The Republican Future

[MSimon]

http://www.ibtimes.com/chris-christie-c ... al-1639408

Polling-wise, a July HuffPost/YouGov survey found 61 percent of Americans support Colorado's new marijuana law. That includes a slim majority of self-described Republicans. In Colorado, a March 2014 Public Policy Polling survey found 57 percent of all voters supporting legalization. That includes 40 percent of GOP voters.

Those fast-shifting numbers could foreshadow a Republican presidential primary squabble over drug policy, especially if the primaries end up pitting Christie against the more libertarian-minded Paul. That may be why Christie has tried to couple his tough talk on marijuana with promises of at least some drug policy reform. He used his January inauguration speech to declare, "We will end the failed war on drugs that believes that incarceration is the cure of every ill caused by drug abuse."
<snip>
In an interview with IBTimes after Christie's visit to Denver, the Marijuana Policy Project's Mason Tvert said GOP candidates would lose votes in Colorado and across the country by campaigning against legalization.

"Republicans have little to gain by criticizing Colorado's decision to end marijuana prohibition," said Tvert, who was one of the masterminds of the 2012 ballot initiative. "A rapidly growing majority of Americans, including conservatives, think marijuana should be legal for adults.

http://classicalvalues.com/2014/07/lost ... of-change/

Millennials Going Republican? I would like to think so. But the article gives the usual caveat.

If Republicans fixate on social issues again, they will lose again.

That is always the problem with Republicans isn’t it?

If only the "limited government" party actually limited government. Instead they have gotten themselves labeled The American Taliban. The label may be unfair. But it is sticking. I think it is the idea held by Republicans and the Taliban alike that men with guns can create a moral culture. If the USSR is any example such thinking actually leads to rampant immorality through the mechanism of black markets. A notorious feature of the USSR. It was explained back in '72 by Milton Friedman.

The Drug War as a Socialist Enterprise by Milton Friedman

[mvanwink5]

MSimon,
I see a significant difference in alcohol and MJ that you have not addressed. As I see it, someone can drink alcohol next to me and I won't get drunk, but if someone smokes MJ I have to leave the room / house. Further, the problem is that there are methods of cleaning the smoke so that only the active component THC remains without the telltale smell, thus removing means of warning that the air has been tainted. Further, I have found that some of those that smoke think it is a lark to #$%& with someone that doesn't like to "get high," similar to those that like others to drink with them (enablers might be an appropriate term), but it is very difficult to force alcohol down someones gullet without being guilty of assault. No one can say, "Ossifer, I didn't know I was drinking alcohol." So, my recourse has been to restrict my social visits to where MJ smoking does not take place, at all, however, that may be more difficult once legalization takes place.

Don't misunderstand me, I am absolutely against criminalizing the sale, purchase, growing, or use of MJ as the drug war is a disastrous, abject failure and creates a criminal society, but once MJ becomes legal, there will be significant issues to confront that are different than alcohol. Such issues includes industrial accidents, automotive safety, child abuse (from the smoke), etc. I hope the laws creating the black market are expeditiously repealed, so from that I am in agreement with you, but most everything else you say, I find I either have doubts (most, not all, of the medical), or consider to be hogwash (safety, preferred use).

Back to your point that Republicrats are viewed as the US Taliban, drug laws aren't my only issue with them. The Republicrat support of the pharmaceutical monopoly is right up there with their Prog position on drugs, and the next is their propensity to be the meddling World Police of every world issue.

I don't see the Republicrat Progs as electable in the next 10 years. By then, we may have a one party Big Brother government, though what else would be new these days (sarc).

[MSimon]

Well. One thing that would help you with your problem is legalization.

Under legalization regimes consumption declines.

What you say is true. A legalization regime will not be perfect. We will be trading one set of problems for a different set.

The real question is "better or worse" overall? The consensus - which matters in politics - says better. Putting Republicans (other than the libertarian faction) on the wrong side of history. Just as they were in 1932.

The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of Conservatives is to prevent mistakes from being corrected. Even when the revolutionist might himself repent of his revolution, the traditionalist is already defending it as part of his tradition. Thus we have two great types -- the advanced person who rushes us into ruin, and the retrospective person who admires the ruins. He admires them especially by moonlight, not to say moonshine. Each new blunder of the progressive or prig becomes instantly a legend of immemorial antiquity for the snob. This is called the balance, or mutual check, in our Constitution. — G.K. Chesterton

What we are going through is not the first time it has happened. And yet - the folks who bray the most about history are utterly incapable of learning from it. With the usual excuses. "This time it is different." Or "Pot is different."

[MSimon]

I am not arguing the science here. Just the politics. And it looks bad for Republicans if Rand Paul (or some one with similar views on the drug question) is not nominated.

[mvanwink5]

Libertarians have no chance in the Blueblood Republicrat party, and the Democans are Green Taliban socialists. There is no party that likes Libertarians. It has taken Libertarians a long time to figure it out that Republicrats won't stand for an elected non- socialist / Prog; some still cling to hope that the Red Taliban will come around any day now. LOL

[MSimon]

Libertarians have no chance in the Blueblood Republicrat party, and the Democans are Green Taliban socialists. There is no party that likes Libertarians. It has taken Libertarians a long time to figure it out that Republicrats won't stand for an elected non- socialist / Prog; some still cling to hope that the Red Taliban will come around any day now. LOL

I agree Rand Paul has no chance. The Fat Man from N.J. looks like the pick.

I think what we will wind up with is status quo government. Republican Congress - Democrat President. It will give the powers and the country 4 or 8 years to absorb the gains and make them "normal".

[mvanwink5]

*Warning* tinfoil hat blather eminent:
Like Fracking has propped up the great socialist Prog dream (for a bit), the next clever prop is to bring in Mex's, South Am's to bail out Social Security and Obamsuicide-caide. Next Houdini socialism tar pit disaster escape strategy might be the fusion - robotic - greenhouse-ag revo-evolution.

Chronic disease is crippling 50% of adults and 80% of the aged. There is a cure, but medical techs have sand in their ears / rocks under their hats (hint: it ain't MJ).

Apologies, and best regards...

[MSimon]

*Warning* tinfoil hat blather eminent:
Like Fracking has propped up the great socialist Prog dream (for a bit), the next clever prop is to bring in Mex's, South Am's to bail out Social Security and Obamsuicide-caide. Next Houdini socialism tar pit disaster escape strategy might be the fusion - robotic - greenhouse-ag revo-evolution.

Chronic disease is crippling 50% of adults and 80% of the aged. There is a cure, but medical techs have sand in their ears / rocks under their hats (hint: it ain't MJ).

Apologies, and best regards...

Well this might be of some interest: http://classicalvalues.com/2014/07/park ... -cannabis/

The video is about 6 mins and very interesting.

Endocannabinoids regulate every system in the body. You might want to look at all the chronic diseases it is useful for - starting with diabetes and schizophrenia (which is an immune disorder).

But if you know something else why not name it?

[TDPerk]

Chronic disease is crippling 50% of adults and 80% of the aged. There is a cure, but medical techs have sand in their ears / rocks under their hats (hint: it ain't MJ).

Well yeah. Just have the government stop trying altogether to influence food choices, or we can't get them to stop that, push veggies and lipid rich proteins (meats, eggs, fish, cheese, butter). Deprecate added sugars, and simple starches.