I am deep into “The American Empire, 1945 – 2000” by Joshua B. Freeman, having read the third and now reading the fourth of a series of USA history, this one by Joshua ‘B. Freeman. This is part of the Forner / Penguin series. The book is edifying but rather neutered until Freeman reaches the […]
Drug-Induced Homicide Charges Draconian and Ineffective, Study Finds
by psmith, DRUG WAR CHRONICLE: A new report from the Drug Policy Alliance shines a harsh spotlight on a strategy that some police, prosecutors, and elected officials are embracing in response to the opioid overdose crisis — charging sellers with drug-induced homicide — which the evidence suggests is intensifying, rather than helping, the problem. James […]
TSUKERMAN: Russia Accuses USA of “Harvesting Russian Tissue”
By Slava Tsukerman The opening of Wall of Sorrow memorial was the event that concluded the session of the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights. During the session the idea was voiced that some people, with the help of surveillance systems, are collecting images of Russian people. Answering this assumption, Putin spoke of even more mysterious fact, saying: “Images, it’s okay. But […]
New Yorker: The Poligarchs, Oligarchs, and Stooges of the Paradise Papers
THE NEW YORKER: More than three hundred and eighty journalists have been studying an untold number of pages contained in millions of leaked files now known as the Paradise Papers, which detail the offshore assets and tax-avoidance mechanisms of a number of large corporations and super-rich individuals. These journalists are now producing dozens of stories, […]
Medical Marijuana Update
by psmith Congresspeople want the VA to research medical marijuana, New Jersey expands its list of qualifying conditions, and more. NationalLast Thursday,lawmakers called on the VA to research medical marijuana for veterans. A group of lawmakers who sit on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee wrote a letter to Veteran Affairs Secretary David Shulkin urging him […]
REF Speaks: “Fairness” is a concept that has been lost
By Robert Field One word particularly stood out from New York Times article “What Did Bernie Sanders Learn in His Weekend in Canada?” Yes there was the usual unimpeachable argument for a total reform to the United States extravagant and underperforming health service. To wit: “Many developed countries have achieved universal health coverage, but […]
Now that opioid crisis affects middle class, public health advocated over criminal justice
Hello press– By Tony Newman DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE: Trump’s speech yesterday declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency has generated national news on the issue of overdose and opioid use in the country. With the overdose crisis becoming a mainstream conversation, there has been a shift in the narrative. Historically, when a […]
New Gallup Poll Finds Record Support for Marijuana Legalization
Drug Policy Alliance drugpolicy.org 64% of Americans, Including Majority of Republicans, Support Legalization A new Gallup poll shows record-breaking support for marijuana legalization, with 64 percent of Americans now in favor of ending marijuana prohibition. The number is the highest level of support in nearly half a century of surveying adults on the issue, according […]
Did Americans really celebrate Putin’s birthday (or when is a Whopper but a whopper?)
By Slava Tsukerman On October 7, Russia celebrated President Vladimir Putin’s 65th birthday. According to the Russian media, that event was joyfully noted throughout the entire world and especially in the USA. The Russian state News Agency TASS reported that on Vladimir Putin’s birthday Ledo Pizza restaurant in Washington, DC offered visitors “pizza in Russian […]
TSUKERMAN: Controversial Kalashnikov Monument in Moscow
By Slava Tsukerman On September 19, a monument to the world famous gunsmith Mikhail Kalashnikov was installed in one of central Moscow squares. At the unveiling of the monument soldiers in parade uniforms marched to a brass band. Vladimir Medinsky, the minister of culture of Russia, said the following. “Mikhail Kalashnikov is, to some extent, […]
25th Amendment to the U. .S. Constitution
Editor: Has the time come? Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written […]
The flag and National anthem mean different things to different people
By Robert Field The most memorable experience from a visit to Tunisia some years ago was when the tour bus driver added a stop at the America military cemetery. There I walked on pathways among immaculately maintained gravesites, most with crosses and a few with stars of David, and the omni-present American flags. I felt […]
Are Stalin’s times coming back to Russia?
By Slava Tsukerman On September 1, the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, General of Justice Alexander Bastrykin came to St. Petersburg to celebrate the beginning of the Academic Year in the St. Petersburg Academy of the Investigative Committee. The Academy was created a year ago and placed into historical 18th century building built […]
Drug Arrests, Marijuana Arrests Both Up Last Year, FBI Reports
by psmith, September 26, 2017, 04:32pm, This article was produced in collaboration with AlterNet and first appeared here. Despite spreading marijuana legalization and despite a growing desire for new directions in drug policy, the war on drugs continues unabated. According to the FBI’s latest Uniform Crime Report, released Monday, overall drug arrests actually increased last […]