Grace in Everything

Fakers
The vast majority of patients who seek a doctor’s authorization for pot do not have cancer, glaucoma or other serious illnesses. In Oregon, “severe pain” is reported as a condition requiring treatment in 93 percent of patients, while fewer than 6 percent had cancer. Most people are getting prescriptions for conditions where cannabis is not clearly effective, and for symptoms that are very subjective and potentially faked. (Aaron E. Carroll, New York Times, 7/20/2015)

Not to worry, stoners, Liberals have already declared the case for "medical" marijuana to be "settled science."


Dumb and Dumber
Among the dumbest (regulations) were Washington’s affordable-housing mandates, beginning in 1977, that led to a loosening of underwriting standards and put people into homes they couldn’t afford. The Federal Reserve played its part in the 2008 financial crisis by keeping interest rates too low for too long, inflating the housing bubble. Washington not only failed to prevent the crisis, it led us into it. (Wall Street Journal, 7/20/2015)

We have, on several occasions, talked to Liberal friends about the financial crisis and specifically the role that meddling politicians like Barney Frank had in the meltdown. We've pointed to YouTube videos where Frank urges Fannie/Freddie to "roll the dice." Getting their talking points from Rachel Maddow, Liberals say these things were minor and the real problem was Wall Street and the hedge fund managers. 

By the way, we have no love for either Wall Street or hedge-funders (like Hillary Clinton's son-in-law) who give inordinate contributions to Democrats. One cannot deny, however, the guilt of Democrat politicians. Including some you may have heard of:

The Clintons’ mortgage policy saga began two decades ago during the booming early Internet era, when concern grew in Washington that minorities and the working poor weren’t reaping the benefits of an improving economy, especially in the housing market.

In a bid to create affordable housing for minorities and low-income residents, Mr. Clinton in 1995 ordered new bank regulations to encourage lending in poor neighborhoods. The Community Reinvestment Act gave banks higher ratings if they lent more in credit-deprived localities. (Washingtontimes.com, 7/20/2015)

Speaking of Bill and Hillary, our next presidents:

The Clintons reported pre-tax earnings of more than $30 million over the past year by giving speeches to Wall Street banks and other major corporations. This is consistent with the modern Democratic view that individuals/corporation are entitled to obscene wealth so long as they believe the right things. (Andrew Stiles, freebeacon.com, 7/20/2015)


The Slippery Slope
With same-sex marriage on the books, we can now ask whether polyamorous relationships should be next. There is a very good argument that they should. (William Baude, New York Times, 7/21/2015)

And so it begins. Or is it continues?

Kick out the foundations of civilization and civilization crumbles. 

Easy Prey

Back Court
The court ruled that the president’s action violated the Constitution and said that the Senate and House have the ultimate power to block such recess appointments by scheduling the mini-sessions when they want to. (New York Times, 6/27/2014)

Former constitutional law professor Barack H. Obama is rebuked by SCOTUS. We do not know how the individual Supreme Court justices opined because in twenty-three paragraphs the New York Times does not say. 

Oh, the decision was unanimous. Ouch!

Apparently the story was not really big news, because the Times puts it fourth....after a story on a Ukrainian trade deal.


Dopes
New York moved last week to join 22 states in legalizing medical marijuana for patients with a diverse array of debilitating ailments, encompassing epilepsy and cancer, Crohn’s disease and Parkinson’s. Yet there is no rigorous scientific evidence that marijuana effectively treats the symptoms of many of the illnesses for which states have authorized its use. (New York Times, 6/27/2014)

The same Liberals who argue that climate change is settled science agitate for medical marijuana......in the absence of scientific studies. If we can't trust them on the latter, why should we trust them on the former?


Shumlin Wants Your Stuff
Overheard at a local marina: Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin sits in the back seat of his hulking black solar-powered SUV. Admiring a particular boat he jokes with its owner saying that the state may have to commandeer the vessel for the day. Funny stuff.... Until one remembers the last time that Shumlin coveted private property. Namely the land of his beleaguered neighbor. Only the light of day was able to expose Shumlin's attempt to swindle his fellow Vermonter. Our advice to the intrepid mariner: Head out of port and don't look back!

The Utter Hypocrisy of Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin

“It is a crisis bubbling beneath the surface that may be invisible to many, but is already highly visible to law enforcement, medical personnel, social service and addiction treatment providers and too many Vermont families. It requires all of us to take action before the quality of life that we cherish so much is compromised.” (Peter Shumlin)


So Vermont's governor is concerned about opiate abuse in the state. In fact, he made it the centerpiece of his recent State of the State address. Congratulations, governor, for shining a light on a critical problem. 

Also, you are a hypocrite.

We are referring, of course, to your comments indicating that you are now "open" to legalizing marijuana. Already with your support, possession of marijuana has been decriminalized and "medical" marijuana is now legal in Vermont. Before you decided to go down this path, perhaps you studied California's experience in mainstreaming marijuana. If you did, you would have learned that things did not go well there, prompting even some who had been in favor to call for a re-evaluation. Apparently dope dispensaries opened on every other corner and getting a note from your doctor to buy cannabis was as easy as getting a library card. Meanwhile, have you seen what is going on in Colorado?  In that state, legislators apparently just said: what the heck, let's skip the whole medicinal ruse and just legalize it for everyone! There is even talk there of "marijuana tourism." Let's hope that is not what you have in mind as the next logical step for growing Vermont tourism. 

By the way, did you really call up the folks at The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (ironically known as NORML) and volunteer to be a spokesperson as was widely reported? Do you see any disconnect between your concern about opiates and your chill attitude toward weed?

Young people are masterly at rationalization. Just talk to them. If adults send signals that possession of marijuana is not such a big deal, teenagers will not focus on the nuances. The message that kids hear is that smoking marijuana is OK. And they will do it before school, during school, after school. It is disappointing that you do not get that.

Here is the thing, governor. Experts tell us that the percentage of people who are now abusing opiates and who first started out smoking dope rounds to ... 100%. Did anyone on your staff ever discuss with you the concept of a "gateway" drug? Marijuana is THE gateway drug for all illegal drug abuse. To draw an analogy, yes, there IS a difference between petty shoplifting and burglary. But failing to punish the shoplifter creates later consequences for society. So while your focus on opiates is admirable, reasonable people may question how that squares with your relaxed attitude about marijuana.

A final thought: before you take the next step and legalize marijuana please check in with the dedicated folks who work at the various organizations in the state who deal with drug abuse. No doubt they have sad stories to tell of the carnage that illicit drugs have had on individuals, families and society. These stories all have a common starting point.