Here’s an interesting article about the “Tea Party” people. They seem to me to be very socially conservative, yet they also want government off their backs. Which way will they go with respect to the “Drug War”?

The Tea Party and the Drug War

They'll likely adhere to the status quo because the people most commonly hurt by the drug war tend to be poor and ethnic minorities. The Tea Party organization is just an attempt by corporate interests to harness the feelings of populist frustration that have arisen out of the perceived incompetence and deference to corporations of the federal government.

The organization doesn't campaign for 'government off our backs' in any useful way, it's just a metaphor for cutting taxes on the rich and slashing social welfare programs. They're still generally anti-reproductive rights, anti-drug decriminalization, and anti-government regulation of big business. Seems like this is just a refuge for Republicans who don't want to have to associate with a floundering Republican Party.

I respectfully disagree. I am definitely not a republican but I agree with what the "tea party" people are doing. As citizens we should STAND UP! We DO pay too much taxes. The government IS to involved in our day to day life. I am a proud Libertarian. Which means socially I'm pretty middle ground but fiscally conservative (only spend what you have). I feel this is a time the Libertarians can rise and show there is a better way than a two party rule. Dems and Reps are dirty. Politicians in general are ALL out to secure their next election not represent the people that sent them there.

Status quo would be high taxes and too much government. Unfortunately I do agree that they wont be as lax on the "Drug war" as I would like. I don't agree that those affected by this drug war are minorities or poor people though. We are all affected the exact same, the law knows no color and hasn't seen your paycheck. If you have more money you can obviously pay for a better attorney but that is not the drug war but simple common logic.

So we will see. THROW THEM ALL OUT AND LET THE PEOPLE RULE!

Libertarian ideals are important, and I support them. But the two main Tea Party groups, the Tea Party Patriots and the Tax Day Tea Party, are funded and directed by the same people as Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin; more politicians seeking to empower their corporate allies. Most of these people weren't protesting George Bush's trampling of civil liberties, and they aren't protesting the comfortable relationship that politicians have with private interests (look at the FOX News sponsorship of Tea Party events across the country).

Are there genuine libertarians involved in these organizations who want to better things for Americans and reduce unnecessary government intrusion into our lives? Yes. Are their voices drowned out by those who would lead everyone astray with nonsense about Obama being a secret Muslim from Kenya? Yes.

I don't think we pay too much in tax, but I do feel that these dollars are poorly spent. We need to shift more of the tax burden onto the wealthiest Americans and slash the wasteful military budget that is charging Cold War prices and delivering much less utility to the people than to multinational corporations.


One need only look at the incarceration and even execution rates of black men to see that the entire justice system is a bastion of institutionalized racism. Look at what happens to corporate CEOs who steal billions versus a poor man who steals a car stereo.

You know, I have to totally agree. I am no fan of the current increase in governmental intrusion in peoples everyday life and freedom seen in most of the western world, but the Tea Party just isn't what we need.

It is clearly funded and encouraged by the mega-rich, hiding behind the lie that it is for the benefit of the people. It is no good either that many or perhaps most in the movement clearly show ultra-right political tendencies. I believe what we need is a socialist state and at the same time limiting the power of the government.

I know socialism is a kind of curse word among many Americans, especially those not understanding the concept but rather pointing to its similarities to the abuse of the communism idea as seen by Soviet, Cuba and China, but I can assure you it is a great concept. My country, Norway, is a socialist democracy. We have the highest living standard in the world, and have had so for many years.

We are the second richest country in the world per inhabitant, and we also have exceptionally low crime rates. Police don't carry guns, and there's only about 50 murders each year with a population of close to 5 million. Nearly no one are jobless and/or poor, and those that are, get financial and educational help from the government. It does work VERY good!

We do still have a government that steps on our freedoms. But that issue is not about socialism vs. capitalism or the mid-point (as seen in Norway) socialistic democracy. I very strongly believe we NEED socialism, but we also need to regain our personal freedoms. The Tea Party does none of them, it only serves the mega-rich.

Good discussion so far. Thanks Gibran, TEV, and Evening Glory.

By the way, Third Eye Vision, your name/sig is a reference to Black Star, yes?

Just because there are more black men incarcerated doesn't prove that the "Drug War" is unfairly affecting them. What is your logic behind that theory?

The corporate CEO who steals billions, I assume you mean Madoff. Didn't he get 150 years? It is true that if you have money you can afford a better attorney, but that is to be expected and cant be avoided and shouldn't. If you have money you will also have a bigger house nicer car. Moral of the story? If you want those things you work your ass off to get them.

My voice is not loud enough to change policies, my soap box is not tall enough for all to see me. So I support those who MOST CLOSELY support as i do. I have never found one that I agree100% with so i have to pick and choose what is more important to me. Unlike you, I feel I pay way to much in taxes. I agree with you that the money I pay is also gong to the wrong places. I also feel the government is way to big and way to powerful. Right now, the tea party people most closely support the same things I do. Not all, but more than the Dems and Reps.

Like I said. Throw them all out and give the power back to the people. Throw out the republicans throw out the democrats. I dont care if Fox News or CNN or MSNBC is covering them...... I base my decisions on MY research not some propaganda tool.

Although I don't agree with what you feel is needed for America EG. I 100% respect that you can actually stand up and say that. Most people that feel the way you do are afraid to actually say it. So I appreciate your honesty.

Yes. The long lost duo.

I guess this is the crux of our disagreement. I believe in equality of opportunity, and this means minimizing the advantage people get over one another by virtue of being born to the right family.

As for racism in the justice system, just look at the crack/powder cocaine disparity or the capital punishment is applied. Not only are black defendants more likely to be killed by the state, defendants of any race are much less likely to be executed if the victim of the crime was black.

I also believe in equality of opportunity. I believe every citizen should have the same rights and opportunity. I DONT believe "minimizing the advantage people get over one another by virtue of being born to the right family" if I work my entire life and save my money and make good investments I want my kids and grand kids to benefit from that. I worked for that advantage! As long as the government is not trying to regulate who gets what job or what money then the playing field will be even and everyone has the opportunity to do the same.... work hard, save right and invest smart. then THEIR kids and grand kids will have that advantage.


Death penalty by race since 1976:
White: 56%
Black: 35%
Latino: 7%
Other: 2%

http://www.deathpenaltyi...es-executed-1976#defend

Where did you get your numbers? They don't seem accurate.

So by your figures, blacks make up 35% of death penalty recipients?

They only represent 13% of the population.

Not my numbers. it was from your link.

This is a nice belief but it just can't happen (or at least this is not a remotely accurate picture of the way things stand or the direction they're moving in). People start off inherently unequal. Slavery has left a horrific legacy in its wake and if you deny this, you are denying the reality of life in these United States. There can be no equality when America's urban youth start off in a completely disadvantaged system. I came up through the DC Public School System. I have seen this with my own eyes. If you have not seen this and have not lived and experienced this, you have NO right to say that these individuals can overcome the obstacles they are confronted with with the same ease as rich suburban kids who are born silver spoon in hand so to speak (having dated someone from the affluent Maryland suburbs for over a year, I got a pretty good look at how both sides live). Life is not some egalitarian pleasure cruise.

Slavery? Who's talking about slavery? We're talking about the "Drug War" well, we were talking about Tea Party. Slavery is still around TODAY! Slavery is horrible in every sense. America didn't start slavery, the entire world has had slavery at some point in time. I don't think you'll find many that will say slavery is good. What does it have to do with the topic at hand though?

I was in that system! I am white, I was poor and in the exact same system as my poor black neighbors, poor Mexican neighbors etc. I didn't get treated any better than they did. They actually got more opportunities and money for college based solely on their race that I didn't! Because I am white. Do you feel that is right?

I don't have the right to comment? Are you frickin kidding me!?!?! YOU tell ME what I have the right to say. You don't know who I am and what I have lived through! How could you possibly tell who has what rights?

Obviously if you have money life is easier. Who is denying that? I am working hard so my kids CAN have that so called "Silver Spoon". Is that wrong?

Ahh. If you click the link, it sources a Criminal Justice Project report which has lists of executed convicts broken down by state.

The link I attached is countrywide. Actual statistics, no opinions.

The Drug War stems out of slavery, if you can't see that, there's nothing to discuss. These issues are all interrelated and interconnected, you can't say we're only talking about "the drug war" or we're only talking about "the tea party". These issues are not easily parsed apart. As you are talking about the US drug war, global slavery isn't the issue, US slavery is. I didn't say you had no right, if you read what I typed it clearly says IF you have not experienced that you have no right to comment. Jeez, this is why I've begun abstaining from political discussions on here, people read selectively and then get their knickers in a twist. I can't believe you flipped your shit that hardcore over something YOU misread. Take a chill pill, maybe a joint, a nice walk around the block, whatever it takes to get that blood to stop pumping in your ears. You guys have fun with the rest of this convo, I won't bother you with my thoughts anymore.

I understand wanting your children to have opportunities that you might not have had. Everyone should feel this way.

I think that as a society, we should promote opportunities for all people, so that even if for some reason your hard work doesn't pay off (you're injured or your company goes under or something) then you don't have to worry that your children might be stuck in a low-income urban center attending a lousy school with poor job prospects.

We can all agree that there is wasteful spending in government. The F-22 Raptor, before production was halted, had parts produced in nearly every state in the union. This is an example of how federal politicians are bought; they approve wasteful projects to line the pockets of those in the military and private sectors, and in exchange for their selling out the taxpayer they can be sure that their districts will receive a cut of the action. We need to enact and, more importantly, enforce strict regulation on these budgetary processes and divert this wasted money towards things that make people more able to reach their full potential.

There are lots of people who end up ignorant, addicted, or otherwise drains on society that perhaps could have been productive if given the right push at the right time. Being desperately poor is one of those things that influences people to do things that negatively affect their future, like dropping out of school to start working full time.

They're nutjobs.