Tag Archives: Direct Democracy

Eric Margolis: Why I Keep A Swiss Bayonet On My Desk

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“‘Most armed; most free.’ So the renowned Italian thinker and strategist Niccolo Machiavelli described the Swiss five centuries ago.  Switzerland has long stayed behind its borders and observed armed neutrality, avoiding both world wars. But on voting days in the Alps, burly farmers come down from the mountains carrying their rifles, axes, and swords – reminders that Swiss independence was won and remains thanks to her people’s force of arms.  Switzerland is the world’s oldest democracy, dating from 1291. Citizens vote directly in all major questions. The 26 Swiss cantons manage their own financial, judicial, and administrative affairs.”

http://ericmargolis.com/2013/09/why-i-keep-a-swiss-bayonet-on-my-desk/

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Medical pot: Will Colorado’s “green rush” last?

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“Twenty states have now legalized the medical use of marijuana for the treatment of things like glaucoma, the effects of chemotherapy, and chronic pain; defying federal laws that still consider marijuana more dangerous than cocaine and methamphetamine.  In Denver, if you want to find a medical marijuana dispensary, just look for the green cross. You won’t have to go far. There are 204 of them in the Mile High City — that’s roughly three times the number of Starbucks and McDonald’s combined.  They come in all sizes and shapes. There is the health food store motif and ’70s style head shops. There are storefronts pitching low cost weed, and boutiques offering gourmet ganja.”

http://www.cbsnews.com/2102-18560_162-57602498.html

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Feds will continue to jail pot dealers ‘in all states’

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“The White House has pledged to continue to jail those who traffick in marijuana or sell it to minors — even in two US states where its recreational use is now legal. Deputy Attorney General James Cole defended the federal decision not to challenge new laws legalizing marijuana in Colorado and Washington states.  Cole pledged that in addition to blocking cannabis cultivation and distribution, US authorities would work to prevent the export of marijuana to places where the substance is still illegal, ‘whether the state has legalized it or not.’  And he added that Justice Department officials ‘reserve the right… to challenge the state laws at a later time.'”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/11/feds-will-continue-to-jail-pot-dealers-in-all-states/

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It’s Jury Appreciation Day!

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“Although the right to a jury trial is guaranteed by the American Constitution, it has been under a relentless attack over the years.  Most Americans are unaware that 95 percent of the cases in our criminal justice system never go to trial.  And, in the few cases that do go to trial, jurors are typically misled about their prerogative to acquit (“jury nullification”).  In November, Cato will be re-releasing an e-book, Jury Nullification: The Evolution of a Doctrine, by Clay Conrad.  Glenn Reynolds reviewed the initial publication here. Let me take this opportunity to report on several positive developments that will help to revive the doctrine of jury nullification in American law.”

http://www.cato.org/blog/its-jury-rights-day

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NJ Weedman on Jury Nullification vs. The Drug War

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NJ Weedman on Jury Nullification vs. The Drug War

“NJWeedman, a medical marijuana patient fighting bone cancer and a pot legalization advocate, found himself in trouble after being pulled over by a New Jersey state trooper with more than a pound of marijuana in his possession, as well as a large sum of cash. This was sufficient to trigger a ‘possession with intent to distribute’ charge, and he faced up to a decade in prison if convicted. Because he represented himself and argued not for his innocence but against the morality of the law itself, NJWeedman believes he was acquitted by ‘jury nullification.'”

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Who is the real big bucks bully in the gun control debate?

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“For many years, the gun ban lobby has portrayed the National Rifle Association as the big money bully in the gun control debate, but stories published today and yesterday suggest that the real big spender is anti-gun New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has dumped a wad of cash into thwarting a Coloradorecall election in defense of two Democrats who could get the boot for backing that state’s new gun control laws.  Today’s reports say Bloomberg has spent $350,000 against an estimated $100,000 put up by the NRA in the Colorado battle.”

http://www.examiner.com/article/who-is-the-real-big-bucks-bully-the-gun-control-debate

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Pot Law Reforms Sweep the Nation

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“The 2013 state legislative session was unquestionably the most active on record in regard to the passage of marijuana law reform. Over the past months, lawmakers in over 30 states debated more than 50 separate pieces of legislation designed to liberalize state cannabis laws. In eleven states, lawmakers addressed legalizing the substance outright, while legislators in dozens of others considered more incremental changes. Below is a summary of the record number of marijuana law reform bills enacted by state lawmakers in 2013.”

http://www.hightimes.com/read/pot-law-reforms-sweep-nation

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Washington Appeals Court Bans Advisory Votes On Traffic Cameras

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“Washington state’s second highest court supports red light cameras and speed cameras to such a degree that it ruled on Monday that voters are not even entitled to a non-binding ballot question to see whether the public supports a city’s policy. The ruling took a step further than a decision handed down last week allowing a city clerk to reject a valid petition, despite a state law mandating it be processed (view decision). The court ruled the very subject matter of photo ticketing is off-limits.”

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/40/4036.asp

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Oklahoma Attorney General May Defeat Obamacare, Judge Rules Lawsuit May Proceed

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“Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt on the state’s lawsuit alleging many of the health-care law’s taxes and penalties are illegal.”

http://libertycrier.com/oklahoma-attorney-general-may-defeat-obamacare-judge-rules-lawsuit-may-proceed/

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Colorado county puts seceding to form 51st state on November ballot

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“Residents in one rural Colorado county will get an opportunity to decide in November if they want to break away and form the 51st state. In an unanimous vote on Monday, commissioners in Weld County voted to include the initiative on November’s ballot. Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway (R) said that more than 85 percent of residents support the effort to break away a create a state called ‘North Colorado.’ Cheyenne, Sedgwick and Yuma counties have already put similar initiatives on their ballots. Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, and Washington counties have also held discussions about joining the new state.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/20/colorado-county-puts-seceding-to-form-51st-state-on-november-ballot/

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