Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jan 2005 Source: Pincher Creek Echo (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 Pincher Creek Echo Contact: http://www.pinchercreekecho.com/contact.php Website: http://www.pinchercreekecho.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1835 Author: George Kosinski Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n053/a03.html THOSE JAILED FOR DRUGS POLITICAL PRISONERS Editor, The Echo; Re: Pot, cons and pilferers This story brings to mind the Blue Meanies from the Beatles movie, The Yellow Submarine. The primary task of the Blue Meanies seemed to be making sure that nobody was having any fun. Uninvited and violent armed groups crashing parties where the most serious offence is having a good time is hardly in keeping with the spirit of Christmas or New Year's celebrations. Perhaps the police should consider reducing or eliminating their boorish behaviour, or at least restraining themselves until the holidays are over, while civilians might consider reflecting on the possibility that victimless "crimes" should not be tolerated in a democratic society. Meanwhile, a woman gets raped in Canada what - about every nine seconds? Those of us who do not look forward to living in a totalitarian society can only ponder with dismay the lack of progress since Paul Krassner issued the following warning over 15 years ago: The drug war has transformed the military-industrial complex into the prison-industrial complex. Fascism is already here, it's just friendly fascism, with spin doctors galore to explain how it protects you. The millennium will be a battle between individual freedom and friendly fascism. As long as a government can arbitrarily decide which drugs are legal and which are illegal, then those who are behind bars for drugs are political prisoners. George Kosinski, Gibsons, BC - --- MAP posted-by: Josh