Drug War Chronicle » Issue #1080 by psmith In the most thorough review yet of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, a new study from the RAND Corporation warns that its arrival heralds a new dynamic in illicit drug markets — and that is going to require new approaches for dealing with the dangerous drug. Last […]
Hemp Legalization Is Wreaking Havoc with Marijuana Prosecutions in Prohibition States
by psmith DRUG WAR CHRONICLES: After passage of the 2018 federal farm bill legalized hemp production, states scrambled to pass their own laws legalizing hemp and CBD. But in doing so, they may have inadvertently signed a death warrant for the enforcement of marijuana prohibition. hemp field at sunrise (votehemp.org) Forty-seven states have now […]
Comparison of N Y Times “Bahamas hurricane Dorian relief efforts” with our Hurricane Agnes in the 1970s
By Robert Field “In the Bahamas, Residents ask ‘Where is our relief’” The situation in the Bahamas is indeed tragic. Yet we see how ordinary people, especially momentary leaders, will take matters into their own hands and work together to get essential matter done. Hurricane Agnes in the 1970s that flooded our 264 unit Gateway […]
It isn’t over yet for Admiral / Congressman Joe Sestak
As many of you will already now, former three star admiral and congressman Joe Sestak has been spending the last couple of months campaigning for the Presidency in Iowa. He will likely have shook almost every hand and shared his views on the whole spectrum of issues with the electorate by the time of the […]
Call for end to corporations’ “rule by contract”
By Barry C. Lynn, Open Markets Institute: In an article for The Atlantic titled “There’s More Than One Way to Fight a Monopoly,” Open Markets Institute Legal Director Sandeep Vaheesan and co-author Nathan Schneider lay out one way to restore power and true autonomy to people and small businesses. They argue that while efforts break up monopolies are important, […]
Unions and me, Part I
Given my studies in Economics and History, I have always been supportive of the union movement, not only for the improvement of the earnings of workers but also because of the benefits to the nation. But that doesn’t mean that I have not been in a couple of ‘bareknuckle’ battles, at least one potentially […]
Free speech vs anonymity.
The New York Times reports: “Democrats want to name President Trump’s big donors. His supporters say it’s harassment.” The Supreme Court has ruled that the First Amendment to the Constitution allows individuals or corporations to make unlimited political donations. Sad ruling, but so be it. But there is nothing in the Constitution, or at least […]
Russian Media Today, Part One
By Slava Tsukerman What sources of news information do Russians use? For the majority of Russians the only sources of news are the three state controlled national TV networks: Channel One, Russia TV, and NTV. According to FOM (Social Opinion Foundation) surveys, in 2010, 87% of the Russian respondents obtained news from television. Still, despite […]
An important Letter to the Editor of The New York Times
To the Editor: In her review of Tim Bouverie’s “Appeasement: Chamberlain, Hitler, Churchilll, and the Road to War” (July 21), Lynne Olson gives a number of reasons for what happened at the Munich conference in 1938, among them Chamberlain’s ignorance of foreign policy. However, she omits an underlying motive for that sordid episode, namely anti-Communism. […]
After debate polling and its significance
If you visit Real Clear Politics, you will note post last week’s debates, former Vice President Joe Biden has twice the support as does Senator Bernie Sanders and even more so than does Senator Elizabeth Warren. However, add Sander’s and Warren’s poll numbers together and their popularity is equal to that of Biden. Normally […]
REF comments on last nights CNN Democrat debate
Below are two excerpts from an article in today’s NYT Times: “Discussing criminal justice reform with Senator Cory Booker, who has been sharply critical of Mr. Biden’s record on that matter, he jokingly skipped ahead, calling him the president and stopping himself as he lightheartedly grabbed Mr. Booker’s arm— ‘excuse me, the future president’”” Do […]
“Camp MFE” Benefit Concert
July 31, 2019 at 7:00 pm First Reformed Church 40 E. Orange St. Lancaster, PA 17602 Join Music For Everyone and the staff of Camp MFE on July 31 for a night of amazing music. This fun concert benefits MFE’s summer camps, helping our organization to provide scholarships, ensuring that all who attend do so […]
Racist at heart? Yes we are, but…
By Robert Field This is true about almost every white person born sixty or more years ago in an era of extreme racial bigotry. Sure we have learned better and espouse democratic sentiments. Many of us voted for Barack Obama. Nevertheless we are at best “racists in recovery” and the deep rooted prejudices from our formative […]
New York Times’ report on cause of NYC blackout:
What is particularly of interest is, despite all of the best selling books by reputable sources, there is no speculation or even comment on whether this might be a terrorist attack by a country or individuals. “Con Edison said the failure apparently stemmed from a problem at a substation on West 49th Street, and affected […]