Regarding civil disobedience

[retdetsgt]

I ask this of you because I appreciate the thoughts and opinions of the people who enforce the law about the law. A good example would be the marijuana issues. I don't know of any legislators that have actually seen and dealt with the home invasion robberies and other crimes that stem around drugs. Police do. The only reason that I know about just a small fraction of the issues around it is because of the people on this site. Police see the things on a daily basis and the consequences of laws that most people, including lawmakers and myself, don't see.

You lost me. Are you talking about civil disobedience over marijuana laws? To me that's hardly taking away the rights of any group of people. There is nothing in the constitution that says you have the right to use and possess mind altering substances.

To get off topic for a second, if you repeal all drug laws, the economy of this and other countries are going to go topsy turvy. Illegal drug sales, ****ty as they are, do provide a living for a lot of people. If drugs are legalized, the unemployment rate will increase dramatically and there will be some effect on the consumer index. Drug dealers spend all their profits on the open market.

[TheQuietCorner]

You lost me. Are you talking about civil disobedience over marijuana laws?

I'm sorry, the intent of my post was civil disobedience, but not regarding marijuana laws. I was trying to ask about civil disobedience in general. I was trying to explain why I asked this question here.

The reason is that you all have a perspective on the law that I don't have and our lawmakers don't have. I don't know your perspective on civil disobedience, which is why I asked the question. When I came to this site, I also didn't know some of the specifics of Police opinions on marijuana. I gained somewhat of an understanding and a different perspective from reading the posts of some of the LEO's. Similarly, I was hoping to gain a new perspective from LEO's on civil disobedience. I'm sorry if I was unclear.

[Valor55]

To get off topic for a second, if you repeal all drug laws, the economy of this and other countries are going to go topsy turvy. Illegal drug sales, ****ty as they are, do provide a living for a lot of people. If drugs are legalized, the unemployment rate will increase dramatically and there will be some effect on the consumer index. Drug dealers spend all their profits on the open market.

We can keep it illegal and the Fair Tax will still get generate revenue even from the black market. Dope dealers still buy cars and other stuff. :D Ok, back to the original thread. </soapbox>

[Derexan]

You know, sometimes the legislative process fails/ gets totally thrown out the door.


Just keep that in mind.

[Valor55]

You know, sometimes the legislative process fails/ gets totally thrown out the door.


Just keep that in mind.

You're right. Lets throw rocks, burn down buildings, and attack police. That'll fix things.

[Stan Switek]

No fires but a PETA "demonstration" got real out of hand once. It's amazing how much they talk about tolerance but don't practice it.

PETA used to be well behaved. They would protest every year at the circus here. The would stay in a desiganted area & everyone was polite. No problems. For the most part very civil & nice people.

About 6 years ago, they lost their minds. They would not cooperate at all. The mindset completely changed. One chick looks at me & yells "What are you looking at? I don't have any donuts!" Of course I had to reply, What are you looking at? I don't have any dog food!" We took a few to jail the hard way. They scored zero points with the public.

The Anarchists are a whole different story. We used to have a very active Anarchist chapter in our city. We worked with the FBI & made some pretty good cases on some. They had a big May Day protest & they went nuts, so we went nuts right back. When were were done, 200+ in custody, many the hard way. We prosecuted EVERYONE & asked for maximum sentences. Some went to state prison. We closed down the local chapter & they have been MIA since in our city. THere was even an article written about it called "The day the Anarchists got their asses kicked!" Anyway, "tough love" worked for us.

[oscarmitre]

In looking at a recent thread, I had a question that I'd like some other perspectives on. I recently had a conversation with my dad on the topic as well, and I'm not sure how exactly to look at the issue. I have no intention of bashing anybody or their actions or opinions in this thread.

When you disagree with a law or an act of government, what is an appropriate way to change it? During the racial issues in the middle of the century, there were a lot of violations of the law in an attempt to change the law. During the Vietnam War, there were a lot of deserters who didn't agree with the war.

If the government refuses to change a law that you or a group of people disagree with, when does it become acceptable to break the law?

I hope I'm clear enough in my question and intentions. Thanks.

Walk to the ocean and take a handful of salt. It worked for Gandhi.

[Prometheus]

Walk to the ocean and take a handful of salt. It worked for Gandhi.

I don't get that. I consider myself pretty astute, but... I don't get it.

As for as civil disobediance/non-violent resistance goes, I think the concept has been very well stated here. Stand up for what you believe in, but be willing to accept the consequences. If you believe in something strongly enough, the price you pay will be more than worth it.

Having said that, there is also a time and place to go beyond civil disobediance. There have been times when non-violent resistance was not enough, and violence was warranted. Our revolutionary war, for example. Or the group of Jews that fought back when the Nazis came to round them up (the name of that incident escapes me at the moment).

Again, it all boils down to what you're willing to sacrifice for your cause. Your freedom? Your life? Someone elses life? Everything worth having has a cost.

[oscarmitre]

Gandhi walked to the ocean and picked up a handful of salt in defiance of orders by the British who controlled India that Indians had to buy their salt from the British colonial authorities. He walked hundreds of miles, gathering his his followers and took a handful of salt from near the ocean. He didn't kill anyone, he didn't beat anyone, he didn't raise his arm or even his voice - but he broke the law and he broke it knowingly and deliberately.

Much good came from a man walking many miles to pick up a handful of salt and much good came from a woman who refused to give up her seat on a bus.

[Derexan]

You're right. Lets throw rocks, burn down buildings, and attack police. That'll fix things.

I'm not suggesting that.

But sometimes just holding a bunch of signs doesn't quite do it.

[retdetsgt]

I'm not suggesting that.

But sometimes just holding a bunch of signs doesn't quite do it.

Rule by angry minority, huh?