Ron Paul Calls for an End to the 'War on Drugs'
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Reefer Madness
Mithrandir-Olorin888 — 18 years ago(September 28, 2007 11:38 AM)
JonesReport.com | September 28, 2007
Aaron Dykes
Congressman Ron Paul called for an end to the Drug War and a repeal of "most" Federal drug laws last night during the PBS Republican Presidential Debates hosted by Tavis Smiley.
"We have already spent over $400 billion since the early 70s and it's wasted money. Prohibition didn't work; prohibition on drugs doesn't work."
Ron Paul cited the unfair disparity between the relative percentage of black drug users and blacks imprisoned for drug use . He called for equal justice under the law, giving example to the system's race-based "punishments."
"Blacks make up 14% of those who use drugs, yet 36% of those arrested are blacks and it ends up that 63% of those who finally end up in prison are blacks. This has to change. We don't have to have more courts and more prisons, we have to repeal the whole 'War on Drugs' it isn't working," Paul said.
While many other candidates admirably agreed that blacks were treated unfairly under existing drug laws, many of their solutions included suggestions for new courts, arbitration and rehab programs, not a scaling-back of the failed and hypocritical 'War on Drugs' or a repeal of drug laws.
"So we need to come to our sensesit's a disease. We don't treat alcoholics like this. This is a disease and we should orient ourselves to this," said Ron Paul.
Paul was also asked about his support for the death penalty in regards to waning public opinion. He again cited unfair prosecution in the justice system.
"You know, over the years, I've held pretty rigid all my beliefs, but I've changed my opinion about the death penalty. For federal purposes, I no longer believe in the death penalty. I believe it has been issued unjustly. If you're rich, you get away with it; if you're poor and from the inner city, you're more likely to be prosecuted and convicted. And today, with the DNA evidence, there's been too many mistakes, so I am now opposed to the federal death penalty"
http://infowars.com/articles/us/ron_paul_calls_for_end_to_war_on_drugs.htm
See this topic of mine for more info.
http://imdb.com/board/10028346/board/thread/75141517?d=75141517&p=1#75141517
http://www.RonPaul2008.com/
Our only Hope for a Decent President. -
cloyesds — 15 years ago(July 23, 2010 01:18 PM)
More people care about what Ron Paul thinks, than some 11 year old kid like you. He was the only non beep candidate in the last election and he seems to be a very honest man. It's unfortunate that he would not be elected. Instead we get beep like Bush, Obama and other useless fools running like McCain. Marijuana is a relatively harmless drug and with alcohol, cigarettes and more dangerous stuff legal, marijuana should be legal too.
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DTgringo — 15 years ago(February 06, 2011 07:02 PM)
Idiots hate Ron Paul because only idiots hate politicians that haven't done anything criminal or despicable. Hating someone simply because you disagree with their political viewpoint makes you an idiot. Just because I think marijuana should be legalized doesn't mean I hate anyone that thinks it should remain illegal. This is a serious problem in our country that's been really blowing up during the last few decades. The open hatred of those that disagreed with President Clinton and President Bush was sickening. Disagree, even disagree spiritedly, but both Presidents seemed like good nice people. I may have disagreed with things they did but I would never say I hated them. That would make me an idiot.
"You can buy another drink. You can't buy another life."