Pacific Ocean Gyre
I tend to think that the environmental lessons of the last 50 years have not been learned and that it generally takes an economic shift to move environmental legislation and awareness. But what if there is not tangible economic shift to be felt...what if we've gotten so good that we can't see what we're doing?
Drug Decriminalization
I think that the US is reaching a point of polictical momentum that could be critically important for the 'Drug War' With the increase in violent crime in the 1980's, drugs seemed like a great scapegoat at the time. Turning their abuse into a law enforcement issue was good politics and it felt good. But after 30 years of failed policy, no meaninful reduction in usage, a national security crisis at our southern border, and an economic motivation....hopefully we can scrap the approach that has led us astray and wasted money. Hopefully we can get to a pragmatic solution that lowers usage, decreases addiction, and improves the way we live.
Torture
As far as torture goes, I feel like I've been singing this song for far too long. I've never been for it and said it was shitty from day one. The ticking bomb theory just doesn't exist in real life. It's use in the justification of torture by the US makes us sound that much more silly. The world is a dangerous place with people who don't agree with our interests. We should do what works and what advances our moral interests/world standing. With all the news coming out on seemingly a daily basis, these are my two takeaways on the issue. We didn't punish Richard Nixon for his crimes and that spawned an entire generation of government employees that learned that if you're high enough up on the ladder, the law doesn't apply to you. Let's not make that same mistake again.
I tend to think that the environmental lessons of the last 50 years have not been learned and that it generally takes an economic shift to move environmental legislation and awareness. But what if there is not tangible economic shift to be felt...what if we've gotten so good that we can't see what we're doing?
LA Times award winning series on our oceans and what's happening to them
A documentary looking at the true scope of the problem in our oceans(please forgive the melodramatics)
I think that the US is reaching a point of polictical momentum that could be critically important for the 'Drug War' With the increase in violent crime in the 1980's, drugs seemed like a great scapegoat at the time. Turning their abuse into a law enforcement issue was good politics and it felt good. But after 30 years of failed policy, no meaninful reduction in usage, a national security crisis at our southern border, and an economic motivation....hopefully we can scrap the approach that has led us astray and wasted money. Hopefully we can get to a pragmatic solution that lowers usage, decreases addiction, and improves the way we live.
An eye opening look at how successful decriminalization has been in Portugal
California goes for the 'gold' in marijuana legalization
As far as torture goes, I feel like I've been singing this song for far too long. I've never been for it and said it was shitty from day one. The ticking bomb theory just doesn't exist in real life. It's use in the justification of torture by the US makes us sound that much more silly. The world is a dangerous place with people who don't agree with our interests. We should do what works and what advances our moral interests/world standing. With all the news coming out on seemingly a daily basis, these are my two takeaways on the issue. We didn't punish Richard Nixon for his crimes and that spawned an entire generation of government employees that learned that if you're high enough up on the ladder, the law doesn't apply to you. Let's not make that same mistake again.
No comments:
Post a Comment