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Show DESERET REEFER March FROWTHE | STONED GNOMES Page 10 1981 hich comment New Right hysteria ILIBERAL HYPO CRISY Now | In keeping with the general anti-marijuana hysteria, the Utah« are cut out of the same cloth. Neither has any real concern that can State Legislature has passed legislation outlasing drug-related para- — be demonstrated for basic, fundamental rights. Both are seemingly. phernalia. While the bill was expected to pass, what perhaps is sur- more interested in their own careers than in doing what is right. prising is that not one negative vote was cast against the bill. Capi- We are ashamed of our previous support and serve notice that we tol Hill “insiders” report that many legislators did not actually ap- will never make that mistake again. One final note. An aide to one newly elected Democrat in the aprove of the bill — many wished the whole issue would sort House stated that the legislator he works for hoped the bill would of “go away’. But it didn’t, and those legislators who disapproved be declared unconstitutional, and thus did not think it necessary either did not vote on the bill at all — or actually voted in favor of to sacrifice himself in opposition to.a bill he supposedly “disagreed the bill. oe That fact is extremely depressing and disappointing to many of-us with”. This legislator — and any others who think the same way — would do well to study American history a little. In 1940 the US ‘who — for some time — have been supporters of certain liberal government passed the notorious “Smith Act” which made certain Democrats on Capitol Hill. We thought they had political courage — types fo political activity in this country a crime. It was opposed principle — a strong belief in the importance and value of civil liberties. When “‘push came to show’, however, those liberal Democrats _by the AFL and the CIO as well as the American Civil Liberties Union. It was the first law since the Alien & Sedition Acts of 1798 deserted their principles, lost their courage, and sacrificed their that made the mere advocacy of ideas a federal crime. In 1941, supposed belief in civil liberties on the altar of political expediency. the government arrested the leaders of the Socialist Workers Party It has been explained that to vote against the bill was to court under this act. This prosecution was authorized by a liberal Demopolitical suicide. It has been explaned that to expect them to vote against the bill in a “losing battle” is to demonstrate political crat, the Solicitor’ General of the United States, Francis Biddle. In his autobiography, Biddle stated that he was opposed to the law Nalvete and idealism. However they wish to explain their votes or as an unconstitutional breech of the First Amendment. He states non-votes, the fact remains that by their silence they gave tacit that he authorized the prosecution in the firm belief that the courts approval to a bill which violates the basic civil liberties of thousands would throw the law out as unconstitutional. He later expressed of Utahns — which could possibly result in peaceful people being regret at the outcome — since it was his own criminal stupidity and convicted, fined, and jailed for no criminal reason whatsoever. tacit support of the law which caused numerous individuals to be We are not impressed by the excuses of the liberal Democrats or thrown in jail because of the law. However laudable may be his lamoderate Republicans presently serving inthe State LEgislature. ter regret, that was of little solace to the People who had their We feel that their action on this issue shows a lack of moral courage liberty taken away under the law, nor was it any substitute for land demonstrates — to us, anyway — that they bave become so justice. : enamored of their own importance to the Utah State government that they are willing to compromise their principles for the sake of - ‘ We hope the law is delcared unconstitutional. We eXpectit will “De. But if it isn’ t,the pain and suffering — the injustice and represre-election. 7 sion — this law will cause can be laid at the doors of not only conWe are quite aware of the fact that we will be accused of being servative and reactionary Republicans, but also at.the feet of liberimpractical idealists with no real understanding of the political proal Democrats who had no courage, only expediency. cess. On the contrary, we understand the political process all too In November 1982, that is a fact to remember. well — and as we have said before, we believe that the fundamental problem with this state and Nation today is that fundamental prin- ciples of civil and economic liberty are routinely sacrificed on the altar of expediency for the sake of the political career of some Democratic or Republican hack. eo , We do not buy the argument that a liberal Democrat in the State Legislature: is any better than a conservative Republican. Both are apparently all too willing to “sell us downthe river’ for the sake of their careers. Both are all too willing to succumb to hysteria and fear tactics. We frankly feel that to vote for the “lesser of two evils” is still to voluntarily assent to evil in government. In the absence of other alternatives, it is far better to simply boycott a particular election, than to lend the legitimacy and support of your vote to the criminal activities which are carried on under the name of.“ma- What? | The recent Ban the Bong charade in the Utah State Legislature, Farley, Fox, Kimble, Considine sell out where liberal Democrats and moderate Republicans lost rage and sold out to New Right hysteria, poses a number tant questions to the High Community — as well as telling thing important about the American electoral scene. Disappointing as their votes (or lack of them) were, in a nature of the system made such a conclusion certain. For son it is important for us to believe that our representatives are § creatures of principle — that they vote what they honestly and sincerely believe to be the best for the state and nation. ‘The reality, however, is much uglier. The story of the legislature today is one of competeing special interests, where votes are traded for political support, votes, and financial contributions. For example, the same legislators who refused to vote against banning bongs have been outspoken in defence of organized labor, social programs for minorities, and public education. One has to wonder if it is any coincidence § with no political debt to pay to us — left us out in the cold? We do not feel that these are coincidences. While Utah liberals are no doubt pre-disposed to organized labor, there is little motivation is paying political have to do is talk to them — support programs for minorities and doubt in my mind that their primary . debts and getting re-elected. All you and hear them justify their actions on their belief that “itis more important” for them to be re-elected and ] thus be able to fight “important” issues, than to sacrifice themselves for principle. , | Should we then, as pot smokers, go out, organize, apply political pressure, raise funds for candidates — and then demand payment for “debts incurred” in the form of votes?The answer to that is yes — and no. I believe that to involve ourselves in the present charade of competeing special interest groups is not only absurd and non-productive, but evil in and of itself. Today “‘the system’’ is a- dept at pitting group against group, interest against interest; educa- tion against the elderly, the blacks against the business community; public employees versus the taxpayers. _Ourlegislatures resemble a giant free-for-all, where “he who grabs last grabs least’. We believe this to be an ignorant, evil, and demeaning way torun astate or nation. We believe all the shouting obscures the real issues — and producesa division in our society which. could ultimately mean its downfall. : What, tically. money diency. an:end then, is the solution? Well, we must involve ourselves poliWe must register to vote, volunteer our time, donate our — but always in the cause of political principle, not expeIn short, we must seek parties and candidates who support to marijuana prohibition because that is the right thing to | smokers of Utah donated $10,000 to their election campaign. con’t. page 6 well oon t gust | There ave 12 issues of the DR mailed to your home, / Our mailing list is — of course — totally confidential, and all mailings will be sent in the proverbial © “‘olain brown envelope” (which should satisfy the most paranoid. . .) Additionally, Your $7.00 will help us to continue our work to make Utah a better, higher place to live. $7.00 is a very small investment in the future of freedom in Utah — cheaper than a lawyer anyway. As an added bonus, the Utah Marijuana Dealers and Users Association will provide the first 500 subscribers to the DR with a certificate good from 5 FREE joints of marijuana AS SOON AS we have legal pot in this state Just fill out the blank below, and send it with your check, money order, or cash to: Deseret Reefer POB 6175 - Salt Lake City, Utah 84106 P.S. A subscription to the DR makes a good gift for a friend, bishop, smoking partnar or whatever. NAME ADDRESS Please enter my subscription to the Deseret Reefer for one year at $7.00 a year (or two years for $12.00). | . i A a 4 d i i a A 4 REERERE BEER Dk Sh de REI BIM REN BEI TEM RIN RRCTIREEM Sk Dek a a 2EanE npr OaayOE § # and support on election day, financial contributions, etc. The pot | community, on the other hand, has no organized lobbying voice, no organized political action committees. Is it little wonder that when an issue of concern to us came up House and Senate liberals— “Showers of Blessings” you canh @ # that these three groups also have alot of ‘political clout’, i.e.votes, # | DID YOU LIKE IT? For only $7.00 sense the some rea- do’— not because it is “politically sexy’ or because the marijuana jority rule’. It is time for all people — Stoned Gnomes or otherwise —torealize that“‘liberal Democrats” and “conservative Republicans” # their cou- @ of impor- & us some- § _ WOG33ud — 3AO1— 30Vad jd3494y4 LaYasad JHL OL AGIYOSENS — NIVLYNSD NOIZ S3HL GNIH3 WOG3ASY¥s LYOddNS isyuoW Z| 40} Bulob sdaay diy siy} pue — GS] Pood jo sjiy om} noA Ang uana },U0M U0 -duosqns e JO 1s09 ayy ‘anss! 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