Pat Schwind Presents: Strategic Edge Thursday, 04/09/2009

John Stuart: One Man's Struggle vs. an Unjust System

Minutes of 03/26/2009

1. Attended 03/26/2009 : Powell Gammill, Ed Stroup, Russ & Margot Wittenberg, Thane Eichenauer, Austin Jones, Les Landon, Chris Braughton, Dorothy Ward, Dorothy Wertz, Ernie Hancock, Olga Strickland, Rich Woods, Frank Rickey, Geri Seckinger, Barb Bently, John Stuart, Tom Costanzo, Pat Schwind, & our speakers, Kathleen Tranchese of Phoenix NORML, & local attorneys Tom Dean & Marc Victor.

2. Our topic was "How's that War on Drugs Working Out?" Our speakers did a great job conveying how the INSANE War on Drugs has been a miserable failure. Kathleen with Phoenix NORML, said the official position of NORML is that Marijuana should be decriminalized, but not legalized. She gave some great 'stats' on how Marijuana's virtually harmless, while Alcohol's involved in ~ 30K deaths a year in the US, & is greatly to blame in so many cases of domestic violence & rape. Then you have all the damage done by Tobacco & prescription drugs, but we routinely jail people for simple possession of POT! From personal experience & anecdotal evidence, from 35 years of knowing pot smokers, I can conclusively say that virtually anyone under the influence of pot, just wants to have a good time, or go to sleep. It's that simple. There's not one documented case of a marijuana related 'wife beating' or 'OD'! None.

   Marc Victor & Tom Dean (former litigator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), take a pure libertarian approach to the problem, advocating the legalization of all drugs. They argue quite eloquently, that the 'Drug Lords' want the continued prohibition of all drugs, just as the 'Bootleggers' of America's Prohibition (of alcohol) era, cursed the loss of easy profits when FDR forced the end of that idiotic idea. We should end the Drug War not because it's not working, but because citizens should have the freedom to mess up their own lives if they want to. We already have plenty enough laws to deal with the problems drug abusers cause in their homes, communities & highways; if they screw up bad enough, they loose their spouses, kids, assets, freedom, etc. Why do we have to persecute people who simply choose different means to alter their mood, if they're not really harming anyone? Hmmm?

   I personally feel it's because of the "god thing": the hard core religious nuts who took over most of the important functions of gov't & industry for the last 40 years, aren't content to just "let people alone" while discouraging behavior they deem improper, they must PUNISH those who don't believe as they do. They're anti: -science, -progress, & -freedom! Their strong religious convictions, that defy reason & logic, lead them to be control freaks. I hate these people. In the little space I have left I've got a couple crucial things I must say:

   1. I voted for Obama; now I say 'screw that man', for a # of reasons, most notably for his ridiculous comments a few days ago, ridiculing the idea of legalizing & taxing Pot, as a means of solving our deficit fiasco, despite the fact that it was the #1 issue raised at his National (via inter net & phone bank) Town Hall Meeting. Mr. Obama, you X-doper you, you think it's laughable to suggest we try to stop locking up peaceful folks, to ease the strain on our out of control 'police state' prison system, while we try to staunch the RED INK? Sir, are you on drugs?

   2. Thomas Jefferson said we need a Revolution ~ every 20 years, just to purge the sysytem. If marijuana is not legal, nationally, by the end of 2010, I may then advocate that motivated individuals conduct a concerted campaign of open revolt, to save our nation from the control freaks. Serious!

3. Our next meeting is this Thursday, 04/09/2009

   Please arrive before 7:30 AM at “JIM’s CONEY ISLAND CAFE”, 1750 No. Scottsdale Rd., Tempe, at the southwest corner of Scottsdale & Cavalier, Click Here for a map, 1 block south of McKellips, ~ 1 mile north of the 202 Freeway.

   Our speaker will be John Stuart: One Man's Struggle vs. an Unjust System

   Bring Guests!

4. Future Speakers
   • 4/9- John Chester Stuart: One Man's Struggle Against an Unjust System.
   • 4/23- Project Justice: Do we Really 'Lock Up' Innocent People in America?
   • 5/7- Kenpo Instructors Ted Goldberg & Jack Wimbish: Self Defense for Women. We'll have a real live 'Hands On' demonstration, in the parking lot, (on thick carpet). Pat Schwind plays 'Snidley Whiplash'.
   • 5/21- DEBATE: Do Gay Folks Choose to be Gay or are they Just Born That Way? Speakers so far: Sharon Slater of 'Family Watch International', Bill Gemmill, & local Attorneys Marc Victor & David Braun.
   • 6/4- Dr. Tamara Divic of WHEAT, (World Hunger, Education, Advocacy & Training Organization): "Can we Eradicate World Hunger"?
   • 6/18- Atheist Monti Gaither: How Religion has Messed Up the World, Forever!
   • TBD'd- Former Olympic Wrestler & Current Mixed Martial Arts Fighter, Mike Van Arsdale.

Sincerely, Pat Schwind, MBA