Does domestic spying protect U.S. society?
I recently had an opportunity to do some traveling through China. While I had periodic access to e-mail to stay in touch with family and friends, I was also very aware that the Chinese government was likely screening my e-mails and possibly reading them. It’s their way of protecting their society. It provided a stark reminder of what freedom and liberty are all about back in America.
Within days of my return to America, the news had broken that the Bush administration has been screening and reading massive amounts of e-mail and phone calls from our own citizens. Instead of obtaining warrants, they have bypassed the legal process. It’s their way of protecting their society.
Why do I not feel protected?
Charlie Burton, Centennial
In defense of legalizing marijuana in Colo.
Re: “Marijuana push is for all the wrong reasons,” Dec. 29 editorial.
Your vitriolic editorial against SAFER’s proposed marijuana legalization initiative called our assertions both “phony” and “nonsensical.” I beg to differ. The SAFER campaign is making one simple point: Marijuana is less harmful – both to the user and society – than alcohol. Based on this objective fact, we believe – and obviously the people of Denver agree – adults should not be punished for using the safer substance.
You wrote that I say people become alcoholics because marijuana is illegal. This is not accurate. I have simply said that the laws currently in place encourage and force people to use alcohol instead of marijuana. At the same time, it is known that alcohol is frequently a contributing factor in domestic abuse, sexual assault and other acts of violence. Marijuana is not. Thus, by increasing the likelihood that people will drink alcohol, our laws make our society less safe. How is this nonsensical?
With respect to your suggestion that we wait for a federal system of taxation and regulation, I implore you to name just one member of Congress who has introduced such legislation. While you are working on that, we are going to stop marijuana users from being arrested. This is because we really think the war on marijuana is a failure; we don’t just say it – as you apparently do – to mask support for the continued prosecution of marijuana users.
Mason Tvert, Campaign Director, Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation, Denver
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It seems to me that the proposed Colorado marijuana initiative is about the right to choose: the right of adult citizens to choose for themselves what goes into their own bodies, in the privacy of their own homes, without the threat of the state government arresting them for doing so. If you are going to keep marijuana as a criminalized substance because of its potential danger, then you should expect a long list of potentially unhealthy foods also to be criminalized. For our own good, of course. Perhaps our government should criminalize many potentially dangerous activities such as skiing, skating and snowboarding – for our own good, of course.
Kirk Muse, Mesa, Ariz.
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Re: “Grass roots; 58,866 Denver residents voted to legalize pot – among them, these moms,” Dec. 27 Scene story.
I find the mothers in the story about pot smoking self-centered and irresponsible. Especially the mother who is a psychologist. In her profession, she must have dealt with drug abuse. If any of these mothers need to unwind after a hard day, there are a dozen ways to do it without getting stoned.
The local paper here in the Grand Valley just ran a three-part series about juvenile crime and violence. There were stories about young people who started smoking marijuana after seeing their parents doing it. It can lead to the use of other drugs and to a young person becoming involved in crime.
The mothers in The Post’s story need to put down their marijuana pipes and be good role models for their children and teach them the dangers of smoking marijuana.
Leigh Perschon, Grand Junction
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