to want to get started on it, too soon... or something.And yes. It's sad. It's all sad, except the Grace. [ Post Comment ] Comment #54 posted by Dankhank on July 16, 2008 at 15:43:18 PT Big C little c I got it and it harked me back to another who posted here, may still, since I forgot who said it, regarding "disobedient Christians."The comment pointed out that some Christians deserve a little c for their behavior, as the other comment says the same thing about the disobedient ones.It points out that much done for Christian reasons is misguided or venal.The homeless guy may have much more on his mind than the "denigrating" work he was contemplating.Things he may have considered while contemplating "food service" work....As a homeless man how does he ...get to workclean up for workplan to work for the first weeks waiting for the first check in light of the first two pointsdo employers still hold the first check like was done when I was younger? probably not ... don't know ...that's all I can think of for now ... add others if you know of themThe government and business leaders have shown all of us what they think of the "minimum wage" jobs by declining to raise the minimum to reflect basic cost of living increases for a decade or more ...There are a myriad reasons why kowtowing to major corporations in the pursuit of wealth, theirs not his, that are poisoning America is not a desirable activity.I fear I go too far in defending said homeless fellow, likely he didn't have the time to figure all this out, although, being homeless, he may actually have MORE time than I to figure it out. Waitressing is a hard, mostly thankless and underpaid, job fraught with obstacles like grabby or petulant patrons and crummy bosses.Hope, as you point out, they must be done, sad that they get honor rarely, since it is ministration to our fellow travelers. Kudus to you for your kind service ...and confusion to the christians that make service to others such an onerous task [ Post Comment ] Comment #53 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 15:26:19 PT Thank you, BGreen, For the "Witness". That's what I call them... a description of what you feel that you "Witnessed", spiritually.I like them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #52 posted by BGreen on July 16, 2008 at 14:55:08 PT Hope Hope, I can tell you about a recent spiritual encounter that I had last August, and that you were a part of.There were several things that happened to me when I was sitting there just waiting for the cops to return with a search warrant, knowing that they had no problem lying to my face and assuming that they would also have no problem lying to a judge to get that search warrant.I know I had two guardian angels that day, you and FoM, and you both were there for me at a time that I was at about rock bottom. I was able to turn to both of you at a time when I couldn't turn anybody else except Mrs. Green.There is a continuity of events that happened that day that in retrospect can be fully appreciated. Your words to me were, I believe, more than just your wisdom and intellect, but I believe that those words were placed in your heart at that moment to deliver a message I needed to hear.The words from the book of Ephesians that you posted really gave me strength. I was so worried that my mouth had gotten me into trouble for admonishing these cops in the way that I did for attacking innocent people. What you posted told me that it wasn't my words but it was God's words. I didn't have to fear what I would say at that time because the words were placed in my mouth. If there is any proof of that, I think the fact that 11 months later they haven't returned speaks of that truth.When I talked about the continuity of events, one of the really supernatural things that happened that day, besides the words that you posted, happened while I was listening to the Internet radio.I was listening to the station that I like from Switzerland called SwissGroove.ch, and I heard a song that I had never heard before but that spoke directly to me. I think it was Hezekiah Walker and family, but it could've been Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Brooklyn Tabernacle, or any of those wonderful African-American gospel choirs, and this song was saying "Just praise Him, when you're down and it doesn't seem like it's going to get better, just praise Him."The thing to keep in mind about this song is not that I'd never heard it before, but the fact it was actually being played on this particular radio station. The station describes its music as groovy, jazzy, funky and, trippy. What in the world was that gospel song doing on that station at that time, especially coming right exactly at a time when I needed that message?Your words and that song were a divine message delivered to me that day. As time goes by and we begin to heal from being brutally terrorized by law enforcement that day, the clarity of the true spiritual nature of the events of good versus evil are obvious. That was truly an event where I was just a character in a play that was written, produced and directed by a spiritual force that I believe is God.Brother Bud [ Post Comment ] Comment #51 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 14:29:36 PT I believe that "Love one another" is so much harder than people can apparently fathom. [ Post Comment ] Comment #50 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 14:27:09 PT I believe "Pray for those who hate and despise you."It's hard... but I've seen amazing things happen from it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #49 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 14:26:04 PT I believe... "Do not let the sun go down on your anger." [ Post Comment ] Comment #48 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 14:21:45 PT And I like boots. Comfortable boots. Steel toed boots. [ Post Comment ] Comment #47 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 14:19:55 PT Rear end. Haunches.Where you sit. [ Post Comment ] Comment #46 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 14:18:09 PT About anger and how I deal with it... I'm not likely to go "Prehistoric on your ass"... or "Medieval"... but I might go "Victorian" on your rear end. [ Post Comment ] Comment #45 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 14:02:39 PT About being judged by the self-righteous... Stinks.Some stinky stuff in this world coming out of pious "white washed" "sepulchers" who have set themselves up as judges of morality. Sometimes the odor of their perverted moralism gets in your spiritual nostrils... but that's why they and their judgment stink... so we can see and smell them for what they are and avoid them. [ Post Comment ] Comment #44 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 13:54:41 PT I agree with you, too, Museman. "I agree with Sam, and I agree with you Hope. How is that possible?"I agree with you both.I didn't like that feeling that a big dirty blanket was thrown over my head suddenly by a friend that I thought knew some of us better than to whip out something like that.I especially like the way you, Museman, explained your spiritual experience. I have a hard time explaining sort of unexplainable stuff like that... so yeah... what you said. [ Post Comment ] Comment #43 posted by museman on July 16, 2008 at 12:50:18 PT hope I feel like I missed something in this dialogue, but I feel I should participate.Hope; first of all I'd like to say that I believe quite strongly to the point of adamant knowledge, not only the existence of YHWH, but 'his' presence, and active interaction with my/our faith.However, from the very first interaction with the church and religion as a child seeking truth with pure innocense, and honesty, - I had a spiritual event in the form of a 'visitation' I believe scholars would call it,.. from YSHWH, although at the time I thought of him as 'Jesus' - an event that left me viewing the hypocrisy, deceptions, and general lack of sincerity on the part of everyone in that church with a sensitivity bordering on telepathy...From the very first, when YSHWH left me, his voice echoing in my head "If you are looking for me in the church, keep looking, because I am not here."I struggled with this for close to 40 years, constantly checking out congregations in about 15 different states from the midwest to the west coast, and a couple on the east coast. I learned that that there are many good people who belong to those congregations, and taken on a one-to-one basis, away from the narrow confines of doctrine and church mandates, those people were quite capable of intelligent discussion, and actions resembling the nature of 'christlike behavior.'I also finally was brought ot the point where after almost 40 years of judgements, mockery, rejection, and condemenation by the holders of religious doctrine everywhere, to take YSHWHs' advice, and 'shake the dust off my sandals.' I did that. Its over.The root of the tree that is the church is rotten. It was rotten in its inception; formed by the Nephalim Elite in the first person of Constantine, who transfomed the symbol of the cross from a symbol of hope and faith, into a symbol of war, conquest, and destruction. All churches that sprang from that tree are still attached to the roots, which are false. The doctrines and interpretations of the fragmented text known as 'The Bible' have all been carefully constructed and arranged to serve the interests of the ruing powers, not YHWH, not YSHWH, not 'Unconditional or 'Agape' Love,' not mercy, not understanding, not liberty, not knowledge and empowerment of "God's children - which is all of us not some exclusive group of humans who invented a set of impossible 'moral' laws and enforcements supposedly the 'only way' to 'get into heaven.' The church, its doctrine, and the power and false authority it hands out to those that kiss its ass is simply a false guide and serves the darkness, not the light.We are on the threshold (actually I believe we are across that threshold) of incredible changes all across our world, our consciousness, and our social/cultural reference points. Sam has shown his anger at a situation centered around narrow-minded actions, events, and the wielding of power that is rooted in the corruption that is 'christianity.' To be fair, that same corruption exists within the polar opposite; Islam, albeit a more medieval form of it. I respect any form of faith and belief that empowers people, that truly 'lifts them up' -but there is a lot of claims of that, within the 'acceptable parameters of religion' that are nothing more than psychological hype. The proof is in the pudding; "You will know them by their fruit." And that fruit is very bitter, sickly and infested with vermin. Nothing grows in its shadow, and everything that touches the heart of it is corrupted beyond redemption.Having had some real spiritual expereinces (of course debatable by anyone who hasn't) it is easy for me to see when someone is really spiritually inspired, or just convincing themsleves with a constant reference to finite, small circles of clever associations with select passages in 'scripture' that seemingly support and justify their 'spirituality.'That sensitivity and awareness extends itself into the written word, as well. A truth vibrates my 'truth sense' while a mistake just lies there and looks pretty (or not.)Zetgeist is one perspective of a phenomenon that is occurring called 'cosciousness.' It reveals a lot of truth about what's really going on, yet it does fall short of the mark in in its spiritual reference. It reveals the errors, but does not replace them with a truth. After viewing that video, I had to weigh that into my consideration, and I decided, that even though important clarification about the pointed errors in doctrine and antiquated beliefs originally created and instilled by 'the gods' who have transformed themselves ino CEOs, and political powers is omitted, the content -and more importantly the understanding of it - is still overhwelmingly present. Those Sumerian gods provided us with all the myths, stories and legends that have been incorporated into every religion since Baal worship. They were incorporated by the ruling powers of every era. This is an important revelation that is adamantly denied by 'religious' people, but under investigation by 'spiritual' people. The deep-seated anger at millennia of domination, oppression, slavery, suffering, confusion, and the heady revelation that we have been lied to forever by these false guides, false authorities, and false spirits can make a person want to express that anger. I know I've been there. Still am from time to time.In my heart and mind, by experience, direct Revelation from YHWHW, and as a witness just like everyone else, the church is an abomination.If anyone we to ask my advice concerning this, I would give them the advice given to me by the second visitation I had at the age of 24.He said to me after a brief but incredible enlightening conversation;"Do you have any questions?" Once a smartass, always a smartass, I answered;"Well if I knew the question, I could probably figure out the answer."He said, "Well here are the answers to your questions, even if you don't know what the questions are.""Number one, Study your 'religion' with finesse, instead of speed.""Number two, take your people as they come.""Number three, look for the sign in the sky."Of all the things I have ever heard coming out of another humn-beings mouth (though I have reasonto believe this individual -who disappeared in a rather sci-fi manner, may have been a bit more-than-human) these 3 things have been teh most profound, because they are a living interaction of the truth, with my actual life and spiritual journey.I followed that advice and it has served me well. I'm still looking for 'the sign in the sky' but I have a real strong feeling that that event is not very far away.I just wanted to explain in my usual wordy way, that it is possible to know the truth, live the truth, and spread the truth, without any connection to 'religion' of any kind, and in fact the 'religions' that we have like pits and stumbling blocks in our way are all going to be revealed for what they are, as well as the powers that use them for their corrupt actions. The anger towards the falseness is more than justified, but wisdom tells us to be 'as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.' If our anger causes harm to anything but false perspective, and ignorance, then we need to think about how we are performing our duty to enlighten those we can. I have had to consider this often, half the time I post here I have to consider this.I agree with Sam, and I agree with you Hope. How is that possible? Truth can be viewed from a myriad of perspectives, and one perspective is no less valid than another, when the perciever is being honest in their perception...and when harm is not intended. [ Post Comment ] Comment #42 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 12:37:22 PT If I keep worrying this word, "Religion"... I think I can unravel it down to being purely meaningless... maybe.:0)"Religious", I guess, means to some people, expressing a belief in something you can't see but that usually entails a lot of rules and harsh judgments and disdain for others and stuff.Or it could mean a certain dedication to an idea.Forgiveness, peace, freedom all seem like ideas that I could hold religious... in some way. I've always thought Athiesim was a religion, too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #41 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 12:30:28 PT Religion What I believe isn't necessarily a "Religion", is it?Can't I believe in something, even strongly, without having to qualify it as a "Religion".I believe very much in ending cannabis prohibition, but I don't have to hold it or consider it a religion, do I? Although some, I'm sure, would say, I'm pretty "religious" in my efforts to see it done. [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 12:24:55 PT Sorry, Hempity!!! I got Hemp World and Hempity confused. [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 12:15:38 PT BGreen Aha! moment! I get it. The lower case (non capital letter) and the upper case (capital letter) thing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 12:06:01 PT OverwhelmSam I do understand that you don't just mean you are angered at just the idea of Christianity... you are angry at all religions. I'm not into religion as many tend to think of it, myself. I'm into life, I guess. I'm into looking for and hoping for good... and trying to do the right thing... no matter if it's religious in nature or not.Banning religion isn't any better than banning anything else.It's not the religion... it's the people and what they do to others when they run amok under the influence of it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by BGreen on July 16, 2008 at 12:01:21 PT Paragraphs 2 and 3 A christian isn't a Christian. It's the Christ that makes a Christian. A phony uses the name of Christ in vain, and as a result their religion really excludes Christ, thus removing the capital letter.If you're only a Christian by name, you're REALLY NOT, you're at best a generic, lower case christian.I'm not going to look at what somebody calls themselves, instead I will look at their actions. I've been told too many times that I couldn't be a Christian because of my long hair, rock music and cannabis use, so I won't try to decide somebodies heart, I'll just let their actions speak for them.Bro. Bud [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 11:47:11 PT BGreen, I don't understand.... a typo? "The only Christians most people know of are really christians." [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 11:43:54 PT "Shouldn't we also understand?" Yes, we should. That's what anger without hatred is about... but if it's nurtured... as some people do... it turns into hatred.Anger is not a bad thing... it's the hatred that is. Understanding will not allow the incubation and nurturing of hatred.Of course I understand Overwhelm Sam's and Hempity's anger. Hypocrites of all kinds make me angry, too. Even angrier, in those case, with those who do evil in the name of religion, probably, because I see them, the "religious" people he's angry at, as perverting the very gospel of Christ. [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by BGreen on July 16, 2008 at 11:14:07 PT Hope I can understand your feelings, but I can also understand the anger expressed by OverwhelmSam.The only Christians most people know of are really christians.The upper case Christian tries to emulate the Living Christ, helping their fellow humans and other creatures with a loving, caring heart.The lower case christian is the phony evangelist, the warmonger, the president of the United States, etc. They're the ones who butt into the lives of other people in an attempt to control what they find different or objectionable. They're caught up in their lust for power and wealth, and as far as they're concerned, the rest of us be damned.FoM, myself, The GCW, and you have tried to show the CNews family what an upper case Christian is really like. However, at the very same time the lower case christians keep kicking the snot out of the side of their head.Remember that Jesus understood the anger of those that didn't particularly care too much for Him. Shouldn't we also understand?Besides, I care a great deal for you, Hope, so does anything else really matter? LOLBrother Bud [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 11:04:52 PT Food service Recently I had opportunity to meet a jobless young man who believed himself above working in food service for even a moment. He thinks it's ok to live off, eat the food, use the electricity bought with the work of people, though, that fought and scrambled and struggled their way up to having a home, paying the bills, buying food and clothing and sometimes just surviving, using food service work as a source of income at some point in their lives. I've waited tables and cooked food for wages and tips. My grandmother has. My mother has. My sister has. My daughter has. My granddaughter has. I've done everything mentioned in OverhwhelmSam's comment, many times, and I continue to do it. Sometimes I did and do service for income for a roof, food, water, electricity, comfort, for myself or others, and sometimes I did and do it for no wages... because it needs to be done and because it's right or a good thing to do. [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 10:49:17 PT No sweat though... serving as one of your low ones, it does have one great advantage over your position as one of the more highly evolved among us. If you stumble it's an easier landing than from the tall pedestals you more highly evolved guys live on.Of course, you guys don't stumble... ever. [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 10:45:04 PT OSam and Hempity... I'm assuming that you find yourselves far above having to do things like sweeping, mowing, cooking, and delivering. Since I have done and expect to continue doing a lot of that... I guess that makes me one of the lesser people in your theory. [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 10:40:27 PT Damn! that angers me.... ".... who sweep our streets, mow our lawns and deliver food to our tables and thank God."At you, too, Hempity. I'm a bit angered... miffed... but I don't hate you... of course. Cyber friends and acquaintances can make you angry, too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by Hope on July 16, 2008 at 10:34:48 PT OverwhelmSam My friend, thanks for throwing such a wide nasty blanket over so many! Nice gesture towards your hostess, too.A big assumption on my part, I realize, but I assume by your comment that you are not one of the "weak" ones and you'd certainly never have use for a crutch, therefore are a part of the "ruling class", I have to tell you that arrogance and pomposity can get your lawn peed on, (those yellow spots) and spit in the food delivered to you."Still, I understand that people are predominately week minded and need a "crutch" like religion just to make it through life. That's okay, the ruling class will always have a need to manipulate the uneducated and unmovitaed people who sweep our streets, mow our lawns and deliver food to our tables and thank God."Even the uneducated and unmotivated have access to spell check programs. Oops, guess that would be a crutch of some sort and you wouldn't use that.You can lean on Zeitgeist-The Movie, when you need a rest. I'll lean towards a different spiritual theory when I need to lean on something. They are both theoretic, spiritual ideas. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by HempWorld on July 16, 2008 at 08:57:44 PT Good Piece! OverwhelmSam Thanks that was really good! I just wanted to say that. Is there no God? [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by OverwhelmSam on July 16, 2008 at 07:47:48 PT Peole Killed and Jailed for Religion Religion is dying. Currently, the percentage of people who belive there's a God is declining by 1% annually. In America, 70% believe in God and in Britain only 50% believe. The truth about religion is slowing rising to the collective consciousness. It's about hating everyone that doesn't believe in the same religion that you do. The hypocrisy is glaringly obvious. The religious right have demonstrated ruthless ambition in gaining access to political office for the express intent of putting the Bible into our laws, and then they frequent prostitutes, vote for wars to kill people, and blow people in airport bathrooms. This is not good faith, this is just pure evil.I don't subscribe to the God myth and believe people can be good and moral without having to believe there's an imaginary person watching over them. Believing in something, just because you are afraid of what will happen if you don't believe in it, is absolutely no reason to believe in something. In other words, your own fear should not be used against you to force you to believe something for which, if you were not indoctrinated as children, you would never consider true. It's like they perpetuate a fraud upon themselves by uttering it's God's will and thine will be done, which makes their lives, a total lie from beginning to end. Still, I understand that people are predominately week minded and need a "crutch" like religion just to make it through life. That's okay, the ruling class will always have a need to manipulate the uneducated and unmovitaed people who sweep our streets, mow our lawns and deliver food to our tables and thank God. Of course, I think the world would be a better place to live with fewer self-righteous fairytale whores, but that's just my opinion, others may vary. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by afterburner on July 15, 2008 at 19:54:56 PT paul armentano #18: 'an insoluble social problem' The grand irony is that "those with the bigger political battalions" are poisoning themselves with tobacco, alcohol and synthetic pharmaceuticals. Meanwhile, they "strike against their 'unruly' neighbors," those with a safer energizer, relaxant and healer -- cannabis. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on July 15, 2008 at 17:35:34 PT Hope Maybe it's time they get called on the carpet for it. The union of Fundamentalist Christian Organizations and the Republican Party has made the word conservative mean two different things. Ministers and Sunday School Teachers that are young or young at heart and understand the ways of the world should address this problem particularly in politically active Churches. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Hope on July 15, 2008 at 17:28:58 PT Conscience "seared over".... "How can a person who calls themselves moral look a man in the eyes and know he will be going to jail for something that he hates?" [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Hope on July 15, 2008 at 17:27:03 PT Where's the love in that? There's not any. Just hate. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on July 15, 2008 at 17:03:12 PT Hope Being moral means being kind to others. How can a person who calls themselves moral look a man in the eyes and know he will be going to jail for something that he hates? Where's the love in that? [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Hope on July 15, 2008 at 16:58:13 PT "our brother's keeper" I think prohibitionists and such think "our brother's keeper" means something different to them than it does to you. I think you're right. I think they think it means keeper as in "Jailer" and as in controlling every aspect of the "brother's" life.Oh man. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on July 15, 2008 at 16:47:43 PT Paul Thank you for the article. I have trouble understanding some articles that seem more talking to men then both men and women. I didn't have any brothers and my Dad was a very quiet and gentle soul. I think morality is a good thing but the religious right attached itself to the Republican Party and has taken a good word and twisted it to use against people who don't join or think like them. I believe being moral is about being our brother's keeper. To care for the sick. To feed the hungry etc. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Hope on July 15, 2008 at 16:37:53 PT Thank you, Paul A. Outstanding article.The last paragraph of the article, "I would go a bit further, to say that Klein gives us still another detailed account of a deplorable social phenomenon that prevailed throughout America before, during, and after the Progressive Era—the war of self-righteous busybodies against the rest of us. Sad to say, it ain’t over yet." [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by paul armentano on July 15, 2008 at 15:02:44 PT "They" Continue to Make War on "Us" The “Respectable” People Continue to Make War on the Rest of Us July 11, 2008Robert HiggsScarcely any critical commentator on the “war on drugs” has failed to remark on the striking inconsistencies that permeate the current prohibitionist stance. Contemporary crusaders for social purity ardently seek to outlaw X (e.g., marijuana), yet they cheerfully abide Y (e.g., Chardonnay), whose consumption is at least as harmful and in some cases is manifestly more so. How are we to make sense of such blatant contradictions?We can see a pattern in the apparent incoherence of the prohibitionists’ position if we recall that the war on drugs, like all the preceding prohibitionist crusades in American history (some of them still continuing), amounts to a defense of bourgeois WASP conventions against persons and classes deemed less respectable. So, SSRIs, yes, ecstasy, no; Benzodiazepines, yes, heroin, no; a pleasant cocktail party, yes, reefer madness, no; and so forth. Everything turns on the sort of people who tend to consume the substance.The better sorts have been waging war for centuries to keep the rabble in line. The self-annointed “respectable” people live in constant anxiety that their beloved way of life faces mortal menace from the disorderly masses, who may be disinclined to toe the line drawn for them. As David Wagner has written in The New Temperance: The American Obsession with Sin and Vice, “the Victorian and Progressive Period movements [to ban alcoholic beverages and tobacco cigarettes, among other things] were characterized by what scholarly observers consider an exaggerated . . . notion of their ability to change behavior, by a huge faith in government’s ability to regulate every aspect of private life, and by a strong ethnocentric belief in the correctness of white, Protestant, middle-class social norms.” The Progressive Era ended, thank heaven, but this twisted puritanical obsession endured.Combine this priggish insecurity and moral pomposity with the ideological appeal of the modern therapeutic state and the irresistible attractions of money and power to be seized when governments at every level throw their vicious violence onto the scales, and you have an insoluble social problem—insoluble because the drugs are only a symptom of the underlying class warfare in which those with the bigger political battalions are constantly tempted to wage preemptive strikes against their “unruly” neighbors, especially if those neighbors are black, brown, red, yellow, poor, foreign-born, adherents of an “alien” religion, or in some other visible respect “strange.” http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=2262 [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on July 15, 2008 at 15:01:48 PT msegesta Hi Michael! Thank you. I will watch it tonight. They have short excerpts on the amazon link of the 16 songs out of 33 or 34 they played at the CSNY Concert. The documentary will be on DVD this Fall before elections I read. They sure didn't do bad for 4 men with a combined age of over 250 years. It was a wonderful concert. I wish you the best of luck this Fall in Michigan.CSNY/Deja Vu Live [LIVE] http://drugsense.org/url/6r8sIhnW [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by observer on July 15, 2008 at 14:48:31 PT Success, Pure and Simple 5,235 special agents, a $2.3 billion budget and 87 offices in 63 countries.Are you kidding? That IS success to a bureaucrat. Bigger departments, bigger budgets and more offices, etc. Think of all the the salaries paid out, the careers, the wonderful resumes padded and built there, the totally great medical and educational benefits. Heck, how many other jobs do you get weeks off paid vacation if you shoot someone dead? Any college course you can argue is beneficial to your career path as a DEA employee - paid for in full, courtesy the U.S. Taxpayer. Big medical plan, dental plan - paid for in full, courtesy the U.S. Taxpayer. Pension? You bet! The best, baby! - paid for in full, courtesy the U.S. Taxpayer, of course. Nice office space (in tropical vacation spots, often!), top notch equipment - all paid for in full, courtesy the U.S. Taxpayer. Something not quite kosher with the books? Stamp "CLASSIFIED" on it - the U.S. Taxpayer picks up the tab, as usual and nobody is the wiser. A real "Win-Win" situation all the way around (for government).Friends, to most government employees, such is success, pure and simple. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by msegesta on July 15, 2008 at 14:04:17 PT: Please let FoM know....Neil Young... is on Charlie Rose tonight and I think he is the only guest for the hour. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by FoM on July 15, 2008 at 12:33:33 PT Hope I'm done using it now. I think it helped but I only used it for a couple days. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Hope on July 15, 2008 at 12:29:39 PT I think I have comments all over the place and on other threads about that cortizone on your face. Be careful. It DOES thin skin... everyone's... even a child's.At least that's what I've read recently... and I tend to believe there's a really good chance that it's true. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on July 15, 2008 at 12:23:14 PT Hope Thank you. I think it is getting better now and maybe I won't need to do more then I've done. I've had this for a while now so I am happy to see it healing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Hope on July 15, 2008 at 12:15:00 PT Add a touch of friendly bacteria... live yogurt and you have a protein and "friendly" bacteria.Keep everything immaculately clean... and there should be no infections... or worsening of the rash.... add a dash of antibiotic (also thinning to the skin) if it does appear to be infected and change cloths and mixtures frequently. Easy on the yogurt additions, if any. If you think your skin needs a yogurt mask... do that... but don't add much to this oil soother, cleaner, dryer, softening, oiling, skin comforting thing, plus, occasionally the water and oil will get too hot and kill friendly flora as well as unfriendly flora... as well as catch fire if left in even a microwave for too much time. Too much yogurt could make it "dry" too quickly and leave a film that doesn't add to the effectiveness of this healing oil treatment. Careful. Don't get it too hot if you decide to try it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on July 15, 2008 at 12:14:56 PT Hope Thank you. I don't have any of those oils right now but I can get some when we shop again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Hope on July 15, 2008 at 12:01:36 PT Coconut and avocado oils make excellent contributions or substitutions for the olive oil in this "recipe". [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by Hope on July 15, 2008 at 11:58:11 PT You probably got some kind of contact dermatitis that was exacerbated by heat, sweat, and sun, and millions upon millions of tiny, flying, microscopic, sharp, piercing projectiles hitting your face from wind and mowing.Something could have easily got in your skin from soil from a projectile that got too comfy in the moisture and heat, and set itself up in your skin. A tiny spread infection possibly from a zillion little projectiles covered in cat spray.Heat some olive oil in a little water in a cup, saucer, or bowl ... I use the microwave. Dip a Turkish terry cotton washcloth in it, wring it out, and gently clean the area of the rash... gently... dab clean, refresh ... and oil... often. Keep it handy. Make a heat compress of it when it's warmest. Use it up the day you make it. Use more or less oil to suit your taste. It does not burn eyes. It's so helpful.Stay out of the sun.(I've often experienced the benefits of this warm oil treatment... and wondered if there might be excellent benefits to using hemp or cannabis oil with, or instead of the olive oil.)Even calamine lotion used on your face or exposed skin, thins it and makes it more vulnerable to sun damage... and stuff. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by FoM on July 15, 2008 at 09:15:23 PT Hope I know that schools do a lot to promote an agenda. Private schools don't do things like public schools or at least they didn't from my experience. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Hope on July 15, 2008 at 08:42:48 PT Oh my gosh! That's it... isn't it? The answer to my question on another thread... What exactly is the "message" prohibitionists are so hellbent on sending to the "children"?"... that institutions such as schools, churches, governments and political organizations of every sort all tended to direct thought for ends other than truth, for the perpetuation of their own functions and for the control of individuals in the service of these functions."Or at least it's likely, maybe, one of the many "messages" prohibitionists "send" to "children" (and everybody else) with some of the laws in place now. Actually, I think it belittles the law as a whole to use it in any way to "send messages" to "children". Laws are not the best way to "send messages" to children. Law is supposed to be about seeking some sort of justice against injustice of some kind, pure and simple."Send your message" in seminars or special training or teaching for children and youth or something, for heaven's sake... and keep it true if you have any sense at all. The message they see in the illegality of cannabis/marijuana/marihuana... is barbaric, heathen, backwards and straight out of The Dark Ages. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on July 15, 2008 at 08:23:29 PT Sam I stood on the side lines and have watched this administration do things that I didn't think were smart. Giving a tax discount for SUVs meant more fuel would be needed and supply and demand would dictate the price of fuel. I watched as people got homes that didn't have the money to own a home. I thought maybe putting our money in our home wasn't smart but it is real and we have a place to live that doesn't cost near what a renter would pay. People needed to save a lot of money for a down payment or put in a lot of sweat equity but I don't think many people who got homes during the housing boom had to do that. What goes up must come down. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by sam adams on July 15, 2008 at 08:17:52 PT quotes “In Dr. Edelman’s view, government programs to alleviate injustices often serve mainly to allay public concern while creating a bureaucracy with a vested interest in preserving the problem it is supposed to solve.” Dr. Edelman, economist"He felt that institutions such as schools, churches, governments and political organizations of every sort all tended to direct thought for ends other than truth, for the perpetuation of their own functions and for the control of individuals in the service of these functions."- Robert Pirsig, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on July 15, 2008 at 08:12:38 PT today's news This reminds me of a thought I had this morning while reading today's paper: most government institutions are created to solve a problem, but inevitably they end up making the problem much worse instead of better.Look at Fannie Mae, the Fed, etc. they were sold to the public after the Great Depression as the means to stabilize the economic and prevent the cyclical downturns. Instead of stabilizing the housing market, federal control has created a huge bubble than now cannot burst without devastating our economy or requiring inflation-funded bailouts. Not to mention creating a hyper-inflated housing market that now means an entire generation of middle class will not be able to buy a house.Today's news means the value of the dollar just went down some more. Expect gas & oil to go up another 10-20%. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by E_Johnson on July 15, 2008 at 07:58:58 PT Actually he's wrong It pretty much IS the DEA's fault that for 35 years Congress and seven presidents haven't had the brains or the political courage to decriminalize marijuana or at least work to humanize America's drug policy.It's not like this is some politically neutral group of law enforcers sitting on the sidelines passively waiting to be told by Congress which laws they should enforce. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on July 15, 2008 at 06:37:07 PT OT: Google Business It really is interesting to me to watch the Stock Market these days. I have never gotten into it because it just seems like a big pyramid scheme. I only put what money I have into something real not something that can go down like it is. Right now it is in the upper 10,000 range.http://news.google.com/news?ned=us&topic=b [ Post Comment ] Post Comment