I won't support any expansion of the police state!

[Joanne98]

No gun control laws!

No hate speech laws!

No internet spying by cops laws!

No more "I'm not safe" laws in general!

I MIGHT support making it easier to SUE pathological liars in civil court for libel.

But.....

I hate the police state!

I want it smaller not bigger!

[12string]

1. what she said

[ThatsMyBarack]

2. Me. neither.

[immoderate]

3. Bully! (as in TR)

--imm

[krabigirl]

4. Me neither. Nt

[hlthe2b]

5. I'd moderate that position, though I generally agree...

As gun technology continues to move towards more horrendously efficient mass killing tools, I disagree strongly that we will not HAVE to look at its regulation. Weapons of war should not be in individual hands.

I believe strongly in individual civil rights and protection of those rights, even if the individual is not capable of rational thought. That does not mean that I believe in allowing an individual to suffer as a result of their incapacity. I believe there need to be thoughtful steps taken towards how we can assure the detention of those requiring mental health assessment in order to prevent serious harm to themselves or others, while assuring against abuse of the system. Society should not be handicapped from ensuring those needing emergent mental health care receive it and law enforcement/jail should not be that system. I think there could be review committees, much like hospitals have ethical review committees when health care decisions are required that might not be within the patient's consent.

This is but two areas. I too wish to push back on the "Police State" evolution. But, I don't believe in blanket statements that do not look at each of the implications.

[Joanne98]

16. The defense department keeps inventing new weapons of war so...

Close it down and we won't have to worry about it.

[hlthe2b]

17. Works for me...

[Joanne98]

20. Good

:hi:

[beevul]

26. Whats your definition though?

"Weapons of war should not be in individual hands."

Whats your definition of "weapons of war"?

[xchrom]

6. huh? nt

[Remmah2]

7. A voice of reason.

Thank you.

[Xenotime]

8. But some of this must be done if only to protect the children.

[woo me with science]

9. Hear hear! Kicked and strongly recommended!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[X_Digger]

10. But don't forget the lovejoy..

[KansasVoter]

11. Well, you should have been more active when the wiretap laws were passed!!!

[Joanne98]

14. I complained bitterly about that, we all did but the REPUBLICANS

Got that pushed through by calling everyone UNPATRIOTIC!

I'm against all of it.

[uncommon]

12. The whole point of laws is to protect the populace.

This is such bullshit. We make laws to organize society and protect people. But if we try too hard to protect people it's a "police state" ugh.

[Joanne98]

15. We have more people in prison that any country on Earth!

Enough is enough!

[denem]

19. Laws are passed to bury the issue of the day, while

avoiding the underlying structural and social problems.

Not all Laws. But it's a tried and true political strategy:
A Law and Order Campaign.

[Joanne98]

23. Law and order causes chaos. The more law we have the more people freak out!

And break it. It's suffocating!

[Hugabear]

27. Honestly, that's due more to outdated drug laws than anything else

It wouldn't bother me if we put an end to this ridiculous "drug war", and started going after those who encourage violence.

[Catherina]

13. I won't either. Rec'd n/t

[denem]

18. Rec'd PLUS decriminalize all drugs. Period.

Take away the No. 1 means that
Police have to entrap citizens.

Jail in not harm reduction,
nor health regulation.

[Joanne98]

21. Definitely. The war on drugs causes drug use.

Portugal made them legal and everybody quit. We have proof now.

The war is over, and it's working


Forty years. One trillion dollars. That's the amount of time and money largely wasted by the United States in its so-called war on drugs. As wars go, it makes Vietnam look like a major success story by comparison.
So, what's to be done going forward? The answer might come from Portugal.

The Associated Press reported recently that Portugal has seen considerable success since it abandoned its own futile anti-drug war and, in 2000, decriminalized all drug use.

President Obama's drug czar has paid a visit to look at what Portugal is doing, and other nations are taking heed, as well.

Many of those who favor a zero-tolerance approach to what are now illegal drugs claim that decriminalization will lead to the United States becoming a nation of drug-addled zombies, but that hasn't been the experience in Portugal.
"The disasters that were predicted by critics didn't happen," said Alex Stevens, a University of Kent professor who has observed Portugal's approach.

The program is very simple. Instead of arresting, prosecuting and sending drug addicts to jail, Portugal now invests its resources in drug-treatment programs. Between the effective date of the new law and 2008, Portugal did see a small increase in recreational drug use by adults, but usage rates fell among teen and addicts. Another positive effect was a 75 percent decline in drug-related HIV cases.

The cost of the new approach hasn't been tallied, but officials expect the money spent on public-health initiatives will be covered entirely by funds saved in the justice system.

http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/editorial/12-30-2010-DRUG-WAR-EDITORIAL

[denem]

24. "The disasters that were predicted by critics didn't happen"

Exactly.

[woo me with science]

22. Kicking again.

I want this at the top.

[somone]

25. Much of the security bullshit is corporate welfare

[DragonSlave]

28. Also stop criminalizing teen sexuality

I first masturbated when I was 12 I guess that means I raped myself.

[sarcasmo]

29. Bingo Joannne98. Watch our government use this event to take away the few freedoms we have left.

[sarcasmo]

30. Kick again.

[JoeyT]

31. I'm with you except a minor point:

Depends on what gun control laws they want to put in place.
I'm a gun owner, but I think there are limits to what people need to be allowed to own as well as how easy it should be to buy an easily concealable weapon. (Especially when you combine high capacity magazines with easily concealable.)
Given how infrequently we respond sanely to anything, I doubt any laws put forth will make any sense at all.

I'll also add: No draconian laws cracking down on mentally ill people for the "crime" of being mentally ill.