Pubdate: Sun, 10 Apr 2005
Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK)
Copyright: 2005 The Anchorage Daily News
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Author: W. Michael Tierney
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

REPUBLICANS JUST CAN'T MISS CHANCE TO RID SOCIETY OF WHAT OFFENDS THEM

Gov. Frank Murkowski's attack on Alaskans' right to the private use of 
marijuana represents just another in a succession of Republican assaults on 
personal liberties. The governor's preposterous arguments for criminalizing 
marijuana are illogical and not persuasive. The whole thing is obviously a 
politically motivated "solution" in search of a problem.

It's just like Sen. Ted Stevens' recent righteous promises to clean up 
cable TV, claiming the government has the power to regulate decency 
standards on subscription TV as it does the broadcast networks. Neither 
situation represents any danger to society, but Republicans just can't pass 
up a chance to throw their weight around. If something offends them 
personally, they are now entitled to change it -- and damned be the 
consequence to the rest of us.

With so many real problems in the world, why is the government even wasting 
our time with such highly personal, mean-spirited and self-serving 
grandstanding? As the Terri Schiavo case showed, our government is clearly 
out of touch with the needs and wishes of the majority. Now the governor 
wants to create thousands of new criminals and to trash the Alaska 
Constitution just to get his way. Get over it, Frank. You can't win them 
all. That's why it's called a democracy.

- ---- W. Michael Tierney

McGrath
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom