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Plainsman1963

Green candidate wants state to surrender in war on drugs
05-10-06 | MiddletownPress.Com | Steve Collins

Saying "the politicians of today are just cowards and incompetents," the Green Party’s gubernatorial candidate Friday called for Connecticut to surrender in the war on drugs.


"What we have to do is bring these drugs inside the law," said Clifford Thornton, who is taking aim at the state’s highest office despite the long odds against him.


Instead of pouring billions into fighting drugs and building prisons, Thornton said, society should use the money to restore its infrastructure, improve schools, clean up the environment and more.

"If we recognized drug abuse as a medical and public health problem instead of a criminal problem," he said, "the potential savings and increased tax base would be substantial."

In a wide-ranging interview with The Bristol Press, Thornton laid out an ambitious agenda that diverges widely from the planks of the both the Republican and Democratic parties.

The 61-year-old retired businessman from Glastonbury said he wants "tell Rell farewell" by ousting Gov. Jodi Rell and besting whomever the Democrats back for the state’s top job. Two mayors are seeking the Democratic endorsement this month, New Haven’s John DeStefano and Stamford’s Dan Malloy.

Thornton said that he will do whatever he can to force his opponents to talk about the costly effort to clamp down on drug use. If they won’t address the issue, he said, "I’m going to slam them."

"They can’t defend a failed policy," Thornton said.

Legalizing marijuana and hemp would create a new tax source that could provide money to rebuild bridges, bolster education, add light rail to relieve congestion and a host of other needed improve-ments, Thornton said.

Allowing doctors to prescribe other currently illegal drugs, he said, would allow for regulatory oversight and immediately allow savings in the "bloated law enforcement" budgets and prisons.

Thornton said that dropping the drug war would reduce violence, increase tax revenue and allow society to focus on real needs, including treatment of addicts.

"We have to retool Connecticut, not only Connecticut, but America," he said.

By giving up the war on drugs - just as the nation backed away from Prohibition - people would lose their fear of cities and the country could again talk seriously about how best to deal with the problems of race and class again.

"The status quo is not right," Thornton said.

He said the Republicans and Democrats like it because "they can divvy up the goodies" between themselves, but the public loses out.

As it is, Thornton said, when he walks into the General Assembly in Hartford, he thinks of a song Frank Sinatra made famous: "Send In The Clowns."

"They’re not doing anything," he said. "They’re just dancing."

The Green Party bills itself as an alternative to the two major parties. Thornton said that it’s increasingly difficult to tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans because they pursue policies that are nearly the same.

He said Republican President George W. Bush has tried to rule by instilling fear in the public, but his predecessor in the White House, Democrat Bill Clinton, "put the people back to sleep" instead of rallying America to reform.

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"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." - Claire Wolfe

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Tokamak

This is exactly the reason I vote Green. I've had to take a lot of guff from people (democrats, mostly) spouting the "wasted vote" rhetoric, but how, in good conscience can someone vote for a candidate who supports a platform they don't believe in? Just because the person with the right ideas has virtually no chance of winning, should I cast my lot for the lesser of two evils? I say "No". My vote isn't just about getting my candidate elected; its a grinning spit in the face of a corrupt system and an act of righteous defiance. So stand up for what you believe in: Vote Green.

Peace.

__________________
"He who knows does not speak. He who speaks does not know."
- Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

Sec

The article doesn't say anything that hasn't already been said here a thousand times over. The only difference is who said it. That is the only news in this article (or campaign speech).

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Plainsman1963

I agree. But I guess I don't get your point?

We can say these same things thousands of times, but as more and more "mainstream" folks start saying them, the faster the ball will roll. I consider it news when a person trying to become a part of the political process (which will be used to change the laws) is stating things we have said a thousand times over.

That's progress and noteworthy. News.

Little Nicky

The Republicans are hoping the Green party does well as it will split the Dem vote and secure another win for the GOP. But then you made your point though, didn't you?

 

Little Nicky

You can thank the Green Party for getting GW elected in 2000. Nice job guys!

TheNewGuy

You're right, instead of voting for the party you want, you should vote for the lesser of two evils, thus keeping us permanently in a two party system. Great advice champ, great advice.

Anyone here who votes Democrat just because they think if they vote third party the GOP will win deserves to be dragged out into the street and flogged. If everybody voted for the party that actually cared about the people of the US, we wouldn't have to deal with all this BS.

Don't vote for the lesser of two evils, vote for the party that actually represents your views.

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"Anyway, no drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power." ~P.J. O'Rourke

Sec

I see your point, and stand corrected.

Little Nicky

Lets look at this carefully. You voted for the Green Party in 2000 and that got us 8 years of GW and Bushco.
Lets vote for the Green Party again and maybe the GOP will bring Hitler back from the dead and run him.

Little Nicky

I wonder how much funding the Green Party gets from the GOP?