Well, another year has come and gone, but slowly change is upon us. We at LEAP have had the pleasure of being a leader in one of the fastest growing movements since the 60's. There is no doubt in our minds and heart that our country and people can no longer accept, condone, or support the undeniable misery caused by this disgrace and known failure, called the war on drugs.
Sadly again, last year we saw innocent and non-innocent people of all ages killed, terrorized and abused, both by the bad guys and the good guys. Even sadder was that in both cases seldom was there any true dialog or accountability. We had another record year of arrests for simply using the Almighty’s gift to all, while harming no one. All this while unsolved rates climbed for serious crimes such as murder, rape and assault. Sadly again, we the supposedly freest country on earth are first in the world for the number of people behind bars - more than any other democratic or non-democratic country. Yet never have you heard anybody in the media ask which one is a lie. How can we make the claim to be the freest, yet have more people denied their freedoms than in other nations? Sadly, the numbers don’t lie.
We watched in horror as another well meaning agenda caused and cost a terrible unexpected toll on our young. Cheez took away over 22 of our young, right here in the Dallas-Fort worth area. Yet, only one media outlet, PBS, had the heart and professional journalistic standards to openly discuss this issue. Why? In a time when we needed an open, unbiased and honest source for information, dialog and sharing of beliefs and ideas, most local media remained cheerleaders for a known failure. The McCuistion Hour on PBS stood above all the rest, and for that we should all be thankful. At the same time, we should be questioning the true agenda, intent and journalistic integrity of all the others. We watched as each had the top dog for this known failure on their programs. Never was anybody given an opportunity to openly debate or dispute this propaganda. Why? Never was there any equal time granted to any with documented opposing evidence to share. Why?
Again this year, all we at LEAP ask for is an open and honest debate, dialog and equal time. Then let the chips fall where they may. Why is it that those making a living off this misery and their cheerleaders are afraid to do the same? Could it be that those claiming to be public servants, living off our tax dollars, and their cheerleaders, have their own agendas, with no regard for the tax paying public?
The disgrace called the war on drugs is not a failure just because we say it is, but because of its own documented history of failures. There is not a company on this planet that would still be in business with the record of lack of production and return on investment this failure has. Fact! Yet we as the shareholders and taxpayers are manipulated and forced to continue a policy - one that cannot be supported given facts, reality, logic and common sense. When is enough, enough?
The truth and reality are that a vote to regulate and legalize all drugs is not a vote for or against any drug. It is not to solve our drug use or abuse problems. It is to take away the control by the bad guys that this war on drugs has guaranteed over and over for more than 35 years. It is also to help end the needless misery of our elderly and young and their families, and to help stop the spread of diseases, death and addictions being caused today.
I invite all to our site www.leap.cc to explore the options. Only through open and honest discussion and the sharing of ideas and information, will we ever find the right path. We have always been a leader in our world. Why are we are way behind in seeking other options to this failure? If you want or need a speaker to come anywhere - Rotary, PTA, Church, School, College, City Counsel, Women’s Club, - we are more than willing.
Rusty White
LEAP Speaker
