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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

mailedbypostman Since: May, 2010
#57126: Jun 26th 2013 at 7:23:57 PM

[up][up]Not quite the same as "most people who do soft drugs switch to hard" though.

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#57127: Jun 26th 2013 at 7:23:57 PM

Some people go on and do stronger drugs, most people go on and try to find stronger versions of the same drug or use more of it.

It's seen in alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana.

Also, should note that mobs started becoming major forces in the U.S. underworld due to Prohibition.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#57128: Jun 26th 2013 at 7:24:26 PM

Pot isn't really a gateway drug statistically according to actual medical studies. Unless your dealer pushes you on harder stuff, you're going to just stay on pot. Most people don't even up the amount because it doesn't form dependence the same way a lot of other drugs do. That's actually more argument to legalize it because it means that there won't be a dealer pushing harder stuff.

edited 26th Jun '13 7:25:53 PM by shimaspawn

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#57129: Jun 26th 2013 at 7:29:23 PM

Problem: Wendy Davis will probably be rewarded for her filibuster with the gerrymandering away her state senate seat. And we have the SCOTUS ruling on the VRA to thank for probably making it impossible for her to win elsewhere.

Solution: she takes that energy harnessed tonight and runs for governor of Texas in 2014.

EDIT: And if you thought the Uncle Thomas thing was a burn, well, this was making the rounds in the Esquire blog:

The United States Supreme Court Tuesday overturned a critical portion of the landmark Voting Rights Act by a vote of four-and-three-fifths to four.

edited 26th Jun '13 7:31:57 PM by RadicalTaoist

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#57130: Jun 26th 2013 at 7:31:09 PM

[up]I heard she polled a few points behind Perry not too long ago. After last night she could even be more popular than him.

I wonder what would happen to Texas if they had a Democratic governor.

RadicalTaoist scratching at .8, just hopin' from the #GUniverse Since: Jan, 2001
scratching at .8, just hopin'
#57131: Jun 26th 2013 at 7:33:27 PM

They'd ungerrymander that state, and then the black and Latino populations would be able to punch in their weight class. Which would be devastating to the GOP nationwide. If Texas turned blue or even purple, that's the end of easy Congressional majorities, the end of being able to win presidential elections, the end of the Texas BOE's stranglehold on textbooks around the state.

Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.
tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#57132: Jun 26th 2013 at 7:38:10 PM

I wouldn't fully expect a flip for Texas in 2014 even if we got a Democratic governor unless we got a wave of Democrats like Republicans did in '10.

If we did get a Democrat for governor and she doesn't screw anything up, we may get a major turnover in '16.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#57133: Jun 26th 2013 at 7:48:24 PM

On how many weed users go onto harder drugs, how many of them do so after they are put in prison for smoking weed? Is it the fact that they smoke weed that puts them onto harder stuff, or the fact that they are put into a prison system that tends to turn soft criminals into hardened ones?

As for the idea that legalised weed would be undercut by the illegal stuff, we've gone over it before and the only study that could be provided was one about tobacco that included people buying from out of state as a form of smuggling. You'll notice that the cartels aren't (I think) making their money smuggling moonshine and fags, instead they are focused on the illegal stuff.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#57134: Jun 26th 2013 at 8:16:01 PM

Jeb Bush: Obama 'Utter and Complete Failure'

Oliver North : Obama Administration Is ' Jimmy Carter on Steroids'

edited 26th Jun '13 8:23:22 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
RTaco Since: Jul, 2009
#57135: Jun 26th 2013 at 8:36:14 PM

The correlation between pot smokers and harder drug users is more "People who use hard drugs are more likely to smoke pot" than "Pot smoking makes you more likely to do hard drugs".

edited 26th Jun '13 8:36:25 PM by RTaco

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#57136: Jun 26th 2013 at 9:36:08 PM

Ohio 2016 poll: Hillary Clinton, Chris Christie tied

edited 26th Jun '13 9:36:24 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#57137: Jun 26th 2013 at 9:42:24 PM

Back to the immigration issue, the way to remove illegal immigration is surprisingly similar to the way to end illegal drug use: make immigration legal. Remove the immigration quotas, open the damn border, and let anyone who wants come up unless they've been expressly deported.

It's like a discussion I had in Justice class. Spain has virtually no drug crime, because they have virtually no drug offenses in the first place.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#57138: Jun 26th 2013 at 9:55:34 PM

On the Texas thing; the governor elections I think are rigged specifically to keep Perry winning somehow. There was a magazine article I read on it way back when, so sadly I don't have it with me. Not quite sure how current that is.

BUT, there being a voter ID law enacted mere hours after the VRA thing was undone that's... going to stymy things at the very least. I wouldn't count on a Democrat winning for governor just yet, even if the Republicans are shooting themselves in the foot. The Democrat vote is going to have to be an overwhelming majority, I think, for that to work so soon. Let's not forget that there's also the special session next week. She's still going to be senator next week as far as I know, so I'm hoping she keeps up the momentum until then at the very least.

Also Jeb Bush can go sit on a damn cactus.

edited 26th Jun '13 9:56:11 PM by AceofSpades

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#57139: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:07:57 PM

[up][up]

That would be horrible for assimilation effort.

The IRS held a 2008 conference in Atlanta that included an open bar, elaborate hors d’oeuvres and a video of agency employees dressed as Olympic athletes with makeshift torches.

The IRS so needs to be audited.

edited 26th Jun '13 10:09:03 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#57140: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:11:29 PM

Because they have fun at a convention? How dare they!

Seriously, the whole IRS deal about targeting right wing political groups turned out to be a complete load of crock, so now they have to go and investigate their conventions?

“Who would hold a so-called ‘lavish’ event in Atlanta in the middle of August? In any event, the Congress itself had approved the spending of these funds for this purpose since the money for CLE training for our lawyers — required in many states in order for them to be able to maintain their licenses to practice law — was included as part of Chief Counsel’s annual budget.”

So yeah, the IRS's budget for this stuff is approved by Congress anyway. Cry more, conservatives, you're the ones letting them commit these oh so terrible crimes of having fun.

OH OH OH, and the article ends with the statement that they haven't had similarly expensive conventions for like four years and that their spending has been cut by eighty percent.

What the hell was your point again, Deviant?

edited 26th Jun '13 10:18:23 PM by AceofSpades

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#57141: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:20:50 PM

[up]

Well, the Olympic Suits were still a stupid idea.

Democrats vote Rep. Steve King (R-IA) ‘most clueless’ Republican

EDIT: Relevant to those that want Wendy Davis to run for Texas Governor.

edited 26th Jun '13 10:26:31 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
philippeo Since: Oct, 2010
#57142: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:30:18 PM

About immigration and border : at least from mexico, it will not be big issue in the future, Mexico birth per women has constantly declined, it would soon under 2.1 per women and population will decline. Plus Mexico economy is improving, it will provide enough job for its population. illegal immigration from Mexico will still happen, but the scale wouldn't be as large as the past. People continue to stay after visa end will likely become bigger problem than border-crosser in the future.

Hermiethefrog Since: Jan, 2001
#57143: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:35:43 PM

Can we talk about this?

Is the news source accurate? What does this mean? How worried should people be?

DrunkGirlfriend from Castle Geekhaven Since: Jan, 2011
#57144: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:39:23 PM

[up] I'll admit, I only quickly scanned it, but it is partially correct. You still have the right to remain silent after you've been Mirandized, or if you specifically invoke the 5th amendment.

Other than that, it seems fairly accurate.

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
Ringsea He Who Got Gud from Fly-Over Country,USA Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
He Who Got Gud
#57145: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:41:02 PM

I've heard that site to lean Right, and there seem to be a lot of advertisements and book recommendations to support that, but even FOX reports facts sometimes, so that could be a serious issue. If that's true, I think I'll go break something.

The most edgy person on the Internet.
LMage Since: May, 2011
#57146: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:41:44 PM

Chris Christie is the one to watch out for in 2016. The worst part? I can't even really convince myself he would be bad in office.

Hermiethefrog Since: Jan, 2001
#57147: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:42:24 PM

[up][up][up] How long does it take to be Mirandized though? They mentioned the example of the Boston marathon bombing suspect who was apparently questioned for several hours before they read them to him. Can you just say "I plead the fifth" immediately?

edited 26th Jun '13 10:42:51 PM by Hermiethefrog

Mars444 Since: May, 2013
#57148: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:43:08 PM

This "government conventions = waste" thing is a crock of shit, considering that most business conventions involve getting wasted anyways. Or, ahem, networking.

DrunkGirlfriend from Castle Geekhaven Since: Jan, 2011
#57149: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:44:42 PM

@Hermie: It can take a while before you can be read your rights, and if you're not an immediate suspect, they may not read you your rights at all. And yes, you can say that you're going to be exercising your right to remain silent at any point, before or after they read you your rights.

Edit: Here's a transcript of the actual court opinion, if you're interested.

edited 26th Jun '13 10:54:17 PM by DrunkGirlfriend

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#57150: Jun 26th 2013 at 10:57:04 PM

[up][up]

Yes, but business conventions don't spend tax-payer's money.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016

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