This absolutely blew me away. I had no idea how serious this issue has
become in the area in which we live. I also never knew how
Massachusetts ranks in terms of law enforcement regarding drug use.
Scary situation that *has* to make parents wake up, get involved and
start paying attention to what their kids are doing.

Excellent video produced by students at Plymouth High School in MA

http://vimeo.com/84727397

In article , says...

This absolutely blew me away. I had no idea how serious this issue has
become in the area in which we live. I also never knew how
Massachusetts ranks in terms of law enforcement regarding drug use.
Scary situation that *has* to make parents wake up, get involved and
start paying attention to what their kids are doing.

Excellent video produced by students at Plymouth High School in MA

http://vimeo.com/84727397

Jobs, jobs, jobs people need jobs and the government needs to lift their jack-booted foot off
of the necks of the smaller businesses in the form of onereous taxes and regulations and let
the free markets work.

On Friday, February 7, 2014 9:46:00 AM UTC-6, F.O.A.D. wrote:

Yeah, what we have created in this country is a growth industry for the

privatization of penal institutions. The corporations pressure the

legislators to pass more laws and stiffer sentences so more people can

be imprisoned for longer periods of time and so the private slams will

be guaranteed more income. It's a wonderful system and requires a lot

less brainpower than something that might actually work.



What would you do to handle the drug problem?

On 2/7/14, 10:50 AM, Tim wrote:
On Friday, February 7, 2014 9:46:00 AM UTC-6, F.O.A.D. wrote:

Yeah, what we have created in this country is a growth industry for the

privatization of penal institutions. The corporations pressure the

legislators to pass more laws and stiffer sentences so more people can

be imprisoned for longer periods of time and so the private slams will

be guaranteed more income. It's a wonderful system and requires a lot

less brainpower than something that might actually work.



What would you do to handle the drug problem?



I don't claim to have *the* solution, but I do know that creating a
growth industry in prisons for the private sector ain't it. I think
decriminalizing simple possession for personal use would be a good
starting point, though.

On Fri, 07 Feb 2014 10:46:00 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/7/14, 10:22 AM, Tim wrote:
On Friday, February 7, 2014 9:10:30 AM UTC-6, F.O.A.D. wrote:
On 2/7/14, 10:03 AM, Tim wrote:


filled with addicts and drug dealers. Build more jails?

That was Illinois idea all through the 80's and 90's. I think there was a plan for there to be a minimum/ medium security prison for every 3 counties. And would have been until funding ran out. Still would have been a bigger drain on the taxes. Way more than fines would compensate for.

snipped






What would you do to handle the drug problem? The jails already are



Yeah, what we have created in this country is a growth industry for the
privatization of penal institutions. The corporations pressure the
legislators to pass more laws and stiffer sentences so more people can
be imprisoned for longer periods of time and so the private slams will
be guaranteed more income. It's a wonderful system and requires a lot
less brainpower than something that might actually work.

It's good to see you blaming corporations for the problem.

What are the unions doing to help. In your position, you should have some knowledge of that. I would
assume the schools in MA are 'union' schools. Or, do the unions just wash their hands of the issue
and blame the corporations, like you do.

On Fri, 07 Feb 2014 10:59:47 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/7/14, 10:50 AM, Tim wrote:
On Friday, February 7, 2014 9:46:00 AM UTC-6, F.O.A.D. wrote:

Yeah, what we have created in this country is a growth industry for the

privatization of penal institutions. The corporations pressure the

legislators to pass more laws and stiffer sentences so more people can

be imprisoned for longer periods of time and so the private slams will

be guaranteed more income. It's a wonderful system and requires a lot

less brainpower than something that might actually work.



What would you do to handle the drug problem?



I don't claim to have *the* solution, but I do know that creating a
growth industry in prisons for the private sector ain't it. I think
decriminalizing simple possession for personal use would be a good
starting point, though.

I suppose that's for all the drugs up through heroin? I suppose you disagree with the idea of
marijuana being a stepping stone to the 'better' stuff. So where would you draw the line?

On 2/7/14, 11:19 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Fri, 07 Feb 2014 10:59:47 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/7/14, 10:50 AM, Tim wrote:
On Friday, February 7, 2014 9:46:00 AM UTC-6, F.O.A.D. wrote:

Yeah, what we have created in this country is a growth industry for the

privatization of penal institutions. The corporations pressure the

legislators to pass more laws and stiffer sentences so more people can

be imprisoned for longer periods of time and so the private slams will

be guaranteed more income. It's a wonderful system and requires a lot

less brainpower than something that might actually work.



What would you do to handle the drug problem?



I don't claim to have *the* solution, but I do know that creating a
growth industry in prisons for the private sector ain't it. I think
decriminalizing simple possession for personal use would be a good
starting point, though.

I suppose that's for all the drugs up through heroin? I suppose you disagree with the idea of
marijuana being a stepping stone to the 'better' stuff. So where would you draw the line?


As I stated already, I think decriminalizing simple possession for
personal use (that implies small amounts) would be a good starting point.

You are free to "suppose" if you wish. That won't necessarily make your
"supposes" accurate, of course, but so long as they are simple supposes
for personal use, it doesn't matter.

On Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:24:38 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/7/14, 11:19 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Fri, 07 Feb 2014 10:59:47 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/7/14, 10:50 AM, Tim wrote:
On Friday, February 7, 2014 9:46:00 AM UTC-6, F.O.A.D. wrote:

Yeah, what we have created in this country is a growth industry for the

privatization of penal institutions. The corporations pressure the

legislators to pass more laws and stiffer sentences so more people can

be imprisoned for longer periods of time and so the private slams will

be guaranteed more income. It's a wonderful system and requires a lot

less brainpower than something that might actually work.



What would you do to handle the drug problem?



I don't claim to have *the* solution, but I do know that creating a
growth industry in prisons for the private sector ain't it. I think
decriminalizing simple possession for personal use would be a good
starting point, though.

I suppose that's for all the drugs up through heroin? I suppose you disagree with the idea of
marijuana being a stepping stone to the 'better' stuff. So where would you draw the line?


As I stated already, I think decriminalizing simple possession

....of what??

for
personal use (that implies small amounts) would be a good starting point.

You are free to "suppose" if you wish. That won't necessarily make your
"supposes" accurate, of course, but so long as they are simple supposes
for personal use, it doesn't matter.


Do you agree that marijuana is a stepping stone to more potent stuff? That seemed to be a theme of
the video. My supposition was based on the 'liberalism' of places where the sale of marijuana has
been legalized.

Poco Loco wrote:
On Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:24:38 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/7/14, 11:19 AM, Poco Loco wrote:
On Fri, 07 Feb 2014 10:59:47 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/7/14, 10:50 AM, Tim wrote:
On Friday, February 7, 2014 9:46:00 AM UTC-6, F.O.A.D. wrote:

Yeah, what we have created in this country is a growth industry for the

privatization of penal institutions. The corporations pressure the

legislators to pass more laws and stiffer sentences so more people can

be imprisoned for longer periods of time and so the private slams will

be guaranteed more income. It's a wonderful system and requires a lot

less brainpower than something that might actually work.



What would you do to handle the drug problem?



I don't claim to have *the* solution, but I do know that creating a
growth industry in prisons for the private sector ain't it. I think
decriminalizing simple possession for personal use would be a good
starting point, though.

I suppose that's for all the drugs up through heroin? I suppose you
disagree with the idea of
marijuana being a stepping stone to the 'better' stuff. So where would you draw the line?


As I stated already, I think decriminalizing simple possession

...of what??

for
personal use (that implies small amounts) would be a good starting point.

You are free to "suppose" if you wish. That won't necessarily make your
"supposes" accurate, of course, but so long as they are simple supposes
for personal use, it doesn't matter.


Do you agree that marijuana is a stepping stone to more potent stuff?
That seemed to be a theme of
the video. My supposition was based on the 'liberalism' of places where
the sale of marijuana has
been legalized.

Pot is not a stepping stone in 90% of the cases! Look at the pot
consumption over the years. How many went on to hard drugs because of Pot
use? When I was a lot younger, I went to San Francisco State University.
Pot was readily available. Lots of people in SF used it. Had friends who
used it. Friend who has since died from cancer, used it heavily for pain
relief. Al was working, and doing a good job while using pot and suffering
the pain of cancer. Even with the ability and insurance to get
prescription drugs, his choice for relief was a cheap can of Grass. Pot is
readily available here. Some of the finest grass in the world is grown on
the North Coast of California. We area having fires here, as they now make
a house in a nice neighborhood in to a grow op. Bad wiring seems to be the
lading cause of fires in the business. Why not legalize growing and tax
the product? Last election to legalize, had lots of signs from the pot
growers in Mendocino against the legalization as they feel the will be put
out of business by big corporate growers. Not because they want to be
illegal. Yes, I have tried it. Did not do much for me. I also have not
smoked since high school. Before I was the legal age to smoke. That
stopped kids?

Poco Loco wrote:
On Fri, 07 Feb 2014 10:59:47 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

On 2/7/14, 10:50 AM, Tim wrote:
On Friday, February 7, 2014 9:46:00 AM UTC-6, F.O.A.D. wrote:

Yeah, what we have created in this country is a growth industry for the

privatization of penal institutions. The corporations pressure the

legislators to pass more laws and stiffer sentences so more people can

be imprisoned for longer periods of time and so the private slams will

be guaranteed more income. It's a wonderful system and requires a lot

less brainpower than something that might actually work.



What would you do to handle the drug problem?



I don't claim to have *the* solution, but I do know that creating a
growth industry in prisons for the private sector ain't it. I think
decriminalizing simple possession for personal use would be a good
starting point, though.

I suppose that's for all the drugs up through heroin? I suppose you
disagree with the idea of
marijuana being a stepping stone to the 'better' stuff. So where would you draw the line?

Heroin is actually not a really bad 'hard' drug. Lots of heroin addicts
were functioning members of society. Lots turned to crime because of the
costs to procure, but heroin may kill you in the end because of paranoia.
Ray Charles was a heroin addict for years. Lots of other examples. There
are drugs too nasty to legalize, but the country will not come to an end
with most drugs available. Alcohol probably causes more deaths than hard
drugs. Including the drug wars for sales territory. You have a friend, I
think it was you, who is hooked on OxyContin. Is he still a functioning
member of society? What the hell is accomplished by sending someone to
prison for use? Puts their family in the welfare system, costs to
incarcerate, and ruins any prospect for a decent job later. If they commit
a crime to pay for the drugs, then jail them. But if costs are low enough,
they will work and pay for the drug, just like alcohol. This was supposed
to be a free country. We are being controlled more, and observed more than
a lot of western countries these days. And it is both major parties
responsible, not just one side or the other.