A Compact for America to Fix the Debt

This year the Congressional Budget Office estimates the US Federal Government will spend $425 billion dollars more than it takes in. On the books, that deficit is projected to grow and in 10 years the total debt is estimated to exceed 22 trillion. In addition, off the books there are Social Security, Medicare, the VA and other programs that Congress has promised but failed to set money aside for. All combined the US Debt Clock organization estimates the total debt including these unfunded liabilities at 97.1 trillion dollars or about $302,000 per US citizen.

Clearly this debt level is unsustainable. It should be just as clear that we cannot at present trust our representatives in the US Congress to address the problem since it is that very institution that created this debt by spending more than it has taken in 45 of the last 50 years.

Fortunately, we live in a country where the people and their States have the Constitutional right and power to reform the US Government in fundamental ways. And right now there is an effort on in Lansing to pass an amendment to the US Constitution that would require Congress to pass balanced budgets.

State Bill 306 (SB306) supports an Article 5 Compact among the States that would require Congress to vote on an Amendment to the US Constitution limiting how much the federal government can borrow, and otherwise restricting federal spending to cash revenues. The initiative is supported by an Interstate Commission with representatives from the four states that have passed it so far.

The Compact has a long way to go as it must be passed by 34 more States before it can result in an amendment, but 44 States including Michigan already have Constitutions that limit their borrowing capacity or require their Legislatures to pass balanced budgets. There are receptive legislatures across the country and across political divides.

For the Compact to pass, enough citizens have to realize that no one benefits from a situation where the US Government is allowed to borrow without limit. They must ask their State Legislatures to vote for a change.

Regardless of whether you feel government should be larger or smaller, a balanced budget amendment by itself won’t push the US Government in either direction just as balancing our own families budget does not dictate the size of house that we live in.

What passage of the Compact will do is to stop the US Government from kicking the can down the road.

The wasteful spending that Republican and Democratic-led Congresses have engaged in for the last 50-years has weakened our country in more ways than can be expressed in one column. Just ask yourself how much has been wasted and lost in the last half dozen wars and “police actions,” the many bailouts of corporations and financial institutions, and the funding of unproductive welfare programs. Ask yourself if we would have tolerated such bad public policy if we were unable to just charge the costs to a limitless national credit card. The answer is pretty obvious if you think about it. Our toleration of bad public policy would be much less if we actually had to pay for it out of taxes or a limited amount of credit. Unlimited debt has enabled and will continue to enable bad government.

We really have no choice but to Compact for a Balanced Budget if we want to minimize future fiascos.

To support the Compact contact the offices of Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhoff (517-373-6920 or SenAMeekhof@senate.michigan.gov) and Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Kowall (517-373-1758) and let them know you want SB306 to come to the Senate floor for a full vote. Then ask State Legislators from your own district to support the bill.

Together we can hold the US Government to a higher standard. Support the Compact for a Balanced Budget.

War and Policy

On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal reported what urban Michiganders have long been aware of: Our State is home to many of the most violent cities in America per capita.

It is a hallmark of growing up in suburban Detroit that the City-proper is seen as “just violent.” Unfortunately, the lack of fluidity between suburbanites and those living in the City leads to radically different perceptions of this “violence.”

In the suburbs, the violence is largely perceived through the same media that reports on foreign wars so, quite naturally, it just does not feel that much closer to home. But this does not change the plain fact that an actual War is occurring less than 10-miles from where most Metro-Detroiters live.

It is not called a War. We do not even tally the dead, though a combination of the Free Press records and BJS stats pegs Detroit as having seen more than 21,000 murders since 1969- a count that adds up to greater than 2.9% of the City’s population according to the 2010 Census. And it’s not called a War because the powers that can make such a moniker stick have no intention of dealing with it as such.

Take President Obama, who very publicly declared an end to the “Drug War”. Had he in fact ended the War that is fueled by drugs, Detroit would be a far safer place today because the sale of illegal drugs is undeniably the primarily financial resource of violent criminals in this City. But unfortunately the President ended only a trademark.

So why doesn’t Obama, or Governor Snyder for that matter, propose a method of cutting off the drug trade, which fuels the violence in Michigan cities? Because the laws they are currently tasked with enforcing are simply unenforceable. So long as blanket prohibitions on widely available “Schedule 1” drugs like Marijuana remain the law of the land, their hands are tied. Values of cheaply produced, easily distributable drugs will remain high, and the violence business will remain more economical than the non-violence business in many of Michigan’s cities.

Calling this violence what it is- a War- would only make these leaders look ineffectual. So, instead of our leaders dealing with this problem, it has been left to the people of Michigan to change the laws. And, thanks to the hard work of Tim Beck and the supporters of the Coalition for a Safer Detroit, one City is going to have a chance to make a major change to longstanding policy. In August, Detroiters will have the chance to legalize the possession of up to one ounce of Marijuana for people over the age of 21 on private property in the City-proper.

Polls show that the majority of Detroit City residents want to see the possession of small amounts of Marijuana on private property legalized. Or, to put it differently, they do not want Police to focus their extremely limited resources on minor, non-violent possession any longer.

Will changing this law have a major impact on the violence Detroit sees? No one can truly say. But what can be said is that Detroit has been experiencing an active War for more than 40-years, financed by the drug trade. State and Federal leaders have proven unable to craft and enforce policies that make any significant impact and they show no signs of doing so.

It’s time that the people of Detroit take responsibility for the conduct of the war their Police force bears the brunt of waging. It is time that people feel a personal stake in the laws that shape their environment. And as they do, by this initiative or the next one, Michigan will begin to see the safer Detroit that everyone so desires, emerge again.

My Email to Clark Durant

At a luncheon recently during a Q&A I asked Clark Durant for his stance on Federal Drug Prohibition Policies. He did not answer the question at all, so I emailed him asking for a serious statement of what he supports even if it was just "that's not my issue." Just sharing it to encourage thought and action on the issue. To the Honorable Clark Durant and Company, While I tried to keep the first email short and sweet, your subsequent request for information deserves more detail. That said if you need it presented differently, or even have time for a 5 minute call, just let me know. I deeply appreciate your asking for more information. This is an important conversation and your honest opinion matters deeply to me. As Senator, you would have more power to influence this issue then almost anyone in America. To support you it is vital that people understand where you stand on this issue. Current Policy: The U.S. federal government spent over $15 billion dollars in 2010 on the War on Drugs. Source: Jeffrey A. Miron & Kathrine Waldock: "The Budgetary Impact of Drug Prohibition," 2010. This includes all or part of the following budgets: DEA – $2.02 billion dollars staff of 9,906. ONDCP – $401 million dollars Bureau of Prisions - $6.8 billion dollars (reflecting a 527 million dollar increase from Obama in 2011). Of the more than 217,000 inmates in Federal Prison. BOP itself estimates that more than 50% of Federal Population is in for Drug Offenses http://www.bop.gov/news/quick.jsp Beyond this, while figures are not readily available, you can believe a substantial portion of money spent on US Federal courts is spent on Probation or Parole services for individuals released. As you know such budget figures only scratch the surface of net spending caused by their programs, because agencies like the ONDCP and DEA are leviathans which wrap their way through an assemblage of other federal state and local agencies. Take the DEA, which has a major portion of its budget going to the training of Local Enforcement Authorities in: “Drug Identification; Surveillance Techniques; Interview and Interrogation; Raid Planning and Execution; Asset Forfeiture; Undercover Techniques; Informant Management, Conspiracy Law and Investigations; Financial Investigations; Telephone Exploitation; Diversion Investigations; Clandestine Laboratory Safety and Investigation; Pharmacology; and Intelligence.” http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/detroit_training.html They set the standards, then educate and enforce people in them. You know how government spending warps State and Local priorities. And if you don’t just ask yourself: Would Detroit City spend tens of millions locking up marijuana users if it didn’t have a national agency standardizing and subsidizing it? Drug Market Economics You asked me for the Freedom Alternative, but as you know this starts by understanding the market the Federal Government is trying to inhibit. Now consider the commerce done in the illegal drug market. Let’s start on a local level. It 2006, it is estimated there was around 1.9 Billion dollars in drugs trafficked through Detroit City Proper alone! These are local sales, not even what DHS is catching at the border. Ironic isn't it- this is one thing we export a heck of a lot of to Michigan. Meanwhile at that time the City’s Total Police Budget was around 400 million. For everything! Let’s just imagine drug dealing as an ad in the paper: Deal Drugs! 1. All cash business! 2. Tax-free income! 3. Flexible hours! 4. No education or work history required! 5. Criminal background acceptable! Mr. Durant, you get economics. Drug Trafficking is not something the government can stop. We all have near-instant access to illegal drugs should we choose despite all laws to the contrary. From Capitol Hill to Max-Security Prisons drugs can be had. The DEA estimated in 1998 that US Residents spent more than $67 billion on narcotics. http://www.justice.gov/dea/demand/speakout/05so.htm Meanwhile, where does all that cash go? Now let’s look at the Ultra National perspective. The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime estimates that 70% of financial resources available to “organized crime” derives from the narcotics industry. Think that’s any less the case in Detroit’s neighborhoods? Think the Detroit Police estimate that 50-75% of murders have a drug nexus isn’t related to that? Murder is economical in Detroit, which is the only explanation as to why there have been more than 21,000 people murdered in this city since 1969. Shootings are economical in Detroit, because Drugs is among- if not the most profitable and accessible businesses to be in. How to quantify those numbers to add them to the Billions we know is spent just buying the drugs in Detroit every year? I don’t know. How also do we account for the billions of man-hours lost every year in the productivity of non-violent drug offenders lost as they sit warehoused in prison or on probation, often in their prime years, handicapped from employment and participation in our economy? How to account for the knock-on effect of illicit drug money swirling through our economy? The math is difficult suffice to say we know the market is absolutely massive, dynamic and incapable of being suppressed. Freedom Alternative The Freedom Alternative begins when YOU ask yourself the question: WHY do Citizens need to earn the right NOT to be arrested by the Federal Government? Does the Constitution anywhere direct the Federal Government to do this? Has the Federal Government proven itself effective in Drug Policy Enforcement in the last 50-years? No. It is a top-heavy bureaucracy that identifies a problem- drug addiction- creates an enemy - traffickers- so that it can get funding to fight it. It’s prisons and prisoners; probation officers, parole commissions and federally appointed judges. Do they all provide such a service as to warrant $15 billion dollars spent annually? It doesn’t. And, as I have tried to demonstrate, these stated expenditures are miniscule when compared to the drug industries strength as a whole. Certainly, addiction is a terrible disease. Drug abuse shortens lifespans and kills more people than any other disease out there. Considering that it is easy to make an argument for policies that prevent it. But what such arguments miss is that they aren’t making a dent. Prices on street drugs have only fallen on an inflation adjusted basis and the age of first use amongst children has only decreased falling from 16-12.5 from when the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse started keeping track in the 70s to present. From Capitol Hill to Maximum Security Penitentiaries, Illegal Drugs are available and they always will be. It’s just supply and demand. What is the Freedom Alternative? It is the defunding and de/relegislating of the laws. It is not legalization, it is defederalization. And for that I have a sterling example for you in Alcohol Prohibition. And how that happened was the government pronounced that, “the Federal Government is getting out of this business.” They worked with States to prepare them for the change, but they quickly amended laws to de-restrict the sale of some quantities of alcohol, and municipalities and States started making their own decisions. They declared in legislation that “beverages with less than 3.5% alcohol no longer fall under our jurisdiction.” If you need legislative example, imagine the federal government amending Controlled Substances acts to say “the possession of up to 1 oz. of Marijuana on private property is no longer an enforceable/chargeable issue in Federal institutions.” Benefits: Let’s look at all the money that flows to State and Local coffers because they are the nexus for distribution of alcohol? Tens of millions of dollars in Michigan alone. Not to mention the Liberty that this Freed Market has brought to its vendors and users. This was once money that flowed through the pockets of organized criminal networks throughout the nation. Where we had Capone before now we have Coors. Remove this “extra-community” organization that cannot possibly interdict the mass disbursement of drugs and let the community make its own decisions- that is the Freedom Alternative. It is trusting our local governments to act responsibly. Allow Freedom for States and Localities to act, and watch the benefits liberty will have for all. Mr. Durant, I could provide you a mountain of statistics on this, blue ribbon commission findings, and Law Enforcement official upon Law Enforcement official. You are free to ask of me any support you desire. But the question remains: What are your frank views on continuing or increasing the Federal Drug Prohibition vs. defunding and re-legislating the matter? You can ask more evidence, but you see the experience this Nation has had so far. In light of that and your principles what do you believe needs to be done here? You have demonstrated your ability to take clear, unambiguous and passionate stands in other areas. If you hold mum, or play your hand close to the chest on this, I will be hugely disappointed by the equivocation. The less clearly you stand, the more I will have to conclude that you are comfortable with the present order. I will have to presume that the cancerous illegal activity that the illegal market supports just is not your issue. I am one Hillsdale grad among many, raised in the tradition of Free-Market economics and Christian virtues that feels a deep obligation to all fellow citizens of this Nation. So when I tell you that so much of what you say resonates deeply with me, I hope you will understand my sincerity. I realize you have major supporters that desire different solutions then what I have offered. I am not a reporter, set to broadcast this email conversation for maximum benefit. I am an active and concerned Citizen and I need to know. Please get back to me at your next convenience. Thank you all for the time to read and consider this. -Andrew Rodney p. 248.672.1739

American Spring

It is so heartening to see oppressive governments shaken by the power of their people.

By largely non-violent methods and motivations, tens of millions of people have risen up. With many voices they have delivered a single message to their leaders- your rule is unjust.

Using tools never before available, they agreed on a message, a demand, on coming together and demonstrating for change.

How appropriate would it be for we Detroiters and we Americans to call our government to account for its foreign meddling in that region? Or the similar oppression that it enforces upon its own people?

As the United States of America verges on practical bankruptcy- which is to say on the near certain default on its recognized obligations- it is time to ask: What do we want from our government?

Wars?

Do we want our Cities, Counties and States building large infrastructure for warehousing criminals- many non-violent?

Do we want to see Detroit City spend 50 million dollars on another jail downtown?

Do we want the Federal Government spending money on Drug Prohibition?

NO!

I know many friends may read this and agree change is needed. But HOW is the question. And this is where the courageous people of Africa and the Middle East have shown and are showing us the way.

Revolutions of violence never work, but demonstrations of unity and civility always destroy the illusions.

And this is why I implore you believers to RISE UP.

Personally, knowing that the Drug War has taken more than 300,000 American lives devastates my sense of justice. Detroit has seen over 10,000 of these deaths and a roughly 4-fold rise in its jail population since Nixon announced the drug war 40 years ago.

Drugs are dangerous, but wars are far more deadly. Especially in a country that respects its citizens right to bear arms, but not their rights to private property when in the possession of a drug.

It is time we take a cue from our Arab brethren who are also fighting 40 years of corrupted rule.

You CAN End Drug Prohibition.

Come to the May 7 Cures not Wars peace rally at Grand Circus Park- just outside Tigers stadium. It starts at 12. March is at 4pm.

Stand with the People of Detroit. If we want the justice system to work WE have to work for it.

Rides can be arranged. Please feel free to contact me.

The only question that matters

I would like to spend as little of my life as possible as an economic philosopher.

Not that agreeing on tenants of our political-economy are of little importance- they are vital. Instead I seek to avoid this chore so I will not live my life as a type-face intellectual in an era when a real, physical revolution is needed.

Our financial system is politicized in a way that has crippled our country. Never before, has the government so extensively used its powers to print money and control credit to support an entrenched group of citizens. Of course this problem didn’t crop up in the Financial Crisis- that was just one act of a long-running play.

It is a play with many stages, because wherever there has been a regulated coin or bill of commerce, there have been individuals that have sought to expand the supply of it, while forcing the citizenry to exchange their goods for it.

You readers know this and that is why it tires me to write about it.

In this specialized day and age, we are trained that some people are expert writers, some people are expert policy makers and some people are expert builders. That division of labor. We should all just specialize in our own trade, pay our bills and taxes and let the expert’s sort out the rest.

But revolution should spring from no specialty. Just that recognition that the rights of your fellow citizens are being trampled- physically, politically, economically.

The truth we can all see is that we live in economically tyrannical times. Few will move to Detroit to be an honest banker when there are double digit returns to be made flipping government subsidized products- from mortgages to F-22’s.

We could discuss supply and demand until we are blue in the face, and heck we might just educate some people, but the time for idle talk must be over.

I for one cannot be the servant of a system that imprisons so many millions. That makes federal policy into a river of treasures for those that stand along its banks. A system that lies about its ability to ever repay its obligations, and maintain its fiduciary promises.

The hard decisions have been put off too long.

Friends, while it may seem like “the game” is the same as it always has been the fact is that our system has never been spread so thin. If we can get organized to change it right now, we can do it.

The question Are you in? If you are: Prove it. Get in touch to plan.

For more than words it is action that is needed!

Support a Righteous Vote

Everyone,

Below you will find letters I have composed to Detroit's City Council, to the Mayor, to the Chief of Police, to my State Representative and Senator, to the Attorney General and Governor and our Congressman.

I request that the City officials support Detroit's right to vote on legalizing under 1 oz. of Marijuana for people over the age of 21.

I request the State not to overturn this law. I request that our Congressman do the same.

I ask that you do the same.

I list the Addresses for all people that I have written to, but realize that your State Representatives will probably be different as may your Congressman and Local Officials.

Thank you for your time and support.


All Councilmembers have the following Mailing Address:

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave., Suite 1340
Detroit, MI 48226

There names and titles (where applicable) and email addresses are:

Council President- Charles Pugh mailto:CouncilPresidentPugh@detroitmi.gov%20
Council President Pro Tem- Gary A. Brown mailto:councilmemberbrown@detroitmi.gov?subject=Inquiry%20from%20City%20Website
Council Member Saunteel Jenkins mailto:Jenkinscouncilmemberjenkins@detroitmi.gov
Council Member Ken Cockrel CockrelK@kcockrel.ci.detroit.mi.us
Council Member Brenda Jones bjones_mb@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us
Council Member André L. Spivey CouncilmanSpivey@detroitmi.gov
Council Member James Tate councilmembertate@detroitmi.gov
Council MemberKwame Kenyatta K-Kenyatta_MB@detroitmi.gov
Council MemberJoAnn Watson WatsonJ@cncl.ci.detroit.mi.us


Dear Councilman and Council Aides,

I do not take your time lightly.

We all know that we are at a crossroads in our City and in our country. Accounts have to balance- that’s capitalism- and, as you see better than anyone, ours are running desperately short.

Ultimately finances come down to credit- trust- and whether or not you have it in the community that surrounds you.

I write with appreciation for the many good works you and your staffers do, but with respect for all of your time I will cut to the chase.

What your credit now depends on is your support of Drug Prohibition.

As longtime members of this community you are aware that we have witnessed more than 21,000 people murdered since 1969 and almost every year more than 1,000 people are shot.

These statistics are only the crudest reminder of the hypocrisy of a nation that trusts its citizens to trade in Guns, but not in Marijuana.

Drug addiction is indeed the most serious health problem this country faces. But it is a crisis we face in education, a crisis we face medically and it is a crisis we face spirituality. Our dollars can no longer so over committed to the military solution.

Clearly you can see that we are running out of money.

Now consider that in 2006, Detroit Police seized drugs with a street value of $257,515,000- more than half their total budget. Just imagine how many billions of dollars of pure profit is that working its way through our streets?

You have seen the consequences of our making drug dealers some of the richest and most powerful members of our community.

While legalization of small amounts of Marijuana will place a burden of change on this City’s residents, only emotion can lead us to overlook the facts:

· With Police officers no longer charged to incarcerate non-violent individuals carrying small amounts of Marijuana, they will be freed to take on more serious crimes. Without spending a dime you will multiply the effectiveness of our Police force.
· This will also increase trust between Police officers and citizens- most that consider use of Marijuana no worse than use of Alcohol.
· It will encourage regional and statewide solutions to these serious health and law enforcement issues as other communities realize they can no longer ask Detroit to shoulder the incalculable costs of America’s statist Drug policies.

As one person I am not claiming to have the answer to the problem of addiction and I am not asking that you lead an effort to legalize Marijuana.

I am asking that you support our right to vote on this matter.

To insist that this City hold the line set so long ago in the Drug Prohibition effort is an economic tyranny. It is taxation and it is incarceration without representation.

I write asking you to support Detroit’s right to vote on legalization of possession of 1 oz. of Marijuana for people above 21 years of age. Once again, I am not asking you to support it. I ask that you do support the people of this City’s right to vote on it.

And I write this sincerely to you Council Aides- speak your beliefs. Now is the time.

As this City, State, and country’s economic problems grow this law will be discarded, the same as with Alcohol Prohibition. Detroit has the right to be the first City outside the West to democratically declare our beliefs. If the State challenges our right to change the law so be it, but at least support our right to vote on this issue.

Before being liberals, conservatives, democrats, republicans, communists, libertarians, independents or otherwise we are first and foremost Detroiters. Stand up for our fellow citizens’ right to define their personal liberties or you will not represent me.

If you need my help on this issue in any way I am available to you. Know that I will be actively organizing and lobbying Local, State and Federal level as far as I am able.

With deepest respect in these difficult times,

-Andrew Rodney



Mayor Dave Bing
Executive Office
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center2 Woodward Ave., Ste. 1126
Detroit, MI 48226

Dear Mayor Bing and Mayoral Aides,

I do not take your time lightly.

We all know that we are at a crossroads in this City and in this country. Accounts have to balance- that’s capitalism- and, as you know best, our accounts are running desperately short.

Ultimately finances come down to credit- trust- and whether or not you have it with your people. Not just in the marketplace, but in the community that surrounds you.

I write this letter with great appreciation for the many good works you and your staffers do, but with respect for all of your time I will cut to the chase.

What your credit now depends on is your support of Drug Prohibition.

As longtime members of this community you are aware that we have witnessed more than 21,000 people murdered since 1969 and almost every year more than 1,000 people are shot.

These statistics are only the crudest reminder of the hypocrisy of a nation that trusts its citizens to trade in Guns, but not in Marijuana.

Drug addiction is indeed the most serious health problem this country faces. But it is a crisis we face in education, a crisis we face medically and it is a crisis we face spirituality. Our dollars can no longer so over committed to the military solution.

Clearly you can see that we are running out of money.

Now consider that in 2006, Detroit Police seized drugs with a street value of $257,515,000- more than half their total budget. Just imagine how many billions of dollars of pure profit is that working its way through our streets?

You have seen the consequences of our making drug dealers some of the richest and most powerful members of our community.

While Marijuana legalization will place a burden of change on this City’s residents, only emotion can lead us to overlook the facts:

· With Police officers no longer charged to incarcerate non-violent individuals carrying small amounts of Marijuana, they will be freed to take on more serious crimes. Without spending a dime you will multiply the effectiveness of our Police force.
· This will also increase trust between Police officers and citizens- most that consider use of Marijuana no worse than use of Alcohol.
· It will encourage regional and statewide solutions to these serious health and law enforcement issues as other communities realize they can no longer ask Detroit to shoulder the incalculable costs of America’s statist Drug policies.

As one person I am not claiming to have the answer to the problem of addiction and I am not asking that you lead an effort to legalize Marijuana.

I am asking that you support our right to vote on this matter.

To insist that this City hold the line set so long ago in the Drug Prohibition effort is an economic tyranny. It is taxation and it is incarceration without representation.

I write asking you to support Detroit’s right to vote on legalization of possession of 1 oz. of Marijuana for people above 21 years of age. Once again, you do not have to support it, but I ask that you do support the people of this City’s right to vote on it.

And I write this sincerely to you Mayoral aides- speak your beliefs. Now is the time.

As this City, State, and country’s economic problems grow this law will be discarded, the same as with Alcohol Prohibition. Detroit has the right to be the first City outside the West to democratically declare our beliefs. If the State challenges our right to change the law so be it, but at least support our right to vote on this issue.

Before being liberals, conservatives, democrats, republicans, communists, libertarians, independents or otherwise we are first and foremost Detroiters. Stand up for our fellow citizens’ right to define their personal liberties or you will not represent me.

If you need my help on this issue in any way I am available to you. Know that I will be actively organizing and lobbying Local, State and Federal level as far as I am able.

With deepest respect in these difficult times,

-Andrew Rodney



Attorney General Mike Cox

G. Mennen Williams Building 7th Floor
525 W. Ottawa St.
P.O. Box 30212
Lansing, MI 48909

Cadillac Place, 10th Floor
3030 W. Grand Blvd.
Suite 10-200Detroit, MI 48202

miag@michigan.gov


Attorney General Cox and AG Aides,

I do not take your time lightly.

We all know that we are at a crossroads in our State and in our country. Accounts have to balance- that’s capitalism- and ours are running desperately short.

Ultimately finances come down to credit- trust- and whether or not you have it in the community that surrounds you.

I write with appreciation for the many good works you and your staffers do, but with respect for all of your time I will cut to the chase.

What your credit now depends on is your support of Drug Prohibition.

As I am sure you are aware Detroit has witnessed more than 21,000 people murdered since 1969 and almost every year more than 1,000 people are shot. This IS a war and so many of this City’s residents are struggling for their very existence.

You have stated that your office will not stand for Detroit to enforce its own policy regarding marijuana arrests; this while your office is unable to enforce basic safety and security for this City’s residents; this State’s citizens.

To insist that Detroit hold the line set so long ago in this facet of our nation’s Drug Prohibition effort is nothing short of economic tyranny.

It is a policy of taxation, and incarceration and you have stated that it will be done without representation.

You cannot ask this City to hold the line, where your own office is incapable of having any impact. Continue to do so and, as a member of numerous conservative organizations, I will exercise every wit of my influence to oppose your bid for Governor.

Ignore this warning at your electoral and professional peril.

And I ask you, aides that have to toil through these letters- speak your mind. Now is the time. I apologize if this letter seems just another shrill demand- that is not me. But I have seen too many good people imprisoned, too much trust in the community destroyed, by this unequal law and I must speak up.

You all should be able to see the writing on the wall of this economic crisis. Just as Alcohol Prohibition was proven infeasible during the Great Depression so Marijuana Prohibition will be overturned as we are seeing in the West right now. Let Detroit be first in the East. The indescribable pain our citizenry has suffered these many decades proves that we must be allowed to make these decisions on a community level- on the level we are being asked to enforce these laws.

In 2006, Detroit Police seized drugs with a street value of $257,515,000- more than half their total budget. Just imagine how many billions of dollars of pure profit is that working its way through this City’s streets while making drug dealers some of the most powerful members of our community!

To ask us to continue to bear the burden of enforcement is intolerable.

I have written a similar letter to every Councilmember to our Mayor, our Governor, every State and Federal representative I have and every enforcement official with a voice.

You are either with Detroit or you are against us. Please make the right decision.


With deepest respect in these difficult times,

-Andrew Rodney



Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909


Governor Granholm and Aides to the Governor,

I do not take your time lightly.

We all know that we are at a crossroads in our State and in our country. Accounts have to balance- that’s capitalism- and ours are running desperately short.

Ultimately finances come down to credit- trust- and whether or not you have it in the community that surrounds you.

I write with appreciation for the many good works you and your staffers do, but with respect for all of your time I will cut to the chase.

What your credit now depends on is your support of Drug Prohibition.

As I am sure you are aware Detroit has witnessed more than 21,000 people murdered since 1969 and almost every year more than 1,000 people are shot. This IS a war and so many of this City’s residents are struggling for their very existence.

The Attorney General’s office has stated that Michigan will not stand for Detroit to enforce its own policy regarding Marijuana arrests; this while the State of Michigan is unable to enforce basic safety and security for this City’s residents; this State’s citizens.

To insist that Detroit hold the line set so long ago in this facet of our nation’s Drug Prohibition effort is nothing short of economic tyranny.

It is a policy of taxation, and incarceration and you have stated that it will be done without representation.

You cannot ask this City to hold the line, where your own office is incapable of having any impact.

And I ask you, Aides that have to toil through these letters- speak your mind. Now is the time. I apologize if this letter seems just another shrill demand- that is not me. But I have seen too many good people imprisoned by this unequal law, too much trust in the community destroyed, and I must speak up.

You all should be able to see the writing on the wall of this economic crisis. Just as Alcohol Prohibition was proven infeasible during the Great Depression so Marijuana Prohibition will be overturned as we are seeing in the West right now. Let Detroit be first in the East. The indescribable pain our citizenry has suffered these many decades proves that we must be allowed to make these decisions on a community level- on the level we are being asked to enforce these laws.

In 2006, Detroit Police seized drugs with a street value of $257,515,000- more than half their total budget. Just imagine how many billions of dollars of pure profit is that working its way through this City’s streets?

To ask us to continue to bear the burden of enforcement is intolerable.

I have written a similar letter to every Councilmember to our Mayor, our Governor, every State and Federal representative I have and every enforcement official with a voice.

You are either with this City or you are against us. Please make the right decision.


With deepest respect in these difficult times,

-Andrew Rodney


State Representative and Senator

Fred Durhal (6th District Representative)
P.O. Box 30014
Lansing, MI 48909-7514

freddurhal@house.mi.gov

Hansen Clarke (1st District Senator)

P.O. Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536

SenHansenClarke@senate.michigan.gov


Dear State Representative/Senator and Representative/Senatorial Aides,

I do not take your time lightly.

We all know that we are at a crossroads in our City, State and in our country. Accounts have to balance- that’s capitalism- and, as you see better than anyone, ours are running desperately short.

Ultimately finances come down to credit- trust- and whether or not you have it in the community that surrounds you.

I write with appreciation for the many good works you and your staffers do, but with respect for all of your time I will cut to the chase.

What your credit now depends on is your support of Drug Prohibition.

As longtime members of this community you are aware that we have witnessed more than 21,000 people murdered since 1969 and almost every year more than 1,000 people are shot.
These statistics are only the crudest reminder of the hypocrisy of a nation that trusts its citizens to trade in Guns, but not in Marijuana.

Drug addiction is indeed the most serious health problem this country faces. But it is a crisis we face in education, a crisis we face medically and it is a crisis we face spirituality. Our dollars can no longer so over committed to the military solution.

Clearly you can see that we are running out of money.

Now consider that in 2006, Detroit Police seized drugs with a street value of $257,515,000- more than half their total budget. Just imagine how many billions of dollars of pure profit is that working its way through our streets?

You have seen the consequences of our making drug dealers some of the richest and most powerful members of our community.

While legalization of small amounts of Marijuana will place a burden of change on this City’s residents, only emotion can lead us to overlook the facts:

· With Police officers no longer charged to incarcerate non-violent individuals carrying small amounts of Marijuana, they will be freed to take on more serious crimes. Without spending a dime you will multiply the effectiveness of our Police force.
· This will also increase trust between Police officers and citizens- most that consider use of Marijuana no worse than use of Alcohol.
· It will encourage regional and statewide solutions to these serious health and law enforcement issues as other communities realize they can no longer ask Detroit to shoulder the incalculable costs of America’s statist Drug policies.

As one person I am not claiming to have the answer to the problem of addiction and I am not asking that you lead an effort to legalize Marijuana.

I am asking that you support our right to vote on this matter.

To insist that this City hold the line set so long ago in the Drug Prohibition effort is an economic tyranny. It is taxation and it is incarceration without representation.

I write asking you to support Detroit’s right to vote on legalization of possession of 1 oz. of Marijuana for people above 21 years of age. Once again, I am not asking you to support it. I ask that you do support the people of this City’s right to vote on it.

And I write this sincerely to you Aides to the Representative- speak your beliefs. Now is the time.

As this City, State, and country’s economic problems grow this law will be discarded, the same as with Alcohol Prohibition. Detroit has the right to be the first City outside the West to democratically declare our beliefs. And we cannot allow a State that is incapable of enforcing security in our City to make this decision for us.

Before being liberals, conservatives, democrats, republicans, communists, libertarians, independents or otherwise we are first and foremost Detroiters. Stand up for our fellow citizens’ right to define their personal liberties or you will not represent me.

If you need my help on this issue in any way I am available to you. Know that I will be fighting this fight on the Local, State and Federal level as far as I am able.

With deepest respect in these difficult times,

-Andrew Rodney


Detroit Police Chief Warren C. Evans
DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT
1300 Beaubien
Detroit, MI 48226

Chiefofpolice@dpdhq.ci.detroit.mi.us


Dear Chief Evans and Chief-Aides,

I do not take your time lightly.

We all know that we are at a crossroads in our City and in our country. Accounts have to balance- that’s capitalism- and ours are running desperately short.

Ultimately finances, like civil security itself, come down to credit- trust- and whether or not you have it in the community that surrounds you.

I write with appreciation for the many good works you and the Detroit Police Department perform, but with respect for all of your time I will cut to the chase.

What your credit now depends on is your support of Drug Prohibition.

As longtime members of this community you are aware that we have witnessed more than 21,000 people murdered since 1969 and almost every year more than 1,000 people are shot.
These statistics are only the crudest reminder of the hypocrisy of a nation that trusts its citizens to trade in Guns, but not in Marijuana.

Drug addiction is indeed the most serious health problem this country faces. But it is a crisis we face in education, a crisis we face medically and it is a crisis we face spirituality. Our dollars can no longer so over committed to the military solution.

Clearly you can see that we are running out of money.

In 2006, your Police Department seized drugs with a street value of $257,515,000- more than half the total budget at that time. Just imagine how many billions of dollars of pure profit is that working its way through our streets?

You have seen the consequences of our making drug dealers some of the richest and most powerful members of our community.

While Marijuana legalization will place a burden of change on this City’s residents, only emotion can lead us to overlook the facts:

· With Police officers no longer charged to incarcerate non-violent individuals carrying small amounts of Marijuana, they will be freed to take on more serious crimes. Without spending a dime you will multiply the effectiveness of our Police force.
· This will also increase trust between Officers and Citizens- most who consider the use of Marijuana no worse than use of Alcohol.
· It will encourage regional and statewide solutions to these serious health and law enforcement issues as other communities realize they can no longer ask Detroit to shoulder the incalculable costs of America’s statist Drug policies.

As one person I am not claiming to have the answer to the problem of addiction and I am not asking that you lead an effort to legalize Marijuana.

I am asking that you support our right to vote on this matter.

To insist that this City hold the line set so long ago in the Drug Prohibition effort is an economic tyranny. It is taxation and it is incarceration without representation.

I write asking you to support Detroit’s right to vote on legalization of possession of 1 oz. of Marijuana for people above 21 years of age. Once again, I am not asking you to support it. I ask that you do support the people of this City’s right to vote on it.

And I write this sincerely to you Aides to the chief- speak your beliefs. Now is the time.

As this City, state, and country’s economic problems grow this law will be discarded, the same as with Alcohol Prohibition. Detroit has the right to be the first City outside the West to democratically declare our beliefs. If the State challenges our right to change the law so be it, but at least support our right to vote on this issue.

Before being liberals, conservatives, democrats, republicans, communists, libertarians, independents or otherwise we are first and foremost Detroiters. Please stand up for your fellow citizens’ right to define their personal liberties.

I understand that you do not pass these laws and please know that I have taken this plea to many Local, State, and Federal representatives and officials, but the opinion of your office is critical. The fight to be made is in how to enforce the people’s will- not in whether they should be allowed to express that will in the public forum.

With deepest respect and support in these difficult times,

-Andrew Rodney


Congressmen

Senator Carl Levin

269 Russell Office Building
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510-2202

Fill out the form on this page to Email: http://levin.senate.gov/contact/

Senator Debbie Stabenow

133 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

http://stabenow.senate.gov/email.htm

Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick

2264 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2215

https://kilpatrickforms.house.gov/email_me.aspx


Dear Congressman and Congressional Aides,

I do not take your time lightly.

We all know that we are at a crossroads in this country. Accounts have to balance- that’s capitalism- and ours are running desperately short.

Ultimately it comes down to credit and whether or not you have it with your people- not just in Washington, DC or in the marketplace, but in the community that surrounds you.

I could write of my appreciation for the many good works you and your staffers do, but with respect for all of your time I will cut to the chase.

Where you lack credibility in this community is in your stance on Drug Prohibition.

More than 21,000 people have been murdered in Detroit since 1969. The majority have been drug-related, and this figure does not count wounded.

In the first 6-months of 2004, 800 people were shot in Detroit.
At the same time the US experienced 100 people wounded in Afghanistan.

In the first 7-months of 2009, 700 people were shot in Detroit.
At the same time the US experienced 517 wounded in the War in Iraq.

The fact is that by inaction your office is supporting a policy that is destroying this community.

Drug addiction is indeed the most serious health problem this country faces. But it is a crisis we face in education, a crisis we face medically and it is a crisis we face spirituality. Our dollars can no longer be so over committed to the military solution.

You can clearly see that we are running out of money.

In 2006, Detroit Police seized drugs with a street value of $257,515,000- more than half their total budget. How many billions of dollars of pure profit is that on our streets? And whose budget is more likely to get cut- Police or dealers?

And I will not even speak to the human consequences of what making drug dealers the richest people in urban communities has done to this country, save the body counts mentioned above; the CRUDEST reminder of the hypocrisy of a nation that trusts its citizens to trade in Weapons, but not in Marijuana.

I am not claiming as one person to have the answer to the problem of addiction.

I am asking that my community be allowed to decide for itself where to make our stand.

To insist that this city hold a line set so long ago in the wider Drug Prohibition effort in the face of such terrible costs is an economic tyranny. It is taxation and incarceration without representation!

Support Detroit’s right to legalize possession of 1 oz. of Marijuana for people above 21 years of age.

If you do not stand with this city now; if you will not be counted than we will know that we cannot count on you.

I am not a tea partier. I am not a democrat. I am not a republican. I am not a conservative and I am not a liberal. I am a Detroiter. Stand up for our fellow citizens’ right to define their personal liberties or you will not represent me.

If you need my help on this issue in any way I am available to you. Know that I will be actively organizing and lobbying Local, State and Federal level as far as I am able.


With respect

-Andrew Rodney





If you've gotten this far, thank you readers.