Founding Fathers: The Answers to our economic Woes?

[Anonymous]

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[_Kevin Graham]

Come on.

Are we actually watching a potentially fruitful topic go to waste over chatter about legalizing drugs?

Well... I was once told that George Washington smoked pot. Not sure if that is true though.

[_Kevin Graham]

Ezias, in my life I've changed my mind on religion and politics (two whammies), and I've never smoked anything in my life.

[_bcspace]

I've also noticed that republicans that don't want to own up to the mistakes of the past administrations, now claim that "conservatism" is the answer. I heard Hannity start this about a year ago and more and more online "conservatives" use it to divorce themselves from anything Bush did. Bush wasn't a "real" conservative they say. I don't recall anyone making that distinction during Bush's first term.

So what exactly was it that past Republican admins did wrong economically? I note that it was the Democratically controlled Congress in Reagan's time that let Reagan fight and win the Cold War on the condition they could have what they wanted on social programs thus driving up the deficit. I note that it wasn't Clinton who balanced the budget but the Republican controlled Congress who forced him to agree to it. I note that it was Clinton, reaping the benefits of the Republican balanced budget, who led us into the dot com boom and bust of 1999-2000 in which many a 401k dried up. etc. etc. The political argument seems to be won by the Republicans hands down.

Nevertheless, the fact of the matter is usually administrations have little or nothing to do with economic down turns (It's likely Obama may be the first major exception to this being the strongest candidate to successfully push socialism onto to us). But they can have a positive effect on the recovery. The Republicans appear to win this one too as tax cuts and certain deregulation have always worked.

The Democrats can't claim Roosevelt because his policies can't be traced to an economic recovery. What Roosevelt did was slow the recovery and permanently hamstring the US economy with socialist programs. What finally brought the US out of the Great Depression was a war. Obama is making the same mistakes; evidence that Democrats don't know or understand history.

[Anonymous]

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[_bcspace]

Sorry for derailing your thread a bit. Unfortunately whenever I bring up drug legalization as a solution for problems, I have to defend myself against the naysayers, due to cognitive dissonance regarding this topic.

I am not unwilling to consider drug legalization. It's just that every time I do, I think of all the people harmed by others who take legalized drugs. Those who drink and drive for example. If there is going to be drug legalization, then there must be mandatory drug testing in certain situations and the public must be allowed to administer their own tests and discriminate against it such as in the case of jobs or renting apartments and houses etc.

[Anonymous]

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[_Kevin Graham]

OK Im a moron when it comes to knowledge about any kind of drugs. Does growing hemp mean you're a pot smoker? Is it the same thing as pot?

[Anonymous]

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[_christopher]

OK, follow me through on this one. First we release all non-violent prisoners. If you went to jail for buying (or growing) pot and did not commit a violent act in the process you can go home.

Now, for those left in jail......mandatory daily pot smoking. Look, talk to a guard. What is the biggest problem they face....violence or fear of violence. Have you ever met a stoner who wanted to fight? I'm up for paying for the extra Doritos and Twinkies to sooth the munchies if we can keep 'em stoned and mellow. Pipe it through the ventilation system, give them brownies, give them vaporizers, whatever they want. Just keep them stoned and happy. Again, I've never met a stoner who wanted to fight.

Just a thought...outside of the box.