The Glade 4.0

You're looking way too closely at things. All the "socialist" nations of Western Europe are still highly individualistic. Rationalism is still a huge influence, even among religious people in the US. Freedom of speech doesn't have to be absolute to be a part of our political philosophy. And this idea that western philosophy is dead is just absurd.

Anyway, if you want to argue that the US has as much in common with China and Russia than with say, Germany and France, go ahead. But if you just don't like my random examples of what I consider "western philosophy," then you can just assume for my argument that by "western philosophy" I mean everything that we (Canada and the US) have in common with Western Europe.

There's nothing said about "absolute" in what I said.

In Canada and the USA you have free speech as long as the government doesn't dislike what you say enough to declare it criminal. Julian Assange has been hunted on various charges since wikileaks, and he didn't break any laws while doing it. Furthermore, he is not an American nor was he ever on American soil. Then there's various aspects of copyright and other ridiculous laws -- "Freedom of Speech" is dead.

Nah, its more like if Texas invaded Mexico. Texas and OK are too ideologically close to invade each other.

In comic strips the person on the left always speaks first. - George Carlin

Yes he did. He was a government employee, and what he did is illegal for a government employee to do. He gave up freedom of speech in that regardwhen he signed up.

Julian Assange was never a government employee. His informant Bradley Manning was, but we're not talking about his informant.

Texas and Mexico are business partners, someone needs to keep the drug war afloat.

Hey DE: How do Texans feel about Oklahomans?

Nah, its more like if Texas invaded Mexico. Texas and OK are too ideologically close to invade each other.

In comic strips the person on the left always speaks first. - George Carlin

Yeah, because the drug war is definitely good business for Texas and Mexico.

In comic strips the person on the left always speaks first. - George Carlin

Yes, that's what I was getting at. Mexican cartels continue to make ungodly amounts of money selling a harmless drug while we keep putting non-violent offenders into jails run by guard unions and profits.

Harmless? /facepalm

Harmless? /facepalm

Most studies seem to indicate that, yes.

A number of studies have linked chronic marijuana use and mental illness. High doses of marijuana can produce a temporary psychotic reaction (involving hallucinations and paranoia) in some users, and using marijuana can worsen the course of illness in patients with schizophrenia. A series of large studies following users across time also showed a link between marijuana use and later development of psychosis. This relationship was influenced by genetic variables as well as the amount of drug used, drug potency, and the age at which it was first taken—those who start young are at increased risk for later problems.

Associations have also been found between marijuana use and other mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts among adolescents, and personality disturbances, including a lack of motivation to engage in typically rewarding activities. More research is still needed to confirm and better understand these linkages.

Marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of neurobehavioral problems in babies. Because THC and other compounds in marijuana mimic the body’s own endocannabinoid chemicals, marijuana use by pregnant mothers may alter the developing endocannabinoid system in the brain of the fetus. Consequences for the child may include problems with attention, memory, and problem solving.

Additionally, because it seriously impairs judgment and motor coordination, marijuana contributes to risk of injury or death while driving a car. A recent analysis of data from several studies found that marijuana use more than doubles a driver’s risk of being in an accident. The combination of marijuana and alcohol is worse than either substance alone with respect to driving impairment.

Research shows marijuana may cause problems in daily life or make a person's existing problems worse. Heavy marijuana users generally report lower life satisfaction, poorer mental and physical health, more relationship problems, and less academic and career success compared to non-marijuana-using peers. For example, marijuana use is associated with a higher likelihood of dropping out of school. Several studies also associate workers' marijuana smoking with increased absences, tardiness, accidents, workers' compensation claims, and job turnover.

In comic strips the person on the left always speaks first. - George Carlin

There was a clear relationship between alcohol and culpability. … In contrast, there was no significant increase in culpability for cannabinoids alone. While a relatively large number of injured drivers tested positive for cannabinoids, culpability rates were no higher than those for the drug free group. This is consistent with other findings.

Patients testing positive for illicit drugs (marijuana, opiates, and cocaine), in the absence of alcohol, were in crashes very similar to those of patients with neither alcohol nor drugs. When other relevant variables were considered, these drugs were not associated with more severe crashes or greater injury.

First I'll say that I don't think that referencing a government website is going to give you a very fair or balanced outlook. Secondly I'd point out that the majority of those claims are not qualified by any citation or proof of research. The wording of many of those claims are deliberately misleading.

The retarded classification of being a schedule one narcotic makes studying marijuana much more difficult than it should be.

In comic strips the person on the left always speaks first. - George Carlin

It has legitimate medical use






and in my non-medical opinion is irrefutably safer than other acceptable vices (tobacco, alcohol) when considering recreational use

In comic strips the person on the left always speaks first. - George Carlin