Mercury

You know those days when you go out into society and things are just really nice? The park is nice, the shopping is nice, the music is nice, the food is nice, the girls are nice. And you think... what a wonderful world! But (because you're no fool) you understand that it can all be taken away at the drop of a hat. The city could destroy the park. The corporations could close the shopping. The city could ban the music. The government could declare martial law and confiscate all food supplies and mandate pretty girls to be ugly.

Seems extreme, but it's true.

On so many fronts we're both encouraged to go out and have a good time but always with the threat of punishment looming. Like I could walk down Bourbon St. during Mardi Gras with a big gulp sized cup of alcohol in my hand, getting flashed by boobs and start high fiving police officers. But they're always quick to remind us that they LET people do that, it's not a birth right. Or I can own a Corvette that is capable of 160mph, but of course I have to keep it at 65mph on the public roads. However, if I want to take it to a publc race track, then I could take it as fast as I feel like. Perfectly legal.

It's just all these little things that we can and can't do that confuse me about the governments true motives. Privilages vs rights. So much fun and dangerous activities that they let us do. But so many that they don't. Can't even smoke indoors!

What do they want for us? Are they benevolent or malevolent?

zerodown

You shouldn't ask "what do they want for us?", instead ask what do they want FROM us?

__________________
"I've seen people so poor all they got is money."

We have to learn to unlearn
Its not contradiction, its amendment
Not everything we see is reality
Not everything we hear is the truth
Not everything we're taught helps us grow
~Cultura Profetica

"La locura se lleva en la cabeza y las drogas en los bolsillos"
~Roberto Iniesta

Mercury

well said stranger

Ego Tripping

Most of the laws you are referring to, such as the smoking indoors, were created from public outcry, not from a huge government agency suddenly making the decision to take away individual's rights. Most of the time, it's because we prove ourselves to be irresponsible that is the catalyst for these laws to be put into place.

Government only exists because people don't want the responsibility (nor do they seem to have the capability) of governing themselves.

So when you ask about government and what "it" wants, it's best to look at yourself and your community to get the answer, because we are the government.

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Mercury

That makes sense, Ego. There is a time and a place for everything. That's human enough. I suppose I was thinking from an "all or nothing" standpoint. Like what are we supposed to do? Have fun or be responsible? When things fall in the middle, or if there is no clear expectation, it's hard for me to come to terms with.

Ego Tripping

Well then, have fun and be responsible. It's not like oil and water. Although, even though there are separate, there still is an area between the two that is not 100% oil and not 100% water. Strive to remain there because that's where the answers lie.

__________________

Ego Tripping

I know plenty of smokers that supported the bill just to help them stop smoking...

__________________

zerodown

I think you are overestimating the north american people, the vast majority of the time things change in this country its through propaganda paid for by corporations who are betting on its profitability regardless of the side effects it brings upon the lower classes.

"we prove ourselves to be irresponsible that is the catalyst for these laws to be put into place."

BULLSHIT!!!

__________________
"I've seen people so poor all they got is money."

We have to learn to unlearn
Its not contradiction, its amendment
Not everything we see is reality
Not everything we hear is the truth
Not everything we're taught helps us grow
~Cultura Profetica

"La locura se lleva en la cabeza y las drogas en los bolsillos"
~Roberto Iniesta

Ego Tripping

Stop getting your panties in a bunch. First, I think you need to be more specific as to what kind of 'change' you're referring to.

For example, do you think the idea of a police force came from a group of people deciding to regulate morality? No, it's because people would and have torn each other apart to the degree where a governing authority was allowed to enter in the first place. We have neighborhood watches in small communities because enough houses got robbed. Whether we ask for it or we simply let it happen due to our inability to solve problems with each other in a diplomatic fashion (there can't even be a Day After Thanksgiving Sale without someone dying now), the responsibility lies upon the citizens ultimately to dictate what is legal and not legal.

Do they make it easy to do so? No. But impossible? No that either.

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Ego Tripping

I do agree they should have an option...but when someone is that unpopular, this always happens. In stark contrast, there was a time when doctors recommended smoking. These things phase in and out. Does that mean that the government should have a hand in deciding these issues? No, but that's the real crux that society is at right now. We've allowed government to take over so many aspects of our lives, whether it be through fear, necessity or convenience and now we want to scale it back because it's becoming too entrenched. I don't know the answer and I'm damn interested to see how the next decade goes. One thing I am trying to do is remain engaged in local politics, because that is truly where all this can begin to change, whether it's protecting local politics from federal involvement or decreasing the level in which they are.

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DdC

Just a Liberals prohibition for the same reasons as the Corporate sponsored and directed Ganjawar. Harming the poor the same. Same bullshit of misdirection, avoiding reality. Same as the Booze prohibition. eliminating farmers ethanol fuel. All corporate manipulations to continue profits, scapegoat segments of the public. Fabricated by government placements of obedient servants in positions to create these prohibitions. Locally I'd say its Un Constitutional, beside unethical. Treatment, again is the game, not prevention or cures. Same chemical companies spraying on cotton, not on Hemp. Same spraying Colombian kids. All based in fossil fools. These tobacco prohibitions never mention the chemical additions. The cause of the harm not caused before the fascist movement in the 30's. For your smoking pleasure as Ronnie said. Same propaganda keeping it growing. While most just go along with the party views. A corporate media feeds the sheep dung, to confuse more than educate. "Programmed" for fitness to be heard. Censorship. Can't even make informed decisions because the chemicals aren't even listed on the packages. Not like foods. Another scam that will feed the same Pharmaceuticals and Insurance and Health profiteers. Those who do not learn from History are destined to repeat it. But History is simply a lie, agreed upon. So kill your tv and think about it.



There's so many things going on in the world
Babies dying
Mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened to peace on earth

We believe everything that they tell us
They're gonna' kill us
So we gotta' kill them first
But I remember a commandment
Thou shall not kill
How much is that soldier's life worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

So I guess it's just
Do unto others before they do it to you
Let's just kill em' all and let God sort em' out
Is this what God wants us to do

And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

Now you probably won't hear this on your radio
Probably not on your local TV
But if there's a time, and if you're ever so inclined
You can always hear it from me
How much is one picker's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

But don't confuse caring for weakness
You can't put that label on me
The truth is my weapon of mass protection
And I believe truth sets you free

And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me
Not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth
~ Willie Nelson

A Peaceful Solution



Cannabis is the best natural expectorant to clear the human lungs of smog, dust, and the phlegm associated with cigarette use.
~ Jack Herer

Native Americans, Egyptians and Turks, etc., have all used organic tobacco for hundreds and even thousands of years. No problem mon. Just since the 20's and American adulterations causing the cancers, nerve and organ damage. From the very same Tom Delay chemical corporations spreading poisons over the farmlands of America. Subsidiaries of the Pharmaceuticals, seem they get ya coming and going. Major Drug War Brokers and Lobbyists.



Same chemicals used on many Ganja and Hemp synthetic alternatives forced upon the market as they forced prohibition on the people. 90 million pounds on US cotton, not my hemp blue jeans. Tons on the 12# of grain for each pound of exported meat. Not on hempseed. Rx Ganja and Booze Inc. need no mention as most know their rabid reefer madness fear of competition. Add the Casino's afraid stoners would just stay home and not throw their paychecks into one armed bandits. The fossil fools knowing any of their poison hydrocarbons can be replaced by carbohydrates and Hemp has the most versatility to do the job.

Use of cannabinoids (marijuana) could help post-traumatic stress disorder patients
Published by Editor at 1:44 pm under Home Page, Press Releases

Dude, Where's my Trauma?
Marijuana Could Treat PTSD
Many millions have been made in Hollywood by lampooning the acute effects of marijuana on memory—but Israeli researchers suggest that they might one day be harnessed to prevent or treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

From textiles to plastic to lubrication, paints and without much if any chemicals to grow it. Pesticides based in crude oil can be based in veggie oil too. Farmers vs Bush Laden's OPECers. Paper and wood instead of clear cutting old growth forests. But I know Wallstreet has it's Enron ethics and scruples to prevent scandle, and that Free Speech media we have would never cover up their owners creative book keeping or why we've killed 4000+ kids fighting for Haliburdon and Dyncorps... Mission Accomplished. So why would they lie about Ganja and Hemp?



Tobacco Underground
The illicit trafficking of tobacco is a multibillion-dollar business today, fueling organized crime and corruption, robbing governments of needed tax money, and spurring addiction to a deadly product. Drawn by profits rivaling those of narcotics, smugglers move cigarettes by the billion, making tobacco the world's most widely smuggled legal substance.

"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger."
~ Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering,
Nazi Air Force (Luftwaffe) commander, the Nuremberg Trials

Inside the Army’s Far-Out Acid Tests Nov 6 2009
The new movie The Men Who Stare At Goats
is bringing the CIA's LSD use and abuse back into the spotlight.

Fascist Nationalism and MKULTRA
Bushit Rumcheney Aspartame Cocktail

"The size of the lie is a definite factor in causing it to be believed, for the vast masses of the nation are in the depths of their hearts more easily deceived than they are consciously and intentionally bad. The primitive simplicity of their minds renders them a more easy prey to a big lie than a small one, for they themselves often tell little lies but would be ashamed to tell a big one."
~ From Benito Mussolini contributing to the
"London Sunday Express," December 8, 1935

"The German people have no idea of the extent to which they have to be gulled in order to be led."

"...somebody has to take governments' place,
and business seems to me to be a logical entity to do it."
- David Rockefeller - Newsweek International, Feb 1 1999

"All propaganda must be so popular and on such an intellectual level, that even the most stupid of those towards whom it is directed will understand it. Therefore, the intellectual level of the propaganda must be lower the larger the number of people who are to be influenced by it."

"Through clever and constant application of propaganda, people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise."
~ Benito Mussolini,
"London Sunday Express," December 8, 1935

Organic Cannabis/Tobacco vs Chemical Cigarettes

Cannabis Less Risky Than Alcohol/Tobacco, Says Report

Cancer risk in relation to radioactivity in tobacco

CANNABIS AND TOBACCO

"The masses have little time to think.
And how incredible is the willingness of modern man to believe."

Nixon Tapes Reveal Twisted Roots Of Marijuana Prohibition

NIXON & KISSINGER: Betrayal in Vietnam

Hemp "Eats" Chernobyl Waste by Elaine Charkowski

AEC, DOE, NRC, Nuclear Murderers

Harvey Wasserman on October Surprise and Drug Running

Killing Our Own: The Disaster of Americas Experience with Atomic Radiation, Wasserman relates stories about people and animals living near nuclear weapons facilities, mining and waste storage sites, uranium processing plants, and nuclear power reactors. For example, farmers in central Pennsylvania whom he spoke to reported abnormalities in their animals in the wake of the Three Mile Island accident in 1979. Farmers living near the Rocky Flats plutonium factory in Colorado, and near the West Valley Reprocessing Plant in upstate New York, have also complained of defects and illnesses among their animals.