Bernie Sanders calls for an end to marijuana prohibition

[bombadil.360]

Yeah unfortunately in our system you get to pick the best of the worst. In other words you eliminate Hilary for obvious reasons , eliminate trump because he is crazy etc and you get what I mean. Vote against your worst candidate no matter what. I'm not happy either way

I understand that, but I don't think Bernie is the lesser of all the evil options...

In fact, he's a dinosaur ideologically speaking; I bet you he still thinks the communist pamphlets he has from the 50s and 60s are still the solution to the world's problems lol... funny but scary people will vote for him...

Sanders is the best dog in the race by far. I'm good. The real race is between Hillary and Sanders. I don't mean to piss off any conservatives on here but the GOP has no shot in winning unless they cheat.

don't be so sure. there's a generation of very young people, who are able to vote already, that thank goodness do not buy into the outdated ideologies of the left and see through the bs of every populist speech.

since I'm pretty much a pessimist, or rather, have no faith in people, when either Bernie or Hillary wins, I sure hope all the expectations you guys had for these clowns do not leave you heart broken...

peace

 

[Cannavore]

The fact that democrats would even think about electing a Socialist really isn't shocking. At least Bernie has the balls to admit he's what the democratic party has been all along. If an avowed Communist was running against a Republican you guys would vote for him.
I'm not a republican either. Independent and vote for neither of the 2 major parties.

If Bernie is a socialist then I'm Miles Davis

 

[aridbud]

They are by no means perfect, but are not working with the same crypto-communist agenda as Obama, Bernie and Hilary...

Carson and Trump at least tell you the truth of what their agenda is, you can see them coming from miles away...

The others will sneak up from behind you and plug your behind with many things a la Obamacare, etc...

Your choice though, but think it through, don't buy into populist speeches...

I must say my stock portfolio has ALWAYS performed better when DEMO is in office...Clinton & Obama. Took a cut throat pummeled beating of stocks in 2001 (Bush) and 2008 (Bush). Hmmmm.

As far as Obamacare (Affordable Care Act), our medical system has been broken for decades. Even though not perfect, it has allowed those with absolutely NO insurance to become insured. Look to the Repukes that found the loopholes in Big Pharma profits with generic Rx going sky-high.

 

[aridbud]

If Bernie is a socialist then I'm Miles Davis

Love Miles Davis!!!! La-la-la-la-la.

Bernie is no more socialist than Mickey Mouse. He does stand for the rights of the MAJORITY....(is that being socialist?) vs. special interest groups that make millions from Jane & Joe Q. Public., tax dollar squandered, mis-spent.

 

[resinryder]

I USED to be a Republican, solely because of the constant 2nd Amendment fighting. a prototypical single issue voter. now, i'm not so worried since the Supreme Court has issued a few rulings on the subject. now, my issue is cannabis, and how to decrim/delist/legalize it so no one else has their lives ruined by bullshit hypocritical prohibition. if it takes electing a Socialist to get it done, i'm all in. the other candidates COULD take notice of how the voters poll on the subject instead of listening to LEO/prison owners & then whining "but what about the CHILDREN?" I say "FUCK your children! teach them to behave the way you want & stop using them as pawns in a sick game of "who can we persecute for profit today?

I agree with you on the views regarding marijuana but I've never been a single issue voter. Bernie wants to provide so many free things. Free isn't free. Someone else will be taxed at a much higher rate to pay for the free stuff. It's a great sound bite tho.
2nd amendment, all it will take is 1 or 2 democratic appointees and that's reversed when it's brought back up. The justices seem to dance with the ones who brung em. I have never agreed with the whole lifetime appointment bullshit
Truth is Bernie will never be the Dem nominee.
In the primaries, both dem and rep, there are delegates that go to the convention and nominate their states top pick from the popular primary results.
The Dem party has an exception to that that the Repubs don't and they are called Super Delegates. The Super Delegates can bypass what the people want and vote instead of who they want. Meaning each state could vote 60% for Bernie and the super delegates can and will cast their votes and make Hillary the nominee and there's nothing anyone can do about it. It's the way it is. The democratic primaries are nothing more than a way to make the party voter feel like they have a choice. If the voter really did have a say then why would super delegates even be a part of the process.

 

[resinryder]

If Bernie is a socialist then I'm Miles Davis

Bernie has identified himself as a self avowed Socialist for years. His words not mine.
And I do love Miles Davis. So nice to met you Mr Davis

 

[Cur]

Bernie wants to provide so many free things. Free isn't free. Someone else will be taxed at a much higher rate to pay for the free stuff. It's a great sound bite tho.

Honestly, this is the part that I don't understand where the huge problem lies. If you think that people should taxed at all... basically condoning Government theft... then you have to concede that the outcome is better than the ideal that you keep 100% of what you earn. That's how we pay for schools, roads, military defense, police, (public) fire fighters, etc.

And if the ends justify the means, then why is investing in certain social programs, such as extending free education an extra four years for a bachelor's degree instead of just until the 13th grade to get a high school diploma, not an adequate justification/investment to warrant people making in excess of $2.5 million dollars per year pay a slightly heftier tab? The highest GDP growth in the US has historically happened at the same time of the highest tax rates on the wealthiest tax bracket. I am not implying those higher taxes caused the growth, but they certainly did not hinder it. Many, many countries offer "free" post-secondary education, just as the US already offers "free" primary-through-secondary education. And "free" highways. And "free" defense. And "free" policing. Etc, etc.

Now, if one's stance is that all Americans should pay the same tax rate, then why tax anyone at all? If it is not ok to take more from people who make hundreds or thousands of times the median income in the country than those who make less than the median income, why is it ok to take any money at all? Why not just abolish the tax code all together and let the free market revert back to lassez-faire capitalism? I think we can all agree that is because it lassez-faire is inherently evil and does *not* work for the benefit of a nation.

 

[trichrider]

i'll vote the crazy billionaire. he's my type of character.

both parties are afraid of Trump for good reason too.


The "Dogs of Hell" have been unleashed on Donald Trump...

After receiving and reading this one, I thought to myself...Wow...what if? Over the course of my lifetime and primarily after the Kennedy Assassination in November of 1963 not many "American" people I know trust our government whether Democrat or Republican. How many times have you heard "They are all crooked regardless of party affiliation? or "They are all the same, they will tell you anything to get elected"? I do know one thing, we will never see another person (male or female) in our lifetime, your children or grand-children's lifetime that will spend their own money to become President of the United States with no outside influence from ANYONE!

Some people are getting very nervous: Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett, Eric Holder, Hillary Clinton and Jon Corzine, to name just a few. It's about the unholy dynamics between big government, big business and big media. They all benefit by the billions of dollars from this partnership, and it’s in all of their interests to protect one another. It’s one for all and all for one. It’s a heck of a filthy relationship that makes everyone filthy rich — everyone except the American people. We get ripped off. We’re the patsies.
But for once, the powerful socialist cabal and the corrupt crony capitalists are scared. I’ve never seen them this outraged, this vicious, this motivated or this coordinated. Never in all my years in politics have I seen anything like the way the mad "Dogs of Hell" have been unleashed on Donald Trump. The over-the-top reaction to Trump by politicians of both parties, the media and the biggest corporations of America has been so swift and insanely angry that it suggests they are all threatened and frightened like never before.

Donald Trump can self-fund that amount tomorrow and still have another billion left over to pour into the last two-week stretch run before Election Day. No matter how much they say to the contrary, the media, business and political elite understand that Trump is no joke. He could actually win and upset their nice cozy apple cart.
It’s no coincidence that everyone has gotten together to destroy “The Donald”. It’s because most of the other politicians are part of the “old boys club.” They talk big, but in the end they won’t change a thing. They are all beholden to big-money donors. They are all owned by lobbyists, unions, lawyers, gigantic environmental organizations and multinational corporations like Big Pharm or Big Oil. They are owned lock, stock and barrel by foreigners like George Soros owns Obama or foreign governments own Hillary with their Clinton Foundation donations.
These run-of-the-mill establishment politicians are all puppets owned by big money. But there’s one man — and only one man — who isn’t beholden to anyone. There’s one man who doesn’t need foreigners, or foreign governments, or George Soros, or the United Auto Workers, or the teachers union, or the Service Employees International Union, or the bar association to fund his campaign.
Billionaire tycoon and maverick Donald Trump doesn’t need anyone’s help. That means he doesn’t care what the media says. He doesn’t care what the corporate elites think. That makes him very dangerous to the entrenched interests. That makes Trump a huge threat. Trump can ruin everything for the bribed politicians and their spoiled slave masters.
Don’t you ever wonder why the GOP has never tried to impeach Obama? Don’t you wonder why John Boehner and Mitch McConnell talk a big game, but never actually try to stop Obama? Don’t you wonder why Congress holds the purse strings, yet has never tried to de-fund Obamacare or Obama’s clearly illegal executive action on amnesty for illegal aliens? Bizarre, right? It defies logic, right?
First, I’d guess many key Republicans are being bribed. Secondly, I believe many key Republicans are being blackmailed. Whether they are having affairs, or secretly gay, or stealing taxpayer money, the National Security Agency knows everything. Ask former House Speaker Dennis Hastert about that. The government even knew he was withdrawing large sums of his own money from his own bank account. Trust me: The NSA, the SEC, the IRS and all the other three-letter government agencies are watching every Republican political leader. They know everything. Thirdly, many Republicans are petrified of being called “racists.” So they are scared to ever criticize Obama or call out his crimes, let alone demand his impeachment. Fourth, why rock the boat? After defeat or retirement, if you’re a “good old boy,” you’ve got a $5 million-per-year lobbying job waiting. The big-money interests have the system gamed. Win or lose, they win.
But Trump doesn’t play by any of these rules. Trump breaks up this nice, cozy relationship between big government, big media and big business. All the rules are out the window if Trump wins the presidency. The other politicians will protect Obama and his aides — but not Trump. Remember: Trump is the guy who publicly questioned Obama’s birth certificate. He questioned Obama’s college records and how a mediocre student got into an Ivy League university.
Now, he’s doing something no Republican has the chutzpah to do. He’s questioning our relationship with Mexico; questioning why the border is wide open; questioning why no wall has been built across the border; questioning if allowing millions of illegal aliens into America is in our best interests; questioning why so many illegal aliens commit violent crimes yet are not deported; and questioning why our trade deals with Mexico, Russia and China are so bad.

Trump has the audacity to ask out loud why American workers always get the short end of the stick. Good question. I’m certain Trump will question what happened to the almost billion dollars given in a rigged no-bid contract to college friends of Michelle Obama at foreign companies to build the defective Obamacare website. By the way, that tab is now up to $5 billion. Trump will ask if Obamacare’s architects can be charged with fraud for selling it by lying. Trump will investigate Obama’s widespread IRS conspiracy, not to mention Obama’s college records. Trump will prosecute Clinton and Obama for fraud committed to cover up Benghazi before the election. How about the fraud committed by employees of the Labor Department when they made up dramatic job numbers in the last jobs report before the 2012 election?

Obama, the multinational corporations and the media need to stop this. They recognize this could get out of control. If left unchecked telling the raw truth and asking questions everyone else is afraid to ask, Trump could wake a sleeping giant here.
Trump’s election would be a nightmare. Obama has committed many crimes. No one else but Trump would dare to prosecute. He will not hesitate. Once Trump gets in and gets a look at “the cooked books” and Obama’s records, the game is over. The gig is up. The goose is cooked. Holder could wind up in prison. Jarrett could wind up in prison. Obama bundler Corzine could wind up in prison for losing $1.5 billion of customer money. Clinton could wind up in jail for deleting 32,000 emails, or for accepting bribes from foreign governments while Secretary of State, or for “misplacing” $6 billion as the head of the State Department, or for lying about Benghazi.
The entire upper level management of the IRS could wind up in prison. Obamacare will be de-funded and dismantled. The Obama family will be prosecuted for crimes against the American people. And Obama himself could wind up ruined, his legacy in tatters. Trump will investigate. Trump will prosecute. Trump will go after everyone involved....and that is why the "Dogs of Hell" have been unleashed on Donald Trump.
Yes, it’s become open season on Donald Trump. The left and the right are determined to attack his policies, harm his businesses, and, if possible, even keep him out of the coming debates. But they can’t silence him. And they sure can’t intimidate him. The more they try, the more the public will realize that he’s the one telling the truth. And the left can’t stand that.
Don't be surprised if Trump has a heart attack, an accident or who knows..... assassination!

 

[oldchuck]

Socialist is just a word, a word that nobody seems to agree on a definition. Official Socialist Party "socialists" seem to think Bernie is little more than a stalking horse for Hillary, a war monger sucking up to power.

I can tell you, as a guy who has know him for 40 years, he is no stalking horse, no vice-president wannabe, a democratic socialist by his own definition which is remarkably non-ideological, and deeply experienced with pushing a minority view in Congress.

His platform proposals are ambitions and needed but he knows, as do we all, that Congress is not going to change enough to implement even a fraction of them. But he will push and prod from high moral and practical ground and progress will be made. A start will be made, something I have never really expected in my lifetime.

 

[Cannavore]

Bernie has identified himself as a self avowed Socialist for years. His words not mine.

I know and he does a great disservice to himself for saying that.
Ideologically speaking he calls himself a democratic socialist which differs from true socialism.
The problem with the two main political parties in the US is that as a whole both have moved to the right on the political spectrum.
Majority of the Democrats in office today are essentially centrists or moderate Republicans (which is what the Republican party was 40-50 years ago). They've become the corporatists and majority of the elected Republicans have moved further right to the point of fascism (Trump) and theocracy (Carson, Huckabee, Santorum).

So if you apply that totally understood logic, Bernie Sanders is running nothing more than an old school democratic campaign in vein of men such as FDR.

Our current system encourages corporate welfare aka socialism for the rich, it's time to reverse that with old school American policy from the time when our economy was at its strongest.

 

[Cur]

Bernie has identified himself as a self avowed Socialist for years. His words not mine.
And I do love Miles Davis. So nice to met you Mr Davis

Socialism is a very broad family of political thought. We already have socialist programs in the United States. The much-lauded New Deal is a socialist program. The entire military is also based on socialist ideologies.

Bernie is a Democratic Socialist. He is not a Marxist, Lenninist-Marxist, State Socialist, National Socialist, Maoist, or any of the other red-baiting socialism most people intend to conjure when using the blanket term "socialist." Our strongest European allies outside of the UK are all more or less socialists... Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, etc. The european countries with very little-to-no socialist tendencies? Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, the Slovak Republic, The Czech Republic, etc. Basically, all tiny countries with populations *almost* as large as some Atlantic Coast states. That's why such low taxation can work for them. They also have less infrastructure. While the baltic states have the fastest-growing economies in the former Eastern Bloc, they also still have a lower standard of living than some of the most rural areas in our country.

 

[Cur]

Either way, the main purpose of this thread was to say, "hey! you guys want an end to weed prohibition? here is a viable presidential candidate who has said he will do exactly that!"

 

[bombadil.360]

Either way, the main purpose of this thread was to say, "hey! you guys want an end to weed prohibition? here is a viable presidential candidate who has said he will do exactly that!"

the point is that he will not do that nor any of the other stuff he is promising... again, this is called Populism, and all these populist politicians never come through, never have anywhere, not only in the U.S.

just go back to Obama's speeches and what he promised, and after 8 years of rule, out of how many of his promises he back-tracked? and actually did exactly the opposite?

I don't know if people thinking of voting for Bernie or Hillary are considering that the U.S not only has a responsibility with its own citizens, but also with the world, you cannot just elect some dude because he is promising you free stuff and magical solution to problems that are actually very complex and tangled up with the rest of the world...

You can bet whatever you want that someone like Trump would legalize way sooner and more efficiently than a Social Democrat (which is nothing more than a Socialist elected democratically) that still lives in the 50s ideologically. the guy is a dinosaur, regardless of what your hippy professor at college tells you...

 

[resinryder]

Honestly, this is the part that I don't understand where the huge problem lies. If you think that people should taxed at all... basically condoning Government theft... then you have to concede that the outcome is better than the ideal that you keep 100% of what you earn. That's how we pay for schools, roads, military defense, police, (public) fire fighters, etc.

And if the ends justify the means, then why is investing in certain social programs, such as extending free education an extra four years for a bachelor's degree instead of just until the 13th grade to get a high school diploma, not an adequate justification/investment to warrant people making in excess of $2.5 million dollars per year pay a slightly heftier tab? The highest GDP growth in the US has historically happened at the same time of the highest tax rates on the wealthiest tax bracket. I am not implying those higher taxes caused the growth, but they certainly did not hinder it. Many, many countries offer "free" post-secondary education, just as the US already offers "free" primary-through-secondary education. And "free" highways. And "free" defense. And "free" policing. Etc, etc.

Now, if one's stance is that all Americans should pay the same tax rate, then why tax anyone at all? If it is not ok to take more from people who make hundreds or thousands of times the median income in the country than those who make less than the median income, why is it ok to take any money at all? Why not just abolish the tax code all together and let the free market revert back to lassez-faire capitalism? I think we can all agree that is because it lassez-faire is inherently evil and does *not* work for the benefit of a nation.

Not my view on taxes at all. Is the system applied unfairly, damn right it is. Is the government doing what they should with those tax dollars? Some but for the most part absolutely not. My ideologies and your would probably wouldn't commingle and I'm not debating one tax system over another. I have to live within my means with what i have shouldn't the government have to live within theirs? Or at the very least be able to borrow enough to take care of what they deem they need as long as they have the means to repay the loan in a timely fashion instead of no clear path to do so?

Socialist is just a word, a word that nobody seems to agree on a definition. Official Socialist Party "socialists" seem to think Bernie is little more than a stalking horse for Hillary, a war monger sucking up to power.

I can tell you, as a guy who has know him for 40 years, he is no stalking horse, no vice-president wannabe, a democratic socialist by his own definition which is remarkably non-ideological, and deeply experienced with pushing a minority view in Congress.

His platform proposals are ambitions and needed but he knows, as do we all, that Congress is not going to change enough to implement even a fraction of them. But he will push and prod from high moral and practical ground and progress will be made. A start will be made, something I have never really expected in my lifetime.

A word, a ideological viewpoint, a life style. Socialism is Socialism, is Socialism no matter what word is used in front of it to gussy it up. I could say I am a Conservative Socialist to make it sound nice but I'd still be pushing Socialist values. If that's what the Voters choose it's something I'll just have to learn to live with for a few years. Glad you know him. Just damn tho, not Hillary.

I know and he does a great disservice to himself for saying that.
Ideologically speaking he calls himself a democratic socialist which differs from true socialism.
The problem with the two main political parties in the US is that as a whole both have moved to the right on the political spectrum.
Majority of the Democrats in office today are essentially centrists or moderate Republicans (which is what the Republican party was 40-50 years ago). They've become the corporatists and majority of the elected Republicans have moved further right to the point of fascism (Trump) and theocracy (Carson, Huckabee, Santorum).

So if you apply that totally understood logic, Bernie Sanders is running nothing more than an old school democratic campaign in vein of men such as FDR.

Our current system encourages corporate welfare aka socialism for the rich, it's time to reverse that with old school American policy from the time when our economy was at its strongest.

I highlighted 2 or your comments just to separate them.

"Majority of the Democrats in office today are essentially centrists or moderate Republicans (which is what the Republican party was 40-50 years ago)"

Excellent point. Most people don't realize that and would argue you were full of shit for even suggesting it. Have seen it done.



"Our current system encourages corporate welfare aka socialism for the rich, it's time to reverse that with old school American policy from the time when our economy was at its strongest."

You will never see that with the current field of hacks from either party. I like Bernie and think he's genuinely a nice guy but I can't support his views. How about lets fix shit before giving more shit away?
Yesterday the house passed the budget bill that has NO spending/borrowing limit. A blank check. None, zip, nadda. Social programs and so called entitlements were cut. Not cut so that spending goes away but cut so that those cut dollars can be spend on other government programs. Who does that benefit? Not the interest of the American people who have to either find some way to pay it back or end up letting the country go bankrupt because it will never get paid back. No attempts to rein in spending was being attempted by either party involved. Looks like the direction we're headed in with the entirety of congress leading the way is national bankruptcy.

 

[resinryder]

Socialism is a very broad family of political thought. We already have socialist programs in the United States. The much-lauded New Deal is a socialist program. The entire military is also based on socialist ideologies.

And how are those programs working out today? Social Security, Social Security disability, Medicare and Medicaid are are going broke. Has been for a while. But they won't nor do they know how to fix it.
Had politicians kept their hands off the monies workers/employers are forced to pay into these programs every pay check they would be solvent and a glowing success. Instead they have ripped off the workers and blown the money on other bullshit projects without every repaying 1 red dime. Democrats under LBJ first raided the accounts then everyone got on board and decided, Hey lets fuck the people now and let someone repay them back later.
Social Security Disability for 1 example, was cut in the new budget passed by the house yesterday so those on disability will suffer the most. The money cut from them isn't going to pay of debt it's going towards some other gov program with no means to be repaid.

 

[oldchuck]

A word, a ideological viewpoint, a life style. Socialism is Socialism, is Socialism no matter what word is used in front of it to gussy it up. I could say I am a Conservative Socialist to make it sound nice but I'd still be pushing Socialist values. If that's what the Voters choose it's something I'll just have to learn to live with for a few years. Glad you know him. Just damn tho, not Hillary.

So, resin, please tell me, please be clear, just what are "socialist values" and why are they so horrible???

 

[resinryder]

So, resin, please tell me, please be clear, just what are "socialist values" and why are they so horrible???

There's nothing I could possibly say that would make you question it so I won't waste your time or mine with something you'd consider a hollow reply. If you see Socialist values as a good thing right on.

 

[Jhhnn]

I know and he does a great disservice to himself for saying that.
Ideologically speaking he calls himself a democratic socialist which differs from true socialism.
The problem with the two main political parties in the US is that as a whole both have moved to the right on the political spectrum.
Majority of the Democrats in office today are essentially centrists or moderate Republicans (which is what the Republican party was 40-50 years ago). They've become the corporatists and majority of the elected Republicans have moved further right to the point of fascism (Trump) and theocracy (Carson, Huckabee, Santorum).

So if you apply that totally understood logic, Bernie Sanders is running nothing more than an old school democratic campaign in vein of men such as FDR.

Our current system encourages corporate welfare aka socialism for the rich, it's time to reverse that with old school American policy from the time when our economy was at its strongest.

Thank you. Very clear headed thinking.

Whatever one believes, they need to think about it *before* they believe it. A great deal of the information we receive is designed to accomplish just the opposite, I'm afraid.

Good for Bernie. He thought about it & came to the correct conclusion- not just about cannabis but about a lot of things.

 

[igrowone]

at this point in time, there are 2 clear positions that have been stated
Christie will roll back cannabis rights, so he has stated
Sanders will expand cannabis rights, at least he is favorbly inclined in that direction
this is the traditional line, Republicans have been anti weed by their record

 

[watts]

Hillary will be the next US President, unfortunately.