Stephen Harper's Drug ProblemContributed by: Reverend Blair
Stephen Harper has a drug problem. Like so many who share the monkey on his back, he likely doesn’t realise that it’s a problem yet, and would be unlikely to admit it if he did. Those closest to him either share the problem or keep silent about it, acting as enablers. Those slightly more removed recognise the problem, but do not speak out either because they fear repercussions or because they hope to benefit if Harper’s drug problem leads to his destruction. They do not care about those that will be harmed as Harper’s problem spirals out of control.
Like so many before him, Stephen developed his problem by poor choices made early in life. His role models, people like Ronald Reagan, had drug problems of their own. His peers, people like George Bush, have also followed that path.
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Mr. Harper’s drug problem, at least the one we should be concerned about, is one based in his ideological ignorance. After decades of reports recommending the legalisation or decriminalization of marijuana, Harper has promised that he will scrap the proposed law to soften sentences for possession of marijuana. After years of watching the US war on drugs fail dismally, Harper has promised to adopt a mandatory sentencing regime very similar to the US system. The United States is the world’s largest per capita jailer of its own people and Harper seems poised to follow in their footsteps.
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Even more troubling is Mr. Harper’s lack of a proposed policy on the international drug trade. Will he be using the Canadian military to aid the United States in its war on drugs? Will our peacekeepers find themselves guarding oil pipelines in Colombia as part of that war? Will we be participating in the spraying of drug crops in South America? Will our foreign aid have conditions regarding drug laws? Will our Mounties be training paramilitaries with a history of murdering unionists and indigenous people? The Conservative Party has not said, but they do seem poised to follow all other aspects of Mr. Bush’s failed anti-drug campaign.
http://www.vivelecanada.ca/article.php/20060131204215653