-Caveat Lector- ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- ======================================= NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 World Wide Web: http://www.lp.org/ ======================================= For release: August 25, 1999 ======================================= For additional information: George Getz, Press Secretary Phone: (202) 333-0008 Ext. 222 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ======================================= Libertarians agree with George W. Bush: Drug use should be a "private" matter WASHINGTON, DC -- Here's how to end the controversy over Governor George W. Bush's alleged cocaine use: Simply give every suspected drug user the same right to "privacy" the GOP presidential front-runner demands, the Libertarian Party suggested today. "Let's treat every American like a presidential candidate: If you've ever used drugs, you shouldn't have to answer questions about it -- especially if doing so would invade your privacy, or if you now consider previous drug use a mistake," proposed Steve Dasbach, the party's national director. "Not only would such a don't-ask/don't-tell policy save the $17 billion the federal government currently spends on Drug Prohibition, but it would also let hundreds of thousands of non-violent drug offenders out of prison so they could lead productive lives -- and maybe even run for president themselves as hypocritical Republicans." Over the past week, controversy has escalated over Bush's persistent sidestepping of the "did-he-or-didn't-he?" question about alleged cocaine use. While first refusing to answer the question, Bush later claimed he hadn't used any illegal drugs in seven, then 15, then 25 years. "I'm going to tell people I made mistakes and that I have learned from my mistakes," said Bush in Columbus, Ohio. Interestingly, a number of Republicans who are otherwise enthusiastic supporters of the War on Drugs agreed that cocaine use -- by the millionaire sons of past GOP presidents, at least -- is no big deal. For example, Elizabeth Dole said drug use was a "personal" matter, and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), said people deserve "privacy" on the issue. For once, Libertarians -- who have argued for years that Drug Prohibition causes crime, threatens civil liberties, leads to police and judicial corruption, and acts as a "price support system" for criminals -- agree with the Republicans. "If we treated drug abuse as a personal, private problem -- rather than a criminal issue -- we'd be a lot better off as a nation," said Dasbach. "Instead of being thrown into jail, people would have the option to seek counseling or medical help, or simply mature to the point where drug or alcohol abuse was no longer part of their lifestyle, as Governor Bush seems to have done." In fact, the only Republican who appears to disagree with George W. Bush's claim that drug use should be a private issue is...George W. Bush. As Texas governor, Bush signed a law that toughened penalties for people convicted of possessing less than a gram of cocaine. Which leads to another Libertarian proposal, said Dasbach: Before politicians are allowed to vote on any Drug War legislation, they should agree to be subjected to the same criminal penalties they would impose on others. "It's quite simple: If Bush genuinely believes that people who use cocaine belong in prison -- and if he has personally used cocaine -- he should go to prison," said Dasbach. "Yes, our prisons are overcrowded because of the 1.5 million people arrested on drug charges every year...but there's always room for one more hypocritical politician who believes that what's good enough for presidential candidates isn't good enough for ordinary Americans." -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBN8OUENCSe1KnQG7RAQGT6gQAgVddF9fAodvwGf1RDG5qkvXdAD7a7VEV 1XIGiT/z7x63RWVd8/u43n3FqN5hFDcyPp1HQP7TkTOlRBSdY9UEec0wiNXSh9TO gNaIwBniWKQQ87DIIP9tORVMD93CtegPVSeRUb8qKbvrlYeb/5kvxLjfnGDDgFJW R471H+8wYdw= =29qH -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- The Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/ 2600 Virginia Ave. NW, Suite 100 voice: 202-333-0008 Washington DC 20037 fax: 202-333-0072 For subscription changes, please mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> with the word "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" in the subject line -- or use the WWW form. A<>E<>R ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your common sense." --Buddha + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled one is truly vanquished. -Johann Christoph Schiller, German Writer (1759-1805) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Everyone has the right...to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." 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