TheAgitator.com
Speaking at Netroots
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009On Friday, I’ll be giving the libertarian perspective on a panel about the drug war and law enforcement at this years Netroots Nation conference in Pittsburgh. Details:
Establishment support for the drug war is eroding on the left and the right. On the left, the Netroots has pushed liberals to reconsider hardline policies forged in the ’80s. On the right, a shrinking Republican party is returning to small government roots. On the ground, cities such as High Point, N.C. are experimenting with pragmatic approaches. What will a new drug policy look like, and how can the Netroots help bring it about? This panel addresses it from four perspectives: academic, liberal, libertarian and law enforcement, highlighting the unusual new political convergence.
Good luck! Will Obama’s tax-the-productive-for-everyone’s-health care impact the potential legalization of drugs? Dur.
I can honestly say that discussions on drug issues in America have come a long way (a good thing). Compare this to health care “reform”*. Impressed with the vocal town halls, but it won’t be long before someone gets tazed or shot as cops (heroes) are now shadowing every politico at town halls to protect them from angry grandpa.
*I don’t think there is a good, unbiased title to call it but “socialized health care” is more correct than “reform”. Because “health care retardation” might offend. I can’t believe this is going to happen in the USA. I have turned Milton Friedman’s photo to face the wall.
It doesn’t matter if support on the right, left, or both is eroding, *unless* that erosion happens to be in the most politically active classes, there will be little incentive to change the laws. I’ve said it before, target the elderly, evangelicals, and like groups that actually vote. It’s all about top cover.
I spoke at Netroots last year in Austin. It was an open records activism panel. Being the lone libertarian among the uber liberal crowd was a bit surreal. They half get it. That is, they view the WOD as a failure because it hurts the poor/minorities/civil liberties etc, but they otherwise love big government.
Everyone I met at NN crowd was receptive to ending the drug war. The most enthusiasm was for legalizing pot (shock!). LEAP had a booth that was well received also.
Fight the good fight, Radley.
“On the ground, cities such as High Point, N.C. are experimenting with pragmatic approaches.”
Seriously? High Point is experimenting with Drugs?
And this town in Austria is experimenting with eliminating statutory rape laws: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fucking,_Austria
I asked this last time Radley briefly mentioned his upcoming Netroots appearance. The blurb above makes mention of a “pragmatic approach” being used in High Point, NC.
Just wondering if anybody has a little background on what exactly is being done in High Point, since I haven’t been able to find a whole lot online about drug enforcement in the city.
“They half get it. That is, they view the WOD as a failure because it hurts the poor/minorities/civil liberties etc, but they otherwise love big government.”
It’s been my experience posting at various ‘libruhl’ Websites that when the subject of the DrugWar comes up, the ‘progressives’ don’t like being reminded of the DrugWar’s ‘progressive’ roots, and how that ‘progressivism’ opened the doorway to massive governmental interference in our daily lives because of certain interpretations of the Commerce Clause and the Bill of Rights.
They’d have to own up to the fact that it was that supposedly well-intentioned government interference in individual rights and liberties that has led to the humongous problem that requires a seemingly unthinkable solution (re-legalization or formerly legal drugs) to correct. And they don’t want to do that, as it calls into question their other well-intentioned but disastrous policies as well.
It was an open records activism panel.
I look forward to this year’s conference where the panel members return to express their utter disappointment in Obama’s transparency policies.
Hey, a guy can dream, right?
Make sure you hit the Harris Grill in Shadyside before you leave Pittsburgh.
I think Friday nights are Bacon Night, where they hand out free baskets of bacon during happy hour…
“On the ground, cities such as High Point, N.C. are experimenting with pragmatic approaches ” to the Drug War.
High Point? Hmmm. No wonder.
Bacon night is Tuesday Night at the Harris Grill. Friday night is See and Be Seen Night in Shadyside. If you do go to HG, I highly suggest the Jerked Wings, Perogies, and a Bacon Vodka Bloody Marry. I hope your Pockets are Deep.
Ahhh, found it.
http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?storyid=128367
Not exactly tolerance of drug activity, but better than tossing lives into the slammer.
Radley, they’re starting to implement the High Point program here in Seattle:
http://horsesass.org/?p=18895
Kerlikowske had initially started to implement it before leaving for DC.
Do you have any plans for going out for a cold one while you are in Pittsburgh? I wouldn’t mind stopping by and saying hello.
Re: the High Point program…the local (NC) NPR affiliate had a pretty good discussion on it a couple of weeks ago:
http://wunc.org/tsot/archive/sot0729abc09.mp3/view