Posted on 09/23/2002 8:56:33 AM PDT by Commie Basher
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NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
World Wide Web: http://www.LP.org
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For release: September 23, 2002
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For additional information:
George Getz, Press Secretary
Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222
E-Mail: pressreleases@hq.LP.org
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Libertarians urge California Gov. Gray Davis to protect medical marijuana patients from federal agents
SACRAMENTO, CA -- Should California Governor Gray Davis call out the National Guard to defend medical marijuana patients from federal agents? That's the question Libertarians will be asking today as thousands of medical marijuana advocates descend on the state Capitol in Sacramento to send the federal government a message.
"The National Guard is charged with defending lives and property when disaster strikes – and the federal raids on medical marijuana clinics have been a complete disaster," said Libertarian Party Political Director Ron Crickenberger, who is attending the rally.
"These DEA bullies with badges have ransacked clinics, brutalized helpless, dying people, and trampled state law. Now the only question is whether Davis will live up to his responsibilities as the state's chief law enforcement officer or continue to kowtow to the federal government."
Agents from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration have raided dozens of marijuana clinics over the past few months, despite the fact that the possession, use, and cultivation of medical marijuana was legalized statewide with the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996. But now Californians are fighting back. Santa Cruz and other localities are making "medipot" available during public rallies at City Hall as protesters chant, "DEA, go away!"
Monday's Medical Cannabis Freedom Day rally, which kicks off at noon on the south steps of the Capitol, was created as a way for medical marijuana supporters statewide to demand an end to federal interference.
But will calling out the National Guard be necessary? Libertarians hope not.
"No such confrontation would be needed if Davis and Attorney General Bill Lockyer had the backbone to speak out more forcefully against this unwarranted federal intrusion," Crickenberger said. "Davis has asked the federal government to stop the raids. And last week, Lockyer sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and DEA head Asa Hutchinson 'questioning the ethical basis' for the raids.
"But meekly asking the DEA to stop hasn't worked. Davis and Lockyer should publicly and unequivocally demand that the raids stop. They should remind Ashcroft and Hutchinson that their boss, President George Bush, pledged during the campaign to 'respect states' rights' on medical marijuana. And they should inform the federal government that any future harassment of medical marijuana patients will be treated as an assault under state law.
"If Davis lacks the courage to stand up to the federal bully when lives are at stake, he should have the decency to resign."
Other groups participating in the rally include the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP); the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML); Students for a Sensible Drug Policy; and the Drug Policy Alliance. Organizers are also demanding a federal pardon for Bryan Epis, a Libertarian Party member who faces 10 years in prison for cultivating medical marijuana.
That's the truth.
You're nothing but a cronic whiner and complainer, who believes in personally attacking his opponents, instead of engaging in rational and civil debate. You've crapped on FreeRepublic so often, its becoming second nature for you.
Now you're back again, hounding me once more and attempting to get this thread banned, like you did that other recent thread. You know, the one where you attacked my Mother, even after I told you, she had passed on.
A stand up fellow, you're not.
You're filled with disdain for people who disagree with you. You're hatred is obvious. Rant on.
I acn't expalin that. Must've been an error. Hey, remember, its Florida!
Several years ago I was staying at a hotel in Atlanta where the DEA was holding their version of a convention. Thugs would have been a conservative way of describing their appearance, dress, and demeanor.
GOP Platform. Saving Social Security? Re-vamping our Federlaized Schools to be better Federalized Schools? More deployment of our "Defensive" military forces? The whole thing reads as whishy-washy as some damn Democrat. Almost all of it requiring an expansion of one branch of government or another. Or had you forgotten the Farm Bill Bush signed. The (anti-)USA PATRIOT Act? Happy with that one are you?
Statist. If the shoe fits wear it.
No. Minarchism does not exist in Merriam-Websters, it does exist over here. The description fits.
As for your second point, did I directly call you an idiot? You made extravagent claims of knowledge of Libertarianism, then proceeded to prove you haven't the faintest clue. Such behavior is rightly construed as "idiotic". It was a warning that your description of Libertarians, and demonstraded lack of knowledge, made you appear idiotic. If you choose to take offense, then that is your burden.
Isn't libertarianism an absolute philosophy? Don't tell me, all you Libertarians and liberatarians been lying to me all these years?
Hmmm.
Conservatism and Republicanism, aren't forms of absolute political philosophy.
Get your -ism's in order!
They're impractical idealism, which offers nothing to basic American beliefs and traditional values.
From the LP's platform webpage:
As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives, and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.
We believe that respect for individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be realized.
Consequently, we defend each person's right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world we seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without interference from government or any authoritarian power.
From the Constitution:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Liberty. Freedom. A more Perfect Union.
Are you sure it isn't your leaders "compassionate conservatism" that runs contrary to the foundation of freedom that this country was based upon?
Par for the course.
Keep it up. At this rate, you won't be around here much longer. You're a trash talker and nothing more.
Because they are the ONLY party which specifically says they don't believe in the initiation of force to attain political goals. Unlike your party, whatever it is.
Government is not the source of civilized society. Indeed, the increasing social breakdown which you see all around you correlates exactly with the increase in government.
In each person's life internal authority takes precedence over external authority. That some people choose to sacrifice their own authority to external authority is always a net negative/loss to themselves and society.
Most people have had the external-authority hoax foisted on them. The individual is the highest authority. Not government, not peers, not parents, not the media, not academics, not religion. Real power that increases well being, happiness and prosperity is owned by creative businesspersons and the productive working class from scientists to laborers.
This forum is used by some people that want the power to initiate force, fraud and coercion against people (be the external authority) or seek to enlist government agents (external authority) to initiate force, fraud and threat of force against people on their behalf.
Good thing too. We'd hate for you to have to take a solid stand on anything. Or posess principles. Or be expected to do what you say you believe in. You get the idea.
You're already paying tolls to cross the street. They're just hidden in your tax bill.
Which ones, and why?
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