Marijuana Legalization-
Huffington Post Article
Live Science Article
From Wikipedia
Know the currency Presidents-
Ulysses S. Grant
Andrew Jackson
Just for fun-
Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway
The Pantheon
Monday, March 2, 2015
Phoning in
I called into a local area talk show today and I think this is a post about political mindsets.
This morning I was driving to get my morning coffee when I heard the show's host talk about how dangerous it would be if Marijuana were legalized. He started the conversation with medicinal properties and then went on to discuss Colorado. For those who are not interested or do not know of the current state of weed in the United States here's a quick recap.
Recently the Colorado State legislature legalized the recreational use of weed, and imposed a higher tax (25%) than was on the long legal medical prescription grade (2.5%). The idea was to generate revenue by providing legal means for purchasing something that was already being used and obtained illegally.
For fiscal year to date 2014-2015 Colorado has generated $52,570,081 from both medicinal and legal Marijuana sales.
Time will tell if the payoff will be worth the cost of education and accidents associated with a newly legalized recreational drug. Mainly law enforcement is having trouble enforcing high while driving laws with most of the accidents associated with the drug coming from auto accidents.
For more background check the daily reading for today.
The talk show host who I will not name, went on to say (or hint at) that legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes was dangerous. His main argument was that we do not know at this point whether or not weed is good or bad for us, and he made the fatal mistake (in my mind) of trying to relate Marijuana to alcohol.
So I called in and was apparently coherent enough to get past their call screener, one I assume that was a fellow enthusiast, and after waiting was put at the starting segment, so right after the break he comes to me.
We banter for a bit, and all in all I think I held my ground well. I however felt unsatisfied with how he left things so I decided to write an email into the show, so lets see if I hear back. I really like his show despite my disagreements.
I just wanted to thank you guys for letting me on the show today. As much as I know I am not going to get [talk show host] to change his mind, I found this article interesting.
The politics of many things are touchy to a few, and though this may seem machiavellian the American economy might benefit from such a plan.
The talk show host only wanted to talk about the negative effects and how he was only for medicinal use. Though we all know how easily it is to get a prescription "weed card" for weed in California.
If you need a reminder here's a fun video from Garfunkel and Oates.
This morning I was driving to get my morning coffee when I heard the show's host talk about how dangerous it would be if Marijuana were legalized. He started the conversation with medicinal properties and then went on to discuss Colorado. For those who are not interested or do not know of the current state of weed in the United States here's a quick recap.
Recently the Colorado State legislature legalized the recreational use of weed, and imposed a higher tax (25%) than was on the long legal medical prescription grade (2.5%). The idea was to generate revenue by providing legal means for purchasing something that was already being used and obtained illegally.
For fiscal year to date 2014-2015 Colorado has generated $52,570,081 from both medicinal and legal Marijuana sales.
Time will tell if the payoff will be worth the cost of education and accidents associated with a newly legalized recreational drug. Mainly law enforcement is having trouble enforcing high while driving laws with most of the accidents associated with the drug coming from auto accidents.
For more background check the daily reading for today.
The talk show host who I will not name, went on to say (or hint at) that legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes was dangerous. His main argument was that we do not know at this point whether or not weed is good or bad for us, and he made the fatal mistake (in my mind) of trying to relate Marijuana to alcohol.
So I called in and was apparently coherent enough to get past their call screener, one I assume that was a fellow enthusiast, and after waiting was put at the starting segment, so right after the break he comes to me.
We banter for a bit, and all in all I think I held my ground well. I however felt unsatisfied with how he left things so I decided to write an email into the show, so lets see if I hear back. I really like his show despite my disagreements.
I just wanted to thank you guys for letting me on the show today. As much as I know I am not going to get [talk show host] to change his mind, I found this article interesting.
I also wanted to mention the amount of minorities currently incarcerated, some for life, for Schedule I narcotics offenses, the majority of which are marijana related.
In Louisiana one black man was recently incarcerated for selling a small amount of weed to get $5 for food. Under the state's 3 strikes rule he was sentenced to life without parole. Article below, though you might find the tone biased.
It seems to me that legalizing weed for medicinal use or recreational use could add a drop of stimulus into local economies as well. If inmates that were incarcerated for weed alone were released, perhaps they could fill some of the jobs that illegal immigrants are doing, at minimum wage, adding to the number of legally employed people.
Also decreasing what I see as a gap between american workers who think they are above menial labor and the over qualified underemployed who can't find a job.
Some labor force has to fill these jobs that the average person would not want, and if we want tax paying Americans instead of undocumented labor we should invest in the overwhelming amount of Americans in prison who might want to work hard if given enough chances.
Chances with strict rules and consequences for misbehavior.
I think a safe first step is to deregulate Marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic, and release inmates serving time only for this offense, into work programs.
Work programs where they can make real money, pay taxes, and eventually seek higher paying jobs.
Drug testing being a strict requirement for work.
Think of how this would stimulate the local economies. I know this type of plan is currently in use, but think of what a massive surge of labor could do for the overall goal of full employment.
Mainly if deregulate a substance that was used by the chinese some 4,000 years ago. That is not chemically manufactured like any other Schedule I, and if given more time and research could be found to be better for you than drinking a beer every night.
Thank you for your time. I enjoy the show and am glad we have influential people like [talk show host] in the world.
The talk show host only wanted to talk about the negative effects and how he was only for medicinal use. Though we all know how easily it is to get a prescription "weed card" for weed in California.
If you need a reminder here's a fun video from Garfunkel and Oates.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Daily Reading 2/13/15
From Wikipedia-
In the news-
Ukraine and Russia
Brian Williams
World War II-
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
United States home front
For Fun-
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
Zeiss Projector
In the news-
Ukraine and Russia
Brian Williams
World War II-
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
United States home front
For Fun-
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
Zeiss Projector
Culture and Politics in the US
"I work for no man, for all men are equal."
To me the political structure in the United States can be examined through the lens of culture. Meaning it is America's culture that shapes its politics more than anything. If compared to the cultures of other geographical regions of the world, it can be seen that the United States is unique in a lot of ways. No where else has a culture been born out of rebirth as much as it has here, and few places on earth compare to the unmatched natural beauty of this country.
For a time I was perplexed at what felt so different about my country. It was not until I traveled that I began to understand this feeling. A feeling of vastness, of unending opportunity, and of being able to try my whole life but never see all of the country. Our geography has separated the people into distinct culturally diverse regions, and the funny thing is they all create stereotypes about the each other. The people in the each section consider themselves to be better off, better qualified, and everyone else a boob. Why else would their ancestors have chosen to settle in this particular place?
These thoughts isolate the regions, and an invisible cultural partition is built. This partition in the United States has disconnected us in such a way that we do not care about our neighbors as much as we used to. It makes school violence seem distant, and breeds the phrase "Right around the corner from me" to describe only the events that affect only you. This, in my opinion, attributes to a distant culture. A culture that in the States that makes us feel disconnected from one another, and teaches us individualism from a very young age.
In my Anthropology class in college the professor had lived with the Cheyenne Native Americans, and explained it like this. He stated that the Native Americans were a highly collectivist society. From birth a child is reared not only by the mother but by the whole family, and not only that the village helps in the raising of the child as well. Babies sleep with their parents until they grow to a certain age, and then are lodged in the same room. The bond between the parents and their children seemed to be stronger, and family ties were strong.
In asian culture, ancestry is given mythical powers. You can pray to one's ancestors for guidance and wisdom. It is important to also note the privilege given to the elders in this culture, the younger generation sees the importance of the older. Both, young and old, work together culturally to achieve their goals.
However, in American culture, given that we are a mash-up of so many geo-cultures spread amongst a vast beautiful landscape, we are individuals forging our own paths. So involved are we in our individualistic lifestyle that anything that does not bother us directly, is paid little attention. Who cares if government debt is almost equal to gross domestic product of the country? Americans themselves can relate because a majority are living under the same personal debt to income ratio. Who cares if more and more people find themselves needing assistance? Americans make their own way and create their own destiny.
Unfortunately, the nature in which culture influences politics is based on these half-truths. It works out brilliantly for the power elite in charge. As long as Harry Politician (a non-creative name for the average person of hubris that inherits office) can keep the majority of the people under their influence happy, they can find themselves in a position of cushy power. Cushy in the fact that their jobs come with privilege, and power as in they can destroy everything you hold valuable, if enough Harrys get together with bright ideas.
So in a way, American culture proceeds the political realm, in that its influence is responsible for the core legislation of the country. To understand American politics, in my personal opinion, is to fully understand the people and culture out of which, the bureaucratic landscape emerges. To understand a revolt, you have to look at the people at the heart of such. Meaning that revolutions and changes of power do not happen without cause and without the masses being behind such a cause. This is the core the American political system. The idea that a disconnected people elect politicians that are obsessed with micro managing districts to secure more votes, while at the same time trying to create policy on a vastly larger scale that affects the majority.
Minority favoritism, for majority goals, and that is how culture and politics go hand and hand.
To me the political structure in the United States can be examined through the lens of culture. Meaning it is America's culture that shapes its politics more than anything. If compared to the cultures of other geographical regions of the world, it can be seen that the United States is unique in a lot of ways. No where else has a culture been born out of rebirth as much as it has here, and few places on earth compare to the unmatched natural beauty of this country.
For a time I was perplexed at what felt so different about my country. It was not until I traveled that I began to understand this feeling. A feeling of vastness, of unending opportunity, and of being able to try my whole life but never see all of the country. Our geography has separated the people into distinct culturally diverse regions, and the funny thing is they all create stereotypes about the each other. The people in the each section consider themselves to be better off, better qualified, and everyone else a boob. Why else would their ancestors have chosen to settle in this particular place?
These thoughts isolate the regions, and an invisible cultural partition is built. This partition in the United States has disconnected us in such a way that we do not care about our neighbors as much as we used to. It makes school violence seem distant, and breeds the phrase "Right around the corner from me" to describe only the events that affect only you. This, in my opinion, attributes to a distant culture. A culture that in the States that makes us feel disconnected from one another, and teaches us individualism from a very young age.
In my Anthropology class in college the professor had lived with the Cheyenne Native Americans, and explained it like this. He stated that the Native Americans were a highly collectivist society. From birth a child is reared not only by the mother but by the whole family, and not only that the village helps in the raising of the child as well. Babies sleep with their parents until they grow to a certain age, and then are lodged in the same room. The bond between the parents and their children seemed to be stronger, and family ties were strong.
In asian culture, ancestry is given mythical powers. You can pray to one's ancestors for guidance and wisdom. It is important to also note the privilege given to the elders in this culture, the younger generation sees the importance of the older. Both, young and old, work together culturally to achieve their goals.
However, in American culture, given that we are a mash-up of so many geo-cultures spread amongst a vast beautiful landscape, we are individuals forging our own paths. So involved are we in our individualistic lifestyle that anything that does not bother us directly, is paid little attention. Who cares if government debt is almost equal to gross domestic product of the country? Americans themselves can relate because a majority are living under the same personal debt to income ratio. Who cares if more and more people find themselves needing assistance? Americans make their own way and create their own destiny.
Unfortunately, the nature in which culture influences politics is based on these half-truths. It works out brilliantly for the power elite in charge. As long as Harry Politician (a non-creative name for the average person of hubris that inherits office) can keep the majority of the people under their influence happy, they can find themselves in a position of cushy power. Cushy in the fact that their jobs come with privilege, and power as in they can destroy everything you hold valuable, if enough Harrys get together with bright ideas.
So in a way, American culture proceeds the political realm, in that its influence is responsible for the core legislation of the country. To understand American politics, in my personal opinion, is to fully understand the people and culture out of which, the bureaucratic landscape emerges. To understand a revolt, you have to look at the people at the heart of such. Meaning that revolutions and changes of power do not happen without cause and without the masses being behind such a cause. This is the core the American political system. The idea that a disconnected people elect politicians that are obsessed with micro managing districts to secure more votes, while at the same time trying to create policy on a vastly larger scale that affects the majority.
Minority favoritism, for majority goals, and that is how culture and politics go hand and hand.
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