Daily Archives: 06/16/2013

(Community Matters) ok, I have to find some positive ones. Been reading too much news this morning.

(Community Matters) In this NYTimes editorial

Nationally, African-Americans are nearly four times as likely to be arrested for marijuana possession as whites. The disparity is even more pronounced in some states, including Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, where African-Americans are about eight times as likely to be arrested. And in some counties around the country, blacks are 10, 15 or even 30 times as likely to be arrested.

Interestingly, yesterday and in previous visits, Steven and I have noticed the casualness with which New Yorkers smoke pot on the streets; we’ve noticed this in San Francisco and Venice Beach too.

The domestic War on Drugs has been waged disproportionately on racial minorities – disheartening to see that this continues so fervently. Such great economic and educational strides during the 60s and 70s, until Reagan’s $1.7 billion to fight drugs and mandatory minimum penalty for drug offenses disproportionately applied against minorities.

(Community Matters) Suppose I should have thought about this, especially as the characterization of SCOTUS as the most corporate friendly – rather than the most conservative – has evolved.

Senator Elizabeth Warren on corporate influence on our courts.

(Community Matters) Just when I become optimistic that maybe, just maybe they might get it together . . . the chairman of the Republican National Committee urged religious conservatives Saturday to support the GOP’s plans to expand.

“When it comes to social issues, the party must in fact and deed be inclusive and welcoming,” according to an RNC report commissioned by Priebus after that election and released in March. “If we are not, we will limit our ability to attract young people and others, including many women, who agree with us on some but not all issues.”

. . . just when . . . 

Palin . . . .  also offered a warning to “the good old boys” in the GOP leadership who are calling for conservative activists to tone down aggressive rhetoric. “You do not marginalize, you don’t discredit and dismiss, every day average hard-working Americans — those who are part of that grass-roots tea party movement,” she [Sarah Palin] said.

“Just let them tell us to sit down and shut up,” Palin said later, “which I refuse to do.”

I’m starting to think Roger Ailes might be a double agent.