It's a shame UA students have not been more vocal about the hypocrisy of the Higher Education Act Drug Provision. It effectively prevents anyone with a drug conviction from receiving financial aid. In theory, you could be a rapist, arsonist or murderer and still get a degree. But if you're caught with illegal drugs, you are somehow unworthy of a college education. Does that make sense to anyone else? If it does, I challenge him to explain it to me. Explain, for instance, how someone smoking a joint is more of a threat than someone trying to rape and kill you. One might argue that drug use creates situations in which people are prone to violence. Yeah, well, so do hockey games. And redneck bars. [continues 451 words]
My Turn Gov. Bob Riley has no idea how to solve Alabama's prison overcrowding problem. That much was evident in statements he made to The Associated Press last week. "It's probably going to take some more money," the new governor said. "How much we don't know." Where will this money come from? See the above answer: We don't know. Because of Alabama's annual budget shortfall, there are no new sources of revenue to pay for new prisons. Riley hired prison commissioner Donal Campbell for $91,000 per year, a $6,000 increase over the previous commissioner Mike Haley's salary. To save money last year, Chief Justice Roy Moore suspended the right to a trial by jury for prisoners. It was either that or voluntarily reducing his salary and that of other judges. So much for Christian sacrifice. [continues 823 words]
My Turn I view the Drug Enforcement Administration and the so-called "Drug War" the way comedian Mitch Hedburg views a human pyramid - as completely unnecessary. It does not need to exist. "But wait," you say, "don't all people who use drugs support terrorism? Isn't the DEA simply trying to protect us from dangerous criminal organizations like al-Qaeda?" The answer is no. The DEA is trying to protect us from medical marijuana growers. On Jan. 31, author and activist Ed Rosenthal was convicted of marijuana cultivation and conspiracy. Because of mandatory sentencing laws, he faces five years in prison. [continues 741 words]
