Would America Be Better if Drugs Were Legalized?

Is there any possible way that we could reduce crime?

Harry Browne explains the advantages of a legalized drug market...

*clip from C-SPAN's Washington Journal

Martin Luther King Gets Angry About Media Hypocrisy

"The time has come for America to hear the truth about this tragic war." 

- Martin Luther King Jr.

One year before his death Martin Luther King Jr. began speaking out against the U.S. attack on Vietnam.  Not only did he defend the rights of brown people in Southeast Asia but he also grasped the economic devastation that militarism brings to residents of both sides of the war.  

"And you may not know it, my friends, but it is estimated that we spend $500,000 to kill each enemy soldier, while we spend only fifty-three dollars for each person classified as poor, and much of that fifty-three dollars goes for salaries to people that are not poor.  

 So I was increasingly compelled to see the war as an enemy of the poor, and attack it as such." 

In addition to his grievances with racism, militarism and economic exploitation King also criticizes the press.

The Nanny State in Your Car

Proponents of the nanny state are ringing in an extra special new year in Austin, Texas where beginning next week the use of navigation devices while driving will be illegal.

According to people calling themselves "Austin City Council" hand-held cell phone use while driving is also an ordinance violation.

Since the control freaks are always looking to create more victim-less crimes here are some ideas for them:  

• Ban people from driving while tired
• Prohibit drivers from placing their finger on the radio dial
• Make tinted windows on cars illegal
• Tax people for not wearing seat-belts
• Place a ban on the application of make-up while driving
• Require tax stamps to be placed on the front windshield of all vehicles
• Prohibit people with less than 20/20 vision from driving

What Checks & Balances "The Deep State"?

Peter Dale Scott has coined the term "Deep Politics" to describe the hidden features of the government.  He describes his concept of The Deep State in this video:

The war on drugs benefits the public state and deep state.

The public state of Drug Enforcement Agency, local police & prison guard employees can grow their sphere of influence thanks to "legal" civil rights violations including home invasions and imprisonment of people who grow or trade plants.

New York City's Slow Turning Wheels of Justice

Kalief Browder sent to Rikers Island at age 17

In 2010 a young man from the Bronx was alleged to have stolen a book-bag containing $700, an iPod and camera.  He was officially charged with second degree robbery.

People calling themselves "City of New York" decided to warehouse the accused teenager at Rikers Island Prison.  The inside of which looks like this...

No Knock Raids Decrease Officer Safety

Charles Dinwiddie,
killed during no knock, SWAT raid 

A police officer's job is dangerous enough as it is.  Arbitrarily decreasing "officer safety" is foolish.

Safe situation: two people sleeping soundly in their home

Dangerous situation: two people being awakened from a deep sleep by multiple armed men who broke into their home under the cover of darkness

A safe environment was altered to a dangerous one because of an arbitrary edict issued by a politician.  In this scenario the slumbering residents are bound to react to the home intruder situation they face.  Unfortunately this means that some people are going to reach for their firearms and discharge them if they feel an imminent threat to their family's safety.


See this tragic example which unfolded in Killeen, Texas:

Police Detective Charles “Chuck” Dinwiddie, 47, and Officer Odis Denton, 37, were shot as they and other officers served the narcotics search warrant just after 5:30 a.m. Friday at 1104 Circle M Dr. Apt. 3 in Killeen.

600 Murder Suspects On The Run in Pennsylvania

These Men Are Hunting 600 Violent Criminals 

(photo: BUTCH COMEGYS/AP)

In Pennsylvania the search is on for more than six-hundred murder suspects who are on the run.

Tonight hundreds of families are hoping that Pennsylvania State Troopers find those responsible for the death of their loved one.

Fortunately with all the resources being spent on this manhunt we expect at least a handful of murder suspects to be apprehended by police this week.  Stay tuned...  


*in Philadelphia alone there are over 600 active murder investigations.  

Standing Up For Your Rights Is A Gift

Last week someone made a call complaining that two people were engaging in "lewd acts".  An employee of the Los Angeles Police Department showed up to the scene.  After questioning the female suspect the employee responded by handcuffing her.

Danielle Watts ended up in handcuffs because she refused to show her papers.    

Danielle Watts in handcuffs 

This week Watts was interviewed on CNN.  Here is a clip of the exchange...

Anchorwoman: 

Why wouldn't you just give them your ID?

Danielle Watts: 

"Because I believe in America and what it stands for.  I believe in freedom.  A country that calls itself the land of the free and home of the brave.  If I'm within my constitutional rights to say 'NO unless you are charging me with a crime, I will not be giving you my ID', that is a right that I stand up for".

Watts goes on to add that standing up for her rights "was a gift and a blessing".

Story from CNN

Mission Creep on the Texas/Mexico Border

Texas Highway Patrol

photo by: Julián Aguilar, The Texas Tribune 

Smart Criminals vs. Dumb Criminals

The dumb criminals don't work in the same place where the smart criminals work.  Insight from Duncan Trussell...

The smart criminals that Duncan is referring to are people like Jon Corzine.  Since he is "inside" the legal system his crimes are not officially punished.

*Clip from the Joe Rogan podcast.

A Peaceful Solution for the People of Ferguson

Ithaca Hours: Local Currency 

A major issue ignored during the coverage of chaos and violence in Ferguson, Missouri is that of the local power structure.  Cities and counties become power centers because they claim a monopoly on “protection services” in a given geographic region.  It’s fair to be outraged at violent actions of individual people and the groups that sanction them but the root cause lies in the power structure. 

Police chiefs, mayors and city council people are only power centers if the community provides them with material means of support.  The primary means is, of course, money. 

     

Fortunately individual people can be power centers as well.  A substantial method of supporting yourself is to issue your own money.  Decentralized money puts the power in the hands of the people of Ferguson as opposed to politicians and government employees.

This is not a new concept.  Community currencies have provided solutions to social and economic challenges in cities around the globe including San Francisco, Ithaca, New York and western Massachusetts.  

As community currency becomes the dominate medium of exchange it's value to the region exceeds that of the "U.S. Dollar".  Anyone offering "protection" (i.e. police) to the people of Ferguson will compete to provide the safest and most cost-effective services in exchange for community currency (i.e. "Ferguson Hours").  

Each household, street or neighborhood will decide for themselves which agency they would like to support.  Of course families have the option of providing for their own self-defense if they choose.    

Democracy means people can easily withdraw consent  

If you no longer desire the defense services from your agency you can simply stop doing business with them.  This option brings the competitive environment that already exists between McDonalds and Burger King or between Wal-Mart and Target to the businesses in the defense industry.  A non-monopolized market for defense services will make for much safer streets of Ferguson. 

To begin exploring decentralized money listen to this two minute clip where Thomas Greco explains the basics.  His writings on community currency are a great source of inspiration for societal change.  

People can peacefully outgrow the centrally controlled dollar.  One available path is an increased reliance on localized money & credit.         

*Great detail about the recent events in Ferguson can be found at Vox.

Property Rights On The Rocks

Criminal syndicate boss Anne Hidalgo

Would you like to rent out a room in your Paris apartment?

Good luck!

The enforcement class in France has taken to invading the homes of people suspected of renting space in their private residences.  Twenty police officers and a handful of politicians are conspiring to shake down local property owners.  At least 15 landlords have already been victimized to the tune of 25,000 euros each ($33,000 US).

Merriam-Webster defines property ownership as:

the exclusive right to possess, enjoy, and dispose of a thing 

Any infringement upon the above property rights without the consent of the owner is simply theft.

These few dozen police and politicians in Paris should properly be referred to as a criminal syndicate.    

Bloomberg reports.

Masked Men Beat Unarmed 15 Year Old Boy

Police in east Jerusalem were caught on tape beating an unarmed 15 year old boy late last week.

 

The victim, Tariq Abu Khdeir of Tampa, Florida, was released after his parents paid the ransom fee of $877.  

The teen has not been charged with any crime.

NBC News reports

Major Mismatch in Brazil

It's people calling themselves "police" vs. the people at the World Cup 2014 in Brazil....

Armed Human Attacking an Unarmed Human.

Sao Paulo (Victor R. Caivano/AP)

Albuquerque Claims There is No Right to Assembly

Two-dozen taxpayers in Albuquerque, NM organized a protest last night in response to recent police brutality. The Guardian reports that 25 people have been shot dead by police in the southwestern U.S. city since 2010.

Thirteen of the taxpayers were arrested at the mayor's office and charged with "unlawful assembly" and "trespassing".    

The arresting officers made clear that they must grant their subjects the "privilege" to assemble.  In Albuquerque there is no "right" to assemble.  

       

The Booming Brazilian Riot Gear Market

Supporters of a native community living at the Indian Museum
are hit with pepper spray. (Rio de Janeiro, March 2013, Reuters/Ricardo Moraes)

Two weeks ahead of the month-long World Cup the people calling themselves "Brazil" have stocked up on non-lethal weapons.  Why?

Reuters reports that the state is expecting small "anti-government protests" during the Cup.

The people of Brazil are not so pleased with the government spending nearly $4 billion (US) of taxpayer funds on a dozen soccer stadiums.  Not to mention the state paving over an Indian museum in Rio de Janeiro and arresting the native residents who have lived there for eight years. This to make room for a parking lot outside the stadium.      

Police, military and politicians are confiscating another $850 million for World Cup security.

But no need to worry concerned taxpayer of Brazil.  The Defense Minister said:

"If troops have to use weapons, they will first use non-lethal arms"

"First".  

Police Arresting Indians at an Indian Museum in Rio.
(March 2013, AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Drone Crash in Texas

A drone for your local SWAT team
(AP Photo/Lance Bertolino, Vanguard Defense Industries)

Police are searching for a drone which crashed in Lake Conroe, Texas last week.  The robot, which could be fitted with a grenade launcher, malfunctioned while the sheriff's were practicing flying over the lake.

In addition to the $250,000 cost of the drone, more resources are being wasted as divers are spending time on a search and rescue mission of the flying machine.  

From the Houston Chronicle.  

Police Saving Drug Addicts in NJ

Good news out of Ocean County, NJ.  Police there are injecting heroin users who have overdosed with naloxone in order to prevent death.  In April alone five users lives have been saved by local police in New Jersey.

Tasers in School? Welcome to Texas

A police officer in Round Rock, Texas deployed a taser to stop a fight between two students in a school lunch room.  School officials and police have claimed ownership of the surveillance video recording the incident.

The officer in this case is displaying for the students how to use a taser in self-defense.  Parents take note.  In case of attack by a school bully your children are encouraged to fend them off with the use of a taser.       

Story from KVUE