cannabisnews.com: Gore: Give Prisoners Drug Tests





Gore: Give Prisoners Drug Tests
Posted by FoM on May 02, 2000 at 13:43:41 PT
By Ron Fournier, AP Political Writer
Source: NewsDay.com
Al Gore proposed a $500 million program today to drug-test prisoners and parolees in an effort to rehabilitate criminals, accusing Republican presidential rival George W. Bush of slashing similar programs as governor of Texas.Outlining a broad anti-crime package, the vice president also proposed using federal money to hire 50,000 new police across the country and said off-duty officers should be allowed to carry concealed weapons.
''I will be a law enforcement president,'' Gore said in a speech at a local YWCA.''I believe we should demonstrate that criminals must get clean to get out of jail. Governor Bush seems content to keep pushing them out the same old revolving door,'' Gore said. ''We need to get more police, not fewer. We need to get tougher with repeat offenders, not just put them back on the streets.''Gore is trying to cut into Bush's advantage on the issue of crime with the Texas governor holding a 14-point edge over Gore in a March CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll, and led him on the issue in April by a similar margin.Gore and Bush engaged in a war of statistics, with the vice president pointing to figures that suggest Texas has gutted drug rehabilitation programs while Bush's campaign cited numbers that suggest funding actually increased.Bush spokesman Dan Bartlett, commenting in advance of the speech, said, ''We hope Al Gore uses this opportunity to explain why during his term teen drug use in America nearly doubled, the number of drug treatment beds in federal prisons were cut by over one-third, the Office of National Drug Control Policy was cut by 83 percent and federal gun prosecutions have decreased by 46 percent.''Gore defended Clinton administration plans and said, ''We have to stop that revolving door once and for all. First of all we have to test prisoners for drugs while they are in jail and break up the drug rings in our prisons. We have to expand drug treatment within our prisons,''He promised to make prisoners ''a simple deal: before you get out of jail you have to get off drugs, you have to get clean and drug free. And if you want to stay out, you better stay clean.''Gore would create a matching grant program for states and local communities to help test, treat and punish probationers, prisoners and parolees who do not pass regular drug tests.Probationers and parolees would be tested twice a week and could be sent to prison if they failed to stay away from drugs.Gore would require former inmates to sign responsibility contracts in which they also would agree to increased supervision by law enforcement officials and payment of child support when relevant.In return, the former convicts would get help in finding jobs. The initiative would pay for additional law enforcement officials to supervise offenders and for local services to help the former prisoners find jobs.The proposal was developed by President Clinton's domestic policy team headed by White House adviser Bruce Reed. It would cost $500 million in the first year and is part of a broader $1.3 billion, 10-year anti-crime package that Gore first outlined in July.His package includes:-- Ensuring continued funding of a police-on-the-street program started by President Clinton.-- Establishing gang-free zones that would ban the wearing of gang-related clothing. Civil liberties groups have questioned the constitutionality of such laws.-- Making it a federal crime to stalk a child on the Internet.-- Targeting telemarketers who prey on senior citizens.Atlanta (AP) AP-NY-05-02-2000Copyright © Associated Press. Related Articles:Gore To Propose $500 Million Anti-Drug Program http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5576.shtmlGore Steers to the Center With Anti-Crime Proposal http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread5575.shtmlCannabisNews Articles On Al Gore:http://alltheweb.com/cgi-bin/search?type=all&query=cannabisnews+gore 
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Comment #21 posted by John R. Bills on May 03, 2000 at 18:31:28 PT:
They will say anything for your vote!
Hail All,Kudos to all. I just wanted to make clear that whatever either Gore or Bush have to say, once they are in office, they can ignore the promises they have made, or any other blithering rhetoric that they may have uttered to garner votes. Remember "Read my lips..."? Also, I have been Libertarian for a couple of years now, and am obviously in good company. Your vote is not wasted! The complacent must now stand with us as one if we are to stop the slide into more and more government control! Register to vote and vote for real change! If America is to be a bastion of freedom for the world, then we ourselves must be free.
Vote for Harry Brown, for President! Libertarian nominee
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Comment #20 posted by freedom fighter on May 03, 2000 at 10:45:22 PT
Just another word for dicatorship
''I will be a law enforcement president,'' Gore said in a speech Sledhead, see you   the Denver Rally!
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Comment #19 posted by Suspect Stereotype on May 03, 2000 at 07:34:42 PT
The real message
Gore's proposal will actually increase recidivism.But that is also actually the plan.Private prisons have become America's answer to cheap overseas labor. Inmates are encouraged to take (as yet still voluntary) jobs in prison manufacturing complexes. Not stamping out license plates, but assembling electrical and mechanical components that are used in consumer products.Big Deal, right? Inmates learn a trade for when they are released.That may be true, but the situation is boardering on institutionalized slavery. Those who finance and control these private Prison/Factories, in addition to having a real voice in government as to nature of the laws that put prisoners in their facilities in the first place, are having more input into the parole status of prisoners, ie when they get out.They are literaly in complete control of their labor pool, and the money just rolls in. No strikes. No minimum wage. No collective barganing.The situation would make JP Morgan cream his jeans.So the real message here is:"Keep building prisons, and keep them full"...for the children.Regards(bad pun)SS
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Comment #18 posted by FoM on May 03, 2000 at 07:30:42 PT
J Christen-Mitchell
J Christen-Mitchell!What a lovely family you have! I'd vote for you! Thanks everyone for these great insightful comments! I sure feel honored to have such fine dedicated folks visiting Cannabis News!Peace, FoM!http://hometown.aol.com/aimhigh6/myhomepage/politics.html
Jeff Christen-Mitchell Libertarian Candidate 
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Comment #17 posted by Sledhead on May 03, 2000 at 06:53:00 PT
RE: Don't forget to educate the masses
It's definitely time to take the fight to them. Please, attend the Millennium Marijuana March near you on May 6, 2000. The letter to the editors approach is working. I had this one published in the Denver Post yesterday in response to a column, by Ed Quillen, that stated that the "drug warriors" should be treated as war criminals. The tide is turning when columnists preach such heresy.http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/quill0418.htmMy LTE:Devouring beastRe: "Waiting for the public anger that never happens," April 18 EdQuillen column.Ed Quillen is absolutely correct in his assertion that the War onDrugs is not only wrong and an abysmal failure but downright criminalin nature. This beast devours our people's lives, assets, rights andliberties at an increasingly alarming rate. This is not due to theharm caused by these substances that the government chooses to deem"illegal," but to the industry and bureaucracy that have grown tomonumental proportions to combat "illegal" drugs.Take heart, Mr. Quillen, the winds of change are blowing and, whoknows, there may be an American Nuremberg in our nation's future.Sledhead
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Comment #16 posted by kaptinemo on May 03, 2000 at 05:44:20 PT:
CS, it begins with a question
Many thanks for the compliments, but I haven't done anything to deserve them. I'm just a middle-aged old fart who happens to believe that the laws should be designed sensibly and applied to all, evenly... and is only too well aware that they are not. And is ticked off about it.Like most people, I can't say exactly when I started to question rather than accept. My political catechism predated my military service, and is largely due to having read some very incendiary stuff back in the 70's concerning the nature or the alliances between major political figures, corporations, 'public service organizations', foundations, the military (I am ashamed to say; I hail from a military family that prided itself that no one was ever drafted - we volunteered), academicians, etc. There is a web that underpins all political activity in this country, which most people get just a little whiff of when they start to question why they always seem to see the same old faces spouting the same old bilge, promising things will get better when they are becoming measurably worse (the WoSD is a perfect example). But it was when I attended a Republican 'town meeting' in 1976 that realized how fixed the game really was. All the questions save one was obviously staged; there was absolutely no question of it. And the one question that wasn't? An elderly gentleman stood up and asked a very pointed question concerning the (then, as now) reality that Social Security was broke, and what would the Reps do about it? The question was - pointedly - ignored. A citizen asks a legitimate - and very important! - question not on the agenda...and is ignored. That spoke volumes. From that day forward, I realized that the two major parties were just distorted funhouse mirror images of each other;just as George Wallace had said years ago, there really *wasn't* a dime's worth of difference between them. That's when I became a Libertarian. Been one ever since. As I had said before, I hold no illusions about the possible success of the Libs or anyone else when the Duopoly has done everything it can to rig the ballot access laws in each State in in its' favor. But by voting "Other", you are sending a very clear message that you refuse to be suckered anymore. Sooner or later, those elements of the major parties whose brains have not become completely ossified will tumble to that fact that the electorate is no longer listening to them, and then they'll change their tune. Until then, it's the same old sour notes.
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Comment #15 posted by J Christen-Mitchell on May 03, 2000 at 05:15:40 PT:
Visualize World Police
The fact is only 30% of the populace vote. Activate the young and disaffected and rock the elections. Promote the vote. Show your support this Saturday at your closest Millennium Marijuana March. Register. And Promote The Vote.
J C-M Libertarian for Congress Missouri
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Comment #14 posted by LSN on May 03, 2000 at 01:38:09 PT
May Day
Anyone here joined the May Day Demo?I thought socialist revolution is exactly what America missed in the past 100 years. See how has Europe become.It's not too late to catch up yet.
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Comment #13 posted by CongressmanSuet on May 03, 2000 at 00:16:14 PT:
Kapt., Im starting to understand...
the importance of voting Libertarian, and not worrying if it is a "lost" vote. Change has to start somewhere...But I do have a question for you. With your military background[ which comes with an excellent knoweledge of their motus operandi] what was the deciding incident that made you aware of the foibles of the Gov.'s position on the WoSD? Or was it just the logical conclusion of an intelligent man? Or a combination of both. Did you have these feelings while in service? I think your writings here show a great depth[ and fairly good grasp of the English language] and Im curious as to when you became aware of this great injustice?
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on May 02, 2000 at 20:52:49 PT
Let's See What They've Said So Far!
Hi All!This is a very interesting thread and maybe this will help us a little too.Maybe we need to take a look at both Gore and Bush and what they have said. Thank goodness for archives.George W. Bush Backs States' Rights On Marijuanahttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3355.shtmlGore Briefly Supports Access to Med. Marijuanahttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4037.shtmlHere are articles that I've found. We really need to know what they believe!http://google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&num=10&q=cannabisnews+Bush++site:cannabisnews.comhttp://google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&num=10&q=cannabisnews+gore++site:cannabisnews.comhttp://alltheweb.com/cgi-bin/search?type=all&query=cannabisnews+bushhttp://alltheweb.com/cgi-bin/search?type=all&query=cannabisnews+gore
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Comment #11 posted by nl5x on May 02, 2000 at 20:26:31 PT
the better of 2 evils
Bushlet Supports States’ Rights On Medical Marijuana; At Odds With Party Leaders, The Anointed One Continues To Move To The Center. Bush backs states' rights on marijuanaHe opposes medical use but favors local controlOctober 20, 1999From The Dallas Morning Newshttp://www.dallasnews.com By Susan Feeney / The Dallas Morning NewsWASHINGTON - Gov. George Bush said he backs a state's right to decide whether to allow medical use of marijuana, a position that puts him sharply at odds with Republicans on Capitol Hill. "I believe each state can choose that decision as they so choose," the governor said recently in Seattle in response to a reporter's question.Chuck Thomas, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project, a medical marijuana lobbying group, praised Mr. Bush as "courageous" and "consistent on states' rights. I would hope he would be an example for Republicans in Congress."
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Comment #10 posted by dddd on May 02, 2000 at 19:31:38 PT
achtung!
Between Bore and Gush,voters are going to be faced with with no "lesser of two evils"choice.These two are going to keep upping the ante on this stuff.Somewhere down the road,people are going to suddenly realize,that we live in a police state.Our government is actually becoming more and more of a regime,wearing a mask of democracy.....deMOCKracy...................dddd
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Comment #9 posted by kaptinemo on May 02, 2000 at 19:22:09 PT:
Stand and deliver, Al. You too, W
'What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander'.So, Al wants prisoners to pee for parole? I'm sure Al has heard the the Infantry Officer's School motto of "Follow Me!" Meaning, you should always lead by example. If Al and Dubbya want the job so bad, let them do like so many other civil servants across the country are forced to do each year, and at the whim of their so called superiors: stand and deliver.What? they both chime in with 'It's beneath their dignity'? Well, well. How much is your dignity worth? A few milliliters of something you throw away every day without the slightest thought? Of course, that's the way they see it. So, perhaps it is these questions I should be asking: How much is it worth to you to avoid the humiliation suffered by thousands of people daily? How much is it worth to avoid a false positive?Let them pee for their pay like they have caused so many of us to do. Then we'll see just how badly they want the job.
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Comment #8 posted by Jeaneous on May 02, 2000 at 17:46:12 PT
The United Prisons of the United States
I am very discouraged to hear this. Guess you always hope someone running for the Presidency will see the destruction of the Drug War and the waste of Federal Moneys to try to legislate moral issues. But moral issues seem to be what the government is most interested in controlling. IT'S NONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S BUSINESS WHAT WE DO IN OUR HOME UNDER OUR OWN MORALS.Looks like we're heading to "The Prison of the United States". Feels that way too.
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Comment #7 posted by observer on May 02, 2000 at 17:37:15 PT
People: Give Republocrats The Boot
Al Gore proposed a $500 million program today to drug-test prisoners and parolees in an effort to rehabilitate criminals, accusing... ''The law identifies drug users through their blood. Also through their excreta... All that matters is a person's blood and excreta. All that matters is the makeup of a person's physical body. Drug law does not care if an illicit user is a beloved schoolteacher who improves a community or a vicious psychopath who tortures victims to death. Criminality is determined solely by the offender's physical body. Drug law mimics Hitler. "Unlike other anti-Semites, Hitler made no distinction between German and foreign, rich and poor, liberal, conservative, socialist, or Zionist, religious or non-religious, baptised or unbaptised Jews. In his eyes there was only 'the Jew.' . . . 'The Jew' represented evil incarnate, performing for Hitler much the same function as the Devil does for many Christians."47 The law does not care if tests used to detect illicit drug users fail to demonstrate that users are impaired. The law does not care if users behave in ordinary ways. A statute creating a status crime targets ordinary people. That is its purpose. If illicit drug users acted in ways that distinguished them from nonusers, a status crime statute would be unnecessary.'' (Richard L Miller, Drug Warriors and their Prey, 1996, pg.9) http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0275950425/Cannabisnews/ 
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Comment #6 posted by J. Bills on May 02, 2000 at 17:24:34 PT:
Why are urine tests legal at all?
 First, a couple of questions. Is it any of your business what your employer does when he is not at work? Secondly, is it any of your employer's business what you do when you are NOT AT WORK? The vast majority of urine tests are used to detect certain drugs and/or their metabolites above a certain level. This level is FAR BELOW the level that would show that a person is actually impaired at the moment of the test. Therefore, the vast majority( 99.5%) of urine tests are used to show PAST behavior, and therefore, not LEGALLY under the pervue of an employer. This fact can be proven in a court of law(why it hasn't been shows the clear hypocracy of our courts and the system). All of you legal eagles WORD UP. If an employer wants to test you for drug use LEGALLY, he must only test for PRESENT(on the job) impairment. IT IS NONE OF AN EMPLOYERS BUSINESS what you do when you are NOT at work! 
Demand your Constitutional Rights
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Comment #5 posted by MikeEEEEE on May 02, 2000 at 16:51:47 PT
True Colors
Al Snore is a real piece of crap.
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Comment #4 posted by jo blo on May 02, 2000 at 16:42:59 PT
creepin' closer to authoritarianism
According to Gore's plans, it sounds as though he wants to take our freedoms for a little false sense of security--it seems as though we're on our way to an authoritarian government. I mean first they set up drug-free zones, now he wants gang-free zones? Come on, what the hell is that--if I wanna wear blue, well damn it, I'm wearing blue. Next thing you know there'll be spit-free zones or maybe soda-free zones. I'm having flashbacks of Nazi Germany, help!
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on May 02, 2000 at 14:40:59 PT
My Question
Hi Kaptinemo!Is it possible for a politican to have a heart and care or is it too late when they get in politics? I just don't know. Governor Johnson is the only politican that makes me feel there is hope. I wish Governor Johnson would sit down and talk to Vice President Gore. I think he would learn alot!Peace, FoM!
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Comment #2 posted by Mazinger Zeta on May 02, 2000 at 14:40:43 PT
Don't forget to educate the masses
I find there are a lot of insightful comments here. Don't forget to sent LTEs to newspapers in addition to the preaching to the choir that goes on here. Yes, Gore is a hypocrit. Tell the world. I already know it. 
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on May 02, 2000 at 14:13:44 PT:
The Jellyfish bobbles again
It is axiomatic that the most recently converted sing the loudest in church. Mr.Gore, who has stood by and said absolutely nothing about his boss's lying, cheating, prevarications, and out-and-out lawbreaking (perjury is the least of his crimes) has suddenly been converted to singing in the law 'n' order crowds' choir:'Al Gore proposed a $500 million program today to drug-test prisoners and parolees in an effort to rehabilitate criminals, accusing Republicanpresidential rival George W. Bush of slashing similar programs as governor of Texas.'But he has a lot of explaining to do:'Bush spokesman Dan Bartlett, commenting in advance of the speech, said, ''We hope Al Gore uses this opportunity to explain why during his term teen drug use inAmerica nearly doubled, the number of drug treatment beds in federal prisons were cut by over one-third, the Office of National Drug Control Policy was cut by 83percent and federal gun prosecutions have decreased by 46 percent.''The hypocrisy of *both* candidates never ceases to amaze me; Mr. Gore, who has supported his boss's incarceration of harmless pot-smokers (some of whom are literally deathly illand are of no threat to anyone) and then tries to trumpet his own 'successes' while reports of his more-than-just- youthful-experimentation leak out hither and yon.Or look at Mr. Bush... whose Daddy said he was not 'in the loop' concerning the deeds of his handmaiden Ollie North in the coke-for-guns Enterprise otherwise known as Iran-Contra. The same man who refuses to state unequivocally for the record that he has never used illicit drugs...past the year 1974. Before that year, he gets awfully coy. And refuses to answer questions like: should you be locked up ex post facto for doing things you are happy to imprison other people for doing... and got caught?Hypocrites, liars and fools. And the American public is happy to vote for them, so long as they get their ration of bread and circuses. So we get to choose between a jellyfish and a cypher. Is it any wonder why we have the government we do?
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