The Great Disconnect - Citizens, MainStream Media, and Politicians

A few moments ago on CNBC I heard President Obama say these words `the economy's growth has been the greatest in the last three decades'...................................... I'll let that settle a bit in your mind and the bad taste in your mouth to dissapate.

Here's how I think most would feel.

Oh, really, seems this RHP headline of your own government statistics a few days ago  Great Recession Continues - Unemployment Up In More States Than Down - would be more accurate to the citizens of the country. Let alone your own statistics also showing 44 states with WORSE unemployment numbers now compared to a year ago. Does that remotely sound like the best news in three decades? To most citizens, playing with the numbers to produce words such as `greatest growth in three decades' is beyond reproach.

But, nonetheless, the government leaders speak of the great comeback - and, while the MSM can read the same numbers as the citizens (due to a free press?) - and whose talking heads live in the same communities of the citizens -- and who themselves KNOW that conditions HAVE NOT IMPROVED -- and despite all that - the MSM `talking head' simply repeats what the `leaders' want - and finishes the words with a smile. Following the mantra to `Cheerlead' the economy at all costs - even if it destroys the reporters believability factor. Even if classroom sizes are doubling because of the near disaster of an economy we HAVE? (Can the dissconnect be greater than `saving' at the expense of the children?)

OR, how about this headline at RHP in the last few days? Poll Finds Tea Party Backers Wealthier and More Educated - I mean, to me, certainly, the Tea Party folks have been portrayed nearly ONLY as uneducated, racist, outsiders to the American way of life. Portrayed that way by who? The MSM, of course. Wonder why? Democraps and Republinuts buy LOTS OF ADS and contribute to the MSM's bottomline. The same Republinuts and Democraps that the citizens By Nearly 4-1 Majority of Americans Distrust the Government: Survey feel like this RHP headline.

OR, how about the use of force on citizens that has increased with barely a wimper from the MSM over the last few decades? How much have you heard of this recent RHP headline in the MSM? Maryland's SWAT Transparency Bill Produces Its First Disturbing Results - Just who's side is the MSM on? Huh? Have you EVER heard a MSM person (one that wants to keep their paycheck next week) question where all this is going? Or, what happens when they come for YOU?

And, how could the media miss for decades this story - How The War On Drugs Is A War On Class - again a recent RHP headline much more in contact with citizen views than Politician views. Is the MSM that stupid? Are they that much of a shrill for the views of the politicians? Do they realize that when they show a SWAT raid that nets 20 pounds of pot in one state that in some states Judges are ordering the RETURN of pot to citizens - sometimes pounds of pot? Or that many have prescriptions for this product? Does it strike the media that they have been a shrill for a phoney war against the citizens? (Oh, that's right, lawyers advertise too - let's not upset one of their core businesses.)

Or, that Poll Indicates Plurality Of Americans Views Closer To Tea Party Reformers Than To Elected Worthless Politicians In Congress - is the attitude they should take about what the politicians `say'. But, we have a pussy-whipped media of the first order.

I'm pretty sure it is beyond hopeless - and this - just another internet rant to ignore. And, don't even get me started about the deficit, or, the last time you saw a Libertarian interviewed on TV.

http://realheavypolitics.blogspot.com/2010/04/poll-finds-tea-party-backers-wealthier.html
http://realheavypolitics.blogspot.com/2010/04/great-recession-continues-unemployment.html
http://realheavypolitics.blogspot.com/2010/04/by-nearly-4-1-majority-of-americans.html
http://realheavypolitics.blogspot.com/2010/04/marylands-swat-transparency-bill.html
http://realheavypolitics.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-war-on-drugs-is-war-on-class.html
http://realheavypolitics.blogspot.com/2010/03/poll-indicates-plurality-of-americans.html

Watch lists, guns and government - By Bob Barr

A couple days ago I received this E-Mail from Bob Barr (having been on the 2008 mailing list) - the article also ran in the Atlanta paper. Here it is - and it's dead on point:

as published in The Atlanta Journal ConstitutionMonday, June 29, 2009 at 9:00 AM The secret government "Terrorist Watch List," reportedly already swelled to more than 1.1 million names, will have an addendum, if gun control advocates in Congress have their way. This new addendum — also to be cloaked in secrecy — would empower the U.S. Attorney General to deny a person the ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights to purchase a firearm.While it is not surprising that some members of Congress are again using fear of terrorism to implement a gun-control agenda, the openly unconstitutional legislative language proponents are employing is troubling.Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) is leading the effort in the Senate, while another well-known gun control advocate — Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) — is directing the House initiative. They have introduced identical bills — the "Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2009." This proposal would give the attorney general the power to unilaterally and in secret develop a watch list of persons believed to be unworthy of possessing a firearm or any explosive.This new "dangerous terrorist" watch list would include names based not on hard evidence of criminal activity, but on nothing more than the subjective conclusion by the attorney general that a person is "appropriately suspected" (whatever that means) of engaging in some manner of assisting or preparing for acts of domestic or international terrorism. The American people would never be privy to what criteria might be employed by the attorney general to determine whether someone is an "appropriate suspect," and they would have no way of knowing why they might be denied the ability to purchase a firearm.If a person were to be refused "permission" to purchase a firearm or explosive, and if they subsequently filed a lawsuit in federal court to find out why, the government still could keep such information secret. In other words, the attorney general could deny a U.S. citizen the ability to own a firearm, and never have to give the reason.For legislators like Lautenberg and King, who apparently have absolute faith in unelected government officials to make the right decisions for the right reasons at the right times (and never be required to explain those decisions), one has only to consider the checkered history of post-9/11 "terrorist" watch lists to see the folly of such perspective. Stories abound of persons denied the ability to board a commercial aircraft, or greatly delayed in being allowed on board, for no reason other than their name erroneously appeared on some "watch list." Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), have been among this not-so-elite group.A report earlier this year by the FBI's inspector general chronicled extensive internal problems with the terrorist watch list maintained by that agency. The IG found numerous examples of inaccuracies, incomplete entries, out-of-date information and inclusion of information "unrelated to terrorism." While the inconvenience of not being able to board an airliner for a business trip or a vacation can be a real headache, being refused the ability to purchase a firearm to protect one's life clearly raises the stakes.The government already has remedies already at its disposal to keep firearms out of the hands of known or suspected terrorists. Under existing federal law, there are numerous categories of persons prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms; including persons in violation of immigration laws, convicted felons, illicit drug users and others. And if a person truly is a known or suspected terrorist, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — as the federal law enforcement agency primarily responsible for enforcing the nation's gun laws — certainly should be made aware of that information. We don't need a secret, anti-Second Amendment watch list to implement effective law enforcement in America.
###Bob Barr, an Atlanta attorney, is a former member of Congress and Libertarian presidential candidate.

To donate by mail: Barr 2008 Presidential Committee900 Circle 75 Pkwy., Ste. 1280Atlanta, GA 30339To donate by phone:Call 770/836-1776Paid for by Barr 2008 Presidential Committee.
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Are America's Freedoms Big Enough To - Free The Marijuana Prisoners?

Men and women have fought for and died in attempts to support the freedom of the American people. To many in our society, that freedom, was felt to be `individual' freedom - even beyond the many `group freedoms' that have been won via hard fought political struggles (including the right to vote for black males and eventually women only 90 years ago). Indeed, our society is one history of great changes.

But, as we all know all too well - it's been mucked up. In fact, mucked up pretty bad - especially recently, and especially, by those `in power'. And, that in itself is nothing new either - but - before - the muck wasn't leveraged. And, the system is still mired in deep doo with little prospects of any immediate return to the lost `wealth' - that it had built up in the bubble of housing and banking. And, as usual, the powerbrokers will skate with less real harm to lifestyle than the sheeple they `lead'.

But, every once in a great while - a concurrence of events - leads to an unexpected outcome - and I wonder - could our society have reached a conclusion that could lead to the Freedom of the marijuana prisoners? Could a society, tired enough of the big media and politician power structure (the political ads are the bread and butter of the TV industry) - actually demand a fundamental change to `the system'? That somehow would overcome their filters on real information?

Because, make no bones about it. The police support for the political doctrine, played over and over by the media, that YOU do NOT have the right as an adult to self-medicate YOUR body - is BIG BUSINESS. You can imagine the business marijuana arrests brings to lawyers as one beginning point. And, of course, if an adult isn't allowed to use a `simple' plant to self medicate - that supports the entire prison industry by long terms for `hard' drug users. And, both support the court and prison industry.

If suddenly, self medication, and pot was a `right'; if suddenly, 40% of the above big business was gone (and perhaps much more if other drugs were looked at individually) - would the politicians do THAT during an economic downturn? To turn their back on Lawyers (one of the biggest supporters of the politicians)?

Yes, this is not a cake walk. This is NOT going to be easy. AND, legalization, will NEVER be a first step and is a RUSE. The first step folks, is going to be one thing.

AS A SOCIETY TO SAY --- NO MORE JAIL FOR POT `criminals' . Period.

And, not only that - NO public money to incarcerate for any reason on issues related to pot. Therefore, - no pre-trial detention - and all those currently serving time for pot related `crime' only - to be immediately released with sentence served in full. (Like no pictures allowed of certain things - would the media be allowed to broadcast the marijuana prisoners walking out of prison?)

This will not be easy for the politicians to swallow. And, while the media would never play it up - every politician would have egg on their face. In addition to every Judge and every policeman.

Some of those being released from prison, for pot, regardless of charge, will sue the system too. That should be expected. Or, is it really THIS that the politicians fear?

Because, if the medical marijuana laws say anything about our society - it's that a significant % of folks view their own body as sacred. As belonging to them. As having the right to self-medicate, even if that means overturning one of the biggest businesses in America - arresting pot smokers.

Once all the `smokers' are freed out of prisons. Once a smoker NEVER sees the inside of the county jail for pre-trial detention. Then, America will be showing the desire for the Big Freedoms the media wishes to suppress. Rather that shucking an Olympic champion like Kellogg's did - with full media play-up.

Indeed, how can REAL talk about legalization begin when ANYONE sits in jail? Shouldn't the real shout out be on this day to shout your freedom be:

FREE THE MARIJUANA PRISONERS

More Freedom links:

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may212009/wall_street_questions_pl_5-21-09.php The Salem-News says that politicians `demonize' cannabis.

http://www.barcelonareporter.com/index.php?/news/comments/marijuana_chemical_may_fight_brain_cancer/

Yes, another article that supports the notion that pot may suppress cancer. Must be a side effect of good karma.

http://www.ozarkia.net/bill/pot/blunderof37.html How pot became illegal - a history.

Milk and Marijuana - gateway drugs -- Our FBI position. http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/22/milk-the-gateway-dru.html

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may192009/osp_operation_5-19-09.php Seems the Salem-News has at least a balance.

And, finally, someone gave grant money for this - the answer to blunts or joints - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19443132?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum