Interesting questions, wrong conclusions based on false assumptions. I got 44% and I wish you'd tell me a politician that I support that is hard-nosed on "youthful indiscretions."
Drugs are a lot more legal now than they were when I was a teenager. When I was using marijuana, people were put in prison for using it. Now they get suspended imposition of sentence, and if they are clean for six months, the record is erased. And a second conviction might get them ten days in jail.
The intolerance has shifted to pushers, and that's at the federal level. I agree that mandatory sentencing guidelines in federal court are moronic, and so do a lot of judges, but the vote in favor was overwhelming by both Democrats and Republicans, because they knew it would be popular with their constituents.
If we elect George W. president, that will signal a policy shift among the American electorate, that they are no longer willing to write people off for drug use in the past. Remember when that bearded young fellow who had used marijuana, can't remember his name, (Ginzberg?) was nominated for the Supreme Court and he couldn't get approval because of the marijuana? Hopefully, that will all change. |
