Pubdate: Thu, 31 Jan 2013
Source: Oceanside Star (BC)
Copyright: 2013 Oceanside Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/oceansidestar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4880

SUPPORT IT OR DON'T

Every MLA candidate - NDP, Liberal, Conservative - in our riding 
supports decriminalizing marijuana.

None of them are going to do anything about it. Barry Avis supports 
it but Mike Farnworth made it clear to me in November that the BC NDP 
will not act on it.

Michelle Stilwell supports it but the BC Liberals have made it clear 
they're not acting on it.

David Coupland supports it but John Cummins has criticized the idea, 
actually saying it would hurt tourism.

At least with Coupland, he can vote freely within his party. But this 
is the sad state of politics that pandering to voter demographics is 
more important than upholding principles.

It's a false support and an easy way out of divisive questions - an 
easy way out of being honest. "Oh, I personally support X, but don't 
worry fans of Y, we're going to maintain the status quo. My party's 
not as crazy as me!" You don't really support something if you never 
act on it. You know that saying: actions speak louder than words.

Why are Canadian politicians so scared of marijuana?

This is a great way for the BC Liberals to reach the youth and give 
the province a vision. Anything has to be better than what they're 
currently doing. "Free enterprise" seems to be the top talking point 
on party memos but no one wants to hear about free enterprise these 
days. People think free enterprise is why the world's in such a mess.

The BC Liberals have never been above selling their principles and 
propping up the marketing industry, so why not campaign supporting 
decriminalization and a full freedom theme? BC Liberals: Naturally 
Free. Free your money and your personal life.

This is what young people want: socially liberal policies. Before you 
learn about money and how the world interacts, you understand and 
recognize social freedoms and barriers.

It's a spot the BC Conservatives could fill, too. Greens would 
probably support it, but their global-socialism world-domination 
goals (seriously, read their charter) kind of turn me off.

Right-wing parties will not attract youth without taking a 
libertarian turn. Youth don't like the NDP because they want to 
increase taxes; they like the NDP because they're socially liberal. 
Voting for a socially conservative party is just not an option for 
the people I went to school with.

Above that, all age groups are sick of double-speaking politicians.

Let's just get "personally" out of politics. Either you stand for 
something or you don't.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom