Total chaos has erupted in El Paso, TX following a city council resolution calling for an open dialogue about drug legalization. The mayor promptly vetoed it, and lots of angry people are talking about how we shouldnât talk about this.
To understand how little it takes to drive drug war supporters completely insane, watch El Paso City Rep. Beto OâRourkeâs impressively reasonable argument for a dialogue on our drug policy. All heâs saying is that we should talk about drug policy options and try to address ongoing problems. And to that, the mayor repliedâ¦VETO!
Here is the totality of El Paso Mayor John Cookâs argument for not talking about drug legalization:
If this sounds familiar, itâs because enemies of the drug war debate have been insisting for years that thereâs nothing to talk about. Itâs weird too because if theyâre so sure Congress will never do it, then thereâs really no good reason to obstruct the conversation. What are they afraid of?
Of course, the downside of claiming a monopoly on reality and refusing to debate is that you look like an idiot. And thatâs exactly what appears to be happening here, as the mayorâs allies are refusing to back his veto and the council is pushing for an override.
So all we have to do is win the debate over whether or not to have a debate, and we can finally get around to debating. I can't wait.
To understand how little it takes to drive drug war supporters completely insane, watch El Paso City Rep. Beto OâRourkeâs impressively reasonable argument for a dialogue on our drug policy. All heâs saying is that we should talk about drug policy options and try to address ongoing problems. And to that, the mayor repliedâ¦VETO!
Here is the totality of El Paso Mayor John Cookâs argument for not talking about drug legalization:
"It is not realistic to believe that the U.S. Congress will seriously consider any broad-based debate on the legalization of narcotics," Cook added. "That position is not consistent with the community standards both locally and nationally." [El Paso Times]
If this sounds familiar, itâs because enemies of the drug war debate have been insisting for years that thereâs nothing to talk about. Itâs weird too because if theyâre so sure Congress will never do it, then thereâs really no good reason to obstruct the conversation. What are they afraid of?
Of course, the downside of claiming a monopoly on reality and refusing to debate is that you look like an idiot. And thatâs exactly what appears to be happening here, as the mayorâs allies are refusing to back his veto and the council is pushing for an override.
So all we have to do is win the debate over whether or not to have a debate, and we can finally get around to debating. I can't wait.
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