Bay Windows - New England's largest GLBT newspaper
"It was suggested to me this week that Coakley's hands were tied because, as the state's chief law enforcement officer, she had no choice but to oppose Question 2. I disagree. A more principled politician might have looked at the numbers and decided that, by any measure, the countless families, careers and lives that are destroyed by the senseless marijuana-related prosecutions that clog our criminal justice system more than negate whatever small benefit this society derives -- and whatever forfeiture funding law enforcement seizes -- in prosecuting a drug that causes far less damage than alcohol.
A more courageous politician might have looked at how marijuana prosecutions -- and, more importantly, marijuana-related convictions -- fall disproportionately on the poor and people of color and decided that the system does not handle marijuana prosecutions fairly and creates criminals where none should be. It doesn't even take that much courage to acknowledge these facts, as the lopsided vote totals in favor of Question 2 proved conclusively. Yet Coakley chose demagoguery over sanity on an issue where even the voters are willing to give her political cover."
it's not up to martha to oppose laws but to enforce them which she has been working hard to do after the people voted which is to say in my mind she is conspiring to break the law -
ReplyDeleteif she's so high and mighty with loving children and doing it all for the children she should address how it is easier for children to obtain illegal things in a black market - and why did she not ever adopt if she loves them so?