Withdraw from Iraq immediately. Eliminate the No Child Left Behind law. Legalize marijuana.
Those were just some of the goals stated by candidates at the Green Party presidential debate Sunday in San Francisco.
Source: John Bazemore / APFormer Democratic Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney who converted to the Green Party last year was, at one point during the debate, acknowledged as the front-runner. Ralph Nader, who ran on the Green ticket in 2000, spoke at the event but did not take part in the debate. Nader has not yet announced whether he will run for president again.
Other candidates seeking the Green Party’s nomination include:
Jared Ball of Washington, D.C. – Professor of communications, radio host and journalist
Jesse Johnson of West Virginia – Mountain Party 2004 nominee for Governor of WV and 2006 nominee for U.S. Senate
Kent Mesplay of California – Environmentalist and CA Delegate to the Green National Committee
Kat Swift of Texas – Co-chair of the Green Party of Texas and 2007 Green Party nominee for San Antonio City Council
The Green Party uses the Ten Key Values as guiding principles to fit each state and local chapter:
1. Grassroots Democracy
2. Social Justice and Equal Opportunity
3. Ecological Wisdom
4. Non-violence
5. Decentralization
6. Community-based Economics and Economic Justice
7. Feminism and Gender Equity
8. Respect for Diversity
9. Personal and Global Responsibility
10. Future Focus and Sustainability
For more information on the Green Party, visit Green Party of the United States.
ok are they for real
Good stuff..something I don’t actually hear about on CNN/MSNBC much
i agree with no child left behind
definitely agree with legalizing marijuana
It’s too bad that the Green Party isn’t taken seriously. Their values are better.
I agree with legalizing marijuana ……….for medicial conditions….under doctor watch…..I for sme reason don’t think that is what you are thinking about #3
I wonder if politics ever look into the medical conditions that smoking cigaretts and drinking does will they band that legal contraband. What medical instabilities does marijuana causes, humm, I’ll wait.
I like their views (especially on the no child left behind act, because that was a bullshit law to begin with), but will they win…probably not.
The No Child Left Behind Act should be eliminated. Why? – because it is a disservice to the schools it is supposed to help. Schools (mainly inner city schools) who don’t meet certain testing criteria is denied government funds….now tell me, how does students reading outdated books (which may be the reason behind their low test scores) because their school was denied funds to purchase new books benefit from the No Child Left Behind Act ? — you can’t because they don’t!
Wow…when it comes to politics anyone can shine shit and call it gold.Legalize marijuana,then what…legalize heroin,coke,meth.God help us all.
Marijuana should be decriminalized. Cigarettes should be illegal.
Government makes lots of money on cigarettes. Government not going to gain too much by making marijuana legal.
Cosign # 9. If marijuana becomes legalized it will become easily accessible which would be a disaster waiting to happen…… american society would become dysfunctional because everyone would be high.
NAilti – I hope your not joking, If not you must not be aware of the political arena! YES they are for real. Unfortunately this country is run by people who are criminals and dont mind suffering so the Green Party has a long way to come!
AND TAYTAY – No the government will not look into the effects of tobacco and alcohol because they benefit from both industries. They benefit off tobacco and alcohol and they benefit off the pharmaceutical companies who fund the drugs to treat the illnesses associated with these things. BEcause marijuana has healing properties and NATURAL ones at that it will never be legalized. That is as long as devils are in office. That have an agenda.
The school system and some religious sectors are industries too…dont get it twisted..its all big money!
wow! very progressive thinking… unfortunately she doesn’t have a chance… ha.. like anyone suspected she did in the first place!! lol!!
The US Government Bush Administration has become a joke. The two-party system is an even bigger joke. Its like they’re a F#$#@ monopoly. Although I’m for the Democratics over the Republicans b/c they seem to value the average Joe, the Green Party sounds more appealing.
Even if its an almost hopeless endeavor, it still doesnt hurt to try and thats what the Green Party seems to be doing. Ive heard about them but never did the research to find out what they were truly about.
Now that im aware of the ideas they support, Id rather see someone like them in office. Except Ralph Nader. Something about that dude just turns me off.
@3,5,6 and10 lets say the government did legalize marijuana.would you let your child ride on a school bus that was driven by someone who effed-up,would you let a doctor operate on you after he/she got crazy zooted….At some point all drugs would become legal because it would have some lawyer somewhere screaming you can’t make one drug legal without making ALL drugs legal.Then you have to release the scum from prisons that sold drugs…meanwhile everyone would be in a fog of clouded judgement… like that old saying goes,free your mind and your ass will follow.
To #15 that isnt a fair argument. Do Doctors get on the booze right b4 surgery or seeing a patient? Doctors are expected to follow a moral code. Cigarettes may not affect judgment like marjiuana, but you wouldnt want your doctor to operate on you after getting drunk.
There’s a time and place for everything. Smoking and drinking shouldnt even be allowed during work hours. The same would go for marijuana if its ever legalized. But of course, the US govt makes money off the drug and alcohol companies. Marijuana would only make things difficult for them.
So should selling weed be a crime? Whats wrong with lettin out the brothas that were caught selling a plant that has medicinal purposes. They’re put in jail, cut off from ever having a decent future, all b/c of some weed that cant even hurt you? I dont smoke by the way.
The only problem i have with mary jane is when she’s abused. Marijuana shouldnt be you’re life.
Our country is so screwed up….
And believe it or not, but driving under the influence of marijuana can actually make u a BETTER driver. You’re subjected to a sense of paranoia and you’re senses are heightened. Still, i wouldnt advise a bus driver to do it.
Moral codes people. Every workplace needs to place restrictions on marijuana if its ever legalized.
@15 You better preach that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
According to a recent Justice Policy Institute Report, over the the last 35 years, the rate at which the U.S. places its citizens in jails and prisons has risen dramatically. The exceptional growth in the prison population has been driven in large part by the rate at which individuals are incarcerated for drug offenses. Blacks are disproportionately incarcerated for drug offenses in the U.S., though they use and sell drugs at similar rates to whites.
#9/11: Do you think people said that before alcohol was made legal?
The only reason marijuana hasn’t been legalized is because there’s no corporate interest behind it. Studies have shown that both alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than marijuana, but has that changed anything? Nope.
Peace and blessings,
J. Dakar
Marijuana should be legalized, if you think about it it already is to a certain point. A patient with cancer can get a card from their doctor giving them permission to smoke it. My cousin had one. It also helps alot of other dieases like MS. My Step-mother has MS and tried smoking one and it did more for her than al the medicine she is taken for it. Its when you add other things to it that messes it up for everybody. Marijuana will never be legalized because of that reason. There are more people who lace it with something illegal than those that smoke it straight-up and that is where the problem is. #15 Doctor’s are already zooted up when they operate on you, at some point being up so many hours straight starts having an effect on your body and what do you think keeps these doctors going for hours on end? It isn’t just coffee, and red bull.
WHAT???!!! Legalising marijuana? America is already corrupt as it is (thanx to bush), we don’t need potheads running round the streets! i mean i understand its if for medical conditions but thats as far as it goes!! and eliminating no child gets left behind? that’s careless!!
How would a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant write a prescription for marijuana?
John Doe
Inhale 1 Indigo joint TID Q Day x 10 days
# 30 joints No Refills.
Dispense as written. No generics.
I am totally against this. This is why sick patients go to a place called pain management or Hospice where they could get properly medicated. Marijuana does Not need to be legalized.
Brotha J you couldn’t be more wrong about there being no corporate interest in the legalization of marijuana.Who flies that shit in the country not just weed but all street drugs?I bet a dollar to a donut that when those soldiers go in those caves in Afghanistan looking for Osama and come out with that heroin, they box that shit up and sell to whoever.I tried to tell people when I came back from Honduras when I got out of the military,that the Army was boxing up coke and had big ass chinook helicopters take it
straight from the jungle.Legalize drugs and there is no need for a parole/probation officer,corrections officer,all the near-free labor workforce that the inmates provide gone,the judges,lawyers,prosecutors,bondsmen,all would suffer.The last thing this country wants is legal street drugs because they make more money keeping it unregulated and illegal.
Cynthia McKinney, still rocking them cornrows with a bow. Question: Didnt she get in some trouble in Georgia and had to change Political parties? Was it because she was accused of marijuana use?
Great post! I didn’t even know this party existed! Their ten principles are ideals I strongly believe in. I actually have more in common with this party than the democratic ticket. Everyone is looking for that next great change, who knows, everyone might vote Green this time around! But I agree with #14, I don’t know about Ralph Nader… but Cynthia McKinney is really talking about some issues I am supportive of. Maybe Hillary and Barack aern’t enough of a change. If this Green Party had more support and media coverage, I think they would be really big and have a fighting chance. If she could have only secured Oprah… dang…
#23: When I say “no corporate interest,” I’m referring to the likes of Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds and the like. Companies like them spend millions each year lobbying and we all know their products. No company, however, is openly producing marijuana and influencing American politics.
Sorry for the confusion.
Peace and blessings,
J. Dakar
Exactly what #1 said….are they serious????
If the government legalizes marijuana, just know that it’s not going to be just pure marijuana. They are going to some chemical in it to have people addicted to it so that they will keep buying it like they do cigarettes….The last thing we need is a bunch of high on the job….that is going to be a problem! DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE PEOPLE!
Hey Brotha J you cool moe dee with me,and for all you that like to get zooted go to the
Netherlands all drug use is legal.
true #4
When did Cynthia McKinney join the green party?
Miss Independent has a point. Before tobacco became commercialized, people were smoking it pure. You didn’t here about instance on top of instance of people getting super addicted and getting cancer. Legalizing marijuana would probably be a double edged sword, because commercializing it would probably lead to it being super laced up and super addictive and bad for your health. If it were to become legalized. then there should also be a clause in there saying that it can only be produced, distributed, and used in it’s pure form.
@Olivia Did you even read? After mentioning her name, J D said she converted to the Green Party last year.
READING IS FUNDAMENTAL
Thanks J. for continuing to put good information out there that we actually need to know. I really did not know this party. Keep posting the good because we all need to know more about politics…….I guess the idea of talking about politics is not so bad……Tell me more!!!
Ron Paul will legalize marijuana and end the war on drugs
RONPAUL2008.com
cynthia mckinney is the only black or woman candidate I would vote for.
Voting based on race is complete idiocy
Oh my God this party died when Ross Perot left. I dont believe we need drugs to be legal. All drugs are bad. Why would anyone want anything else controling there mind? It is already bad enough that we are killing ourselves with smoking and drinking. And I 100% agree with no child left behind. The only thing I wish is that they would add a clause that all parents must attend aleast two parent confrences a year, or their kids can’t attend school. Thousands of parents at the football game, seven parents at PTA. Psrents need to get envoled in their childs life, weather they work or not. It is first and formost the parents job to make sure that the kids get what they need. And that thing about the books is a cop out. This part is the teachers part. Anyone can read out of a book, If the teacher did a little reserch on their own they would know whats in the book. When I was in college my broadcast prof. told me, “you may bya book, but I am the teach and I will give you what you need” We need to step it up
Are yall serious? I mean really, are yall serious? Legalizing marijuana? This is the most craziest thing that I have heard in a long time! They should not legalize marijuana!!!! I’ve been reading these posts about marijuana not affecting someone’s behavior. That is pure BULL! I dont smoke weed nor cigarettes. But I know people that do. So for me to hear people claim that it doest affect thier behavior, is just crazy to me!
Thanks J. Keep the information coming!
Peace and Blessings always!!
@36
unless you eat solely organic food in its purest form…then food the processed food you eat on a daily basis can also be considered a drug…it is the cause of more sickness (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity etc) than any illegal drugs out there.
lets not forget marijuana was legal before and one of the reasons it became illegal was because white people feared the impact it would have on black people who used them. they figured it would make them “act out” against whites
and if some of you think marijuana will make potheads out of everyone everywhere think again…its usually when you can obtain something easily it when the demand for it decreases.
@40 educate me on this subject,what processed food are you speaking of?and what drugs?
If Ralph Nader enters the election someone needs to shoot his ass. Im sorry but these motherfuckers are the reason why Bush is in office now because they always divert votes away from the Democratic candidate. Im sorry but this is one instance where I say fuck democracy and the right for anyone to run blah blah blah. The green party is a spoiler for the Democratic nominee and the republicans love them because of that.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t Cynthia McKiney the sister that got into the altercation outside the Senate House, which she alleged was predicated off of her race? I think it should speak volumes to the blacks that vote partisan to the democratic party that she left that party after that event.
@37
I agree. I knew so many people that smoked weed and thereafter became paranoid and bugged out that it’s not even funny. How can something be harmless that affects your mental acuity? The weedhead negroes will rally around it’s legalization because it helps them avoid the harsh realities of this society.
No no dont legalize the green!!! I can’t afford to pay 200 bucks an ounce, let me take my chances the way that it is now. Delivered to my home by my flunkie of choice with little to no overhead!!
I THINK THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT MEDICAL MERIJUANA. I DON’T THINK IT WOULD BE FOR RECREATIONAL USE.
CYNTHIA MCKINNEY FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!
Sorry… I’m all for legal weed…. Just my opinion… I’ve seen WAY too many people freak out, have the shakes and literally go into NICOTINE FITS if they don’t have a cigarette????…. Hell, a person with no weed is just…..a person with no weed.. lol… Like I said – this is just MY personal opinion…
I saw the celeberty rehab show on VH1 and the little girl (forgot her name) who played the youngest sister on family matters was on there for being addicted to weed??????? (and, why did the scene from half baked when Dave went to rehad come to mind?) lolol… I’m sorry…but, like I said….this is MY opinion…But, if you’re in rehab for weed – you may as well go to rehab for cigarettes…. Hear me out folks….When you’re tying to “stop” smoking cigarettes, why is it necessary to be “weened” off of them like you’re some former crackhead, heroin addict, or coke head? Why is it necessary to wear patches and help “ween” youself off cigarettes???? Why can you NOT just go cold turkey from cigarettes like you can with some good ole herb???? I’m just sayin…. Now – to me?? Cigarettes are just as, if not MORE addictive than any hard ass drug out there…sorry…but – its the TRUTH…. I’m sayin’ tho….. Is there a weed patch???? Is there a methadone weed clinic for folks who stopped smoking weed? lol The only thing people can say “negative” about weed is that it causes paranoia…..Oh yea, and the black lips…well – so can CIGARETTES! How many folks have said, “man – I had to lay off the kill for minute to do x, y, z”???.. And, how many of those folks went into fits, had to wear patches, relapsed or hell – did anything besides “be” someone who used to smoke weed? lol Some people choose to drink, some people choose to smoke cigarattes, and some folk, choose to smoke some good ole fashioned herb…
Anywho – I could go on and on about this issue so, I’m just gonna stop here…
Toodles
LMAO! @ # 44!!! okaaaaay!
@ judah
“The weedhead negroes will rally around it’s legalization because it helps them avoid the harsh realities of this society.”
no actually for most people drinking alcohol already does that
i read where a doctor said that smoking weed over a period of time will make males sterile
somebody need to send bob marleys sons that memo because they smoke like chimneys but yet got 8 and 10 kids
my point is we can go back and forth all day on the effects of smoking marijuana but nothing has been 100% proven
like i know smoking cigarettes causes lung cancer – thats proven
drinking alcohol causes liver problems and diabetes – thats proven
Ditto @ post 16…. I TOTALLY agree with you!
Legalize marijuana? The government will never allow something they can’t tax and make money off of. I doubt we’ll see the legalization of marijuana in this country.
You know…I think I might just vote Green…the only thing is there is no way a Green party candidate will every win. I am by no means a tree hugger, but any party that wants to withdraw the troops as well as eliminate the No Child Left Behind Law (I saw this as a former educator) is a party for me.
There is a college in Oakland, CA called “Oaksterdamn University” they teach their students how to sell, grow and have a successful medical marijuana business. I couldn’t believe it since the state of CA has no problem with medical marijuana but the Federal governament dose. The State is aware people growing marijuana and just dosn’t care but the Feds are busting people daily.
I know that was a little off topic, but I agree with doing something about legalizing marijuana I don’t smoke and never did but I don’t think it’s fare for one part of the government to not care about medical marijuana and the other part taking you to jail behind it.
I am a little confused on the issue so if someone wants to shed some light on the issue I would appreciate it.
People have to understand that when you speak about legalizing marijuana for any reason, much less medicinal purposes, there is nothing that the government can gain from that. They’re making billions (if not trillions) of dollars per year on the illegal drug trade when one factors in the selling of the product, the laundering of the drug money with the negro as the end dealer, and then the prison industrial complex which reduces the black and hispanic man back to literal slavery status. The poppy field war that is being fought in Iraq is proof of this also. It’s not about what’s right, it’s about what’s profitable. This is why “steroids” is such a big deal now. The white man wants to control any and all substances and he’s willing to take some shine from the idols that have benefited from his exposure to do so. Notice that everytime you buy a newspaper or turn on a TV, someone is being outed as a steroid user. They want their drugs to be filtered through the F.D.A. because they cannot afford to have people living independent of the government, much less staying healthy. The “cloned foods” agenda is closely related to all this. The other races that haven’t been “westernized” in their ancestral lands know how to heal diseases and maladies that the white man gives prescriptions for. The problem is that cures don’t make the possessor of the cure rich, but prescriptive medicines make the possessors of the prescriptions rich. It’s a hustle.
So true Judah. Why do you think that he are fighting the war in Iraq. Bush could care less about terrorism, or the suffering of the people in that region. It’s all about OIL. You control the oil reserves and you make all the money. This is the reason the US helped get the Russians out of Afghanistan with the aid of the Taliban. They want to be the only ones with their hand in the cookie jar. Look what happened as a result of that faux pas on our governments part. Many innocent people had to suffer. When you lie down with dogs, you come up with fleas. Never sell your soul to the devil–because eventually he will want to collect on the debt you owe to him.
The U.S. will never admit that they turned a blind eye to all the corruption in the Middle East or played a part in it, because then they would have to assume some responsiblitly for 9/11. My intent is not to bash the entire US government, but that small one or two percent that seem to always F!!K S!!T UP!
The Green Machine they never get any respect.
The No Child Left Behind thing was a stupid idea in the first place.
But I don’ know about legalizing drugs in America.
No Child Left Behind was indeed a joke. Hell, They ALL Got left Behind!
# 9 and # 11….please stop with the self righteousness… everybody doesn’t get high so everybody wouldn’t be high….however for the people that do smoke, it shouldn’t be illegal because it’s not affecting anyone but themselves. alcohol and cigarettes should be illegal. my point is the same number of people that smoke now would be the same number of people that would smoke if it was legalized….and please don’t compare it to coke/heroin/meth because it’s not the same….people don’t steal from their loved ones to smoke weed…they eat snacks
as far as no child left behind; it wasn’t all the government’s fault…some of the fault lies on all the parents that don’t care enough about their childs education to fight for the right materials to learn…..the parents are equally responsible for reinforcing the material thats learned at school
TO: READING IS FUNDAMENTAL #33:
FIRST OFF, YOU DIDNT HAVE TO GET SUCH AN IGNORANT ATTITUDE TOWARDS RESPONDING TO MY QUESTION. FYI… (AS IF I OWE YOU ANY EXPLANATION) I WAS SKIMMING THRU THE ARTICLE AND TRYING TO GET THE DIRECT POINTS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO ME. ALSO, I DIDNT HAVE TIME TO FINISH WHAT I WAS GOING TO WRITE ((B/C I HAD TO GO TO WORK)). DID THAT EVER CROSS YOUR MIND?? PROB. NOT B/C YOU WERE TOO READY WITH THE SARCASM TO MAKE SOMEONE LOOK BAD. SINCE YOU’RE SO “SMART”, LET THE INTELLIGENCE COME FROM YOUR MIND BEFORE IT HITS YOUR MOUTH!!! YOU DONT KNOW ME OR ANYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE PAST 14 HOURS OF MY DAY! AND TO BE HONEST, YOU DIDNT EVEN HAVE RESPOND TO MY COMMENT! TRY SOMETHING CALLED HAVING MANNERS. IF YOU CAN BE POSITIVE ABOUT IT THEN DONT!!! )).
_________________________________________________________________
Anywho… on a lighter note; To C.L. and the other viewers:
Excuse me for slightly changeing the subject of a very important political matter. *** I JUST HATE WHEN THESE “FAKE VIRTUAL HARD A**ES WANT TO ALWAYS START DRAMA OVER SOMETHING THAT ISNT REALLY WORTH IT. *** It’s been very, very, very long day.
Just stating how I feel,
Olivia
NoMoSoul
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
And believe it or not, but driving under the influence of marijuana can actually make u a BETTER driver. You’re subjected to a sense of paranoia and you’re senses are heightened. Still, i wouldnt advise a bus driver to do it.
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You have GOT to be kidding me…………..