Are people really getting upset over the potential of marijuana being legal?

People huff paint and toxic fumes from household cleaners.    

Adjudicated kids I worked with used to drink Nyquil, vomit the syrup and walk around high for hours – they were called Nyquil parties. All available over the counter.

People drink and have alcohol available to them 24 hours a day – ever been to Vegas?  They have an open bottle policy!  Where’s the outrage!  Where’s the contempt!  Call the Mayor!

Are you really this naive?   

If the problem is concern that people will “do more of it”, so what? 

The concern is always that one behavior is a gateway to other behaviors.  

It must be assumed then that drinking water leads to alcoholism. 

When people think it's the "other guy" who is too irresponsible to make choice for self, you can count on the accuser being the one who is just as irresponsible; it used to be called: projection.

Who cares if someone wants to take drugs?  It’s not your life to decide for another.  If safety is your concern, you have to face reality that at any point in time lots of people are walking around the world high as a kite.

If you really want to make sure that certain jobs, where accuracy is most important when it comes to the responsibility of another’s life, make policy for those jobs within those companies that a daily drug test is required.  

Frankly, it’s not a bad idea to have pilots take a drug test or alcohol breathalyzer test before getting in the cockpit, but no one seems to be worried about that.  Nor is it out of reach to have health care workers test for drugs; I went to school with a nurse who was a recovering drug addict and work was where she got her “loot”.  Her stories of rampant drug abuse were shocking. 

Police, military and any other number of official positions carry weapons aren’t given such tests on a daily or hourly basis, but the law of averages tells you that at least some of those people are high on something.   Folks don’t check-in to rehab not for nothin'.

Trying to control behavior is like trying to herd cats.  Responsibility compels those who make choice to be able to respond to the choice.  If drug use is such a concern then compel companies with high-risk jobs to demand regular and frequent drug tests, and then get out of the way.  That's how free markets work: demand and supply.

Reality is that everyone has distaste for everyone else’s behavior and choices, be assured of that.  Trying to control behavior of others only reveals you as arrogant, controlling, and manipulative and eventually, a hypocrite as your choices will show incongruence.

Start questioning yourself as to why you are so concerned. Where is freedom and personal responsibility?

Is it about your children? 

Who then is responsible for teaching their children the consequences for such choices? 

Can you police your child’s every choice?  No.  You can arm them with as much information as possible and accept the risk you took by having a child to begin with. If this comment offends you, consider reality: you chose to have a child knowing the world around you.  Attempting to control others for your personal comfort?  Society doesn't exist for you.

Unless you are planning on following your kid around 24 hours, then you better make certain you teach your children what development of personal responsibility is all about.   It would be in your self-interest to teach accountability, responsibility and outcomes.

Consider how much information is available to you as an adult that you never look up, research or inquire about before making choices which could clearly alter your life.  You're not teaching that negligence to your kids, are you?

If you’re willing to take the risk of indulging in drugs, alcohol, and the like, no freedom loving American would stop you.  

The difference in any choice is that it is only made with the consent of those with whom it affects.  Don't make a choice you can't respond to.

If it doesn’t affect you, why do you care so much?

When the Wizard of Oz was approached by Dorothy and friends, he seemed ominous, larger than life, he spoke with the fires of brimstone, the domination of a giant, and he commanded the will of others.  When the curtain was pulled back, clearly he was an old man, who dressed not so fashionably, stuttered and stammered, catching his groove once in a while to impart wisdom.  And in the end he was nothing more than a snake oil salesman with a basket & balloon that even he didn’t know how to control.

Obama acts like the Wizard, tall on all kinds of antics, pyrotechnics, loquacious rhetoric, deep resonance, and in the end, the curtain gets pulled back and he’s nothing more than a stammering snake oil salesman who can’t function without his teleprompter or pointing his fingers.

When the characteristics of freedom live within you, little is needed in preparation to speak before large gatherings, exchange quips with other Americans, joke with the media or plan for interviews.  

When the characteristics of freedom live within you, there is a natural flow of language that speaks to reality, avoids manipulation, aims to clarify, is rooted in genuine honesty, and resonates like a fine cello that knows the path of a musical crescendo in concert with Americans.

Obama was the dream of some and the nightmare of so many. 

He has revealed his true, natural self.  And while he may think himself confident & stalwart, he is instead, narcissistic, histrionic, arrogant and insecure. 

He seeks disdain of others rather than acknowledgement of differences. 

He espouses discourse rather than discussion. 

He implies racism rather than pluralism. 

He avoids personal responsibility in every speech, every interview, and every quip he makes. 

He seeks cover for himself at the expense of others. 

He deflects, distracts and shows contempt for those who do not adore, obey or subjugate.

Obama hasn’t become a joke, he always was a joke, it just took longer for some to realize, than others. 

He was always shallow, never of substance. 

Whatever his true intentions, they aren’t about loving this nation, in sickness & in health, for better or worse. 

His is a deep rooted pattern of disease mindedness, that from his own self-loathing and self-hatred, attempts to destroy the esteem of this nation, like the parent who tries to destroy a child’s spirit.

Obama made the error of thinking that the nation didn’t have the fortitude, strength, power, ability, esteem and pride to talk back to him; to face him down, to not be bullied.

Obama made the error of thinking that Americans loved him more than the country.

Obama was wrong.

 President Obama had an opportunity last night to show leadership, uphold freedom and endorse the freedom of other Americans.

Instead he, his staff and complicit gop cowards, decided to subjugate.

The president had a moment to say, “Congressman, I understand you disagree. We can debate these specifics and I look forward to it. Thank you for being outspoken” But he didn’t.

To the other members booing the Congressman, the president could’ve said, “Please don’t admonish an American for exercising his right to free speech. We are fortunate enough to live in a nation where public and private discourse is encouraged and embraced – we silence no speech, we silence no American.” But he didn’t.

This morning he could have said, “The Congressman has no need to apologize. I am not in fear of hearing free speech by any American in this nation, in fact, I encourage and uphold such freedom. The congressman made his position known and I welcome the opportunity to debate the facts of the bill to clear up any confusion either on my part or the Congressman’s.” but he didn’t’.

But all of these responses require confidence, lack of arrogance, and patriotism.

Instead, he does as he always does: demands subjugation, elevates himself above others, showed contempt and anger for another American’s right to free speech and appeared like a victim which is his typical modus operandi.

I'm waiting for someone to call the Congressman's comment, racism - wait for it, I'm sure it's got to be coming.

There is no standard for discourse in this nation – that is one of this nation’s strengths – we don’t define how another should live his life, the choices he should make.

Anyone thinking they have a standard, by which everyone else should live, will make a target for your own back, for the day will come when you transgress another’s standard and will be forced to subjugate – and neither of these scenarios upholds freedom itself.

How is it that you think yourself elevated above others in order to tell them how they should live, the choices they should make, the way to behave, what is acceptable and what is not? Who died and left you in charge? Arrogance - plain and simple!

Why do you have a need to control?

Freedom or Control – which side are you on?