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usenet/Newt_wants_DRUG_LEGALIZATION_vo.html

From our archives of Tom's USENET posts. Some of these posts are over a decade old. The author may have mellowed with age since these were written, but the basic views remain. (Please note that web links inside this document may be broken.)


From tms Tue Jul 25 11:21:02 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <3upd68$1b2@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> <3ur7du$svn@grape. epix.net> <3uu610$99q@everest.pinn.net> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: ferch@pinn.net (ferch) writes: > Well not quite guys,if he is so afraid of freedom,why suggest a vote? >I think the citizens that will vote down legalization across the USA is the >tyrany you fear. Putting it to a vote is highly fair and Democratic,and what >this counrty stands for! No. The United States is not a democracy. A democracy has no protection for the rights of the minority. (As someone put it, two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for lunch.) The United States is a constitutional democratic republic. The powers of government are sharply limited. The powers of the federal government most definitely do not include the power to criminalize the use or intra-state sale of certain psychoactive chemicals. To put it as simply as I can: _you_ do not get to vote away _my_ freedoms. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house." --George Carlin From tms Tue Jul 25 11:29:43 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: talk.politics.drugs Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <3uu610$99q@everest.pinn.net> <3uv5n7$fak@news1.best. com> <3uvpun$2e7@everest.pinn.net> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: ferch@pinn.net (ferch) writes: > That ending has gotta go,it's getting old. For a clueless person,I >sure am getting alot of good responces from people in the newsgroup >talk.politics.drugs . I think if I was clueless,people would ignore me like >you and others. As far as what the country was founded upon,I thought it was >the thing about taxation without repersatation theroy. If you feel your cause >is not repersented enough,speak to your Congressman,talk on radio,give >lectures,picket,and try darn hard to change you so called "proabitionests" >minds with facts,sauve,knowledge,and wit. GET A CLUE! We're working on it. Which is why the movement for drug policy reform keeps growing. But Prohibition is big business. The legal drug industry, the law enforcement and LE support industry, prision construction and operation (a _booming_ business these days!)industry, drug "treatment" industry, and politicians who use drugs as a conveniet scapegoat have a strong interest in the status quo. There's more money in Prohibition than in legalization for these folks, and as we all know the great principle on which American government operates is "Money talks." (Actually, it SCREAMS!) == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house." --George Carlin From tms Wed Jul 26 12:57:13 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <SDL.95Jul16190743@rigel.linus.mitre.org> <ROGT.95Jul23174503@ holmes.engr.sgi.com> <3v0pag$euh@everest.pinn.net> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: ferch@pinn.net (ferch) writes: > You have had 35 years since the sixties movements More like 25 or 30 since marijuana began to be used by a large number of Americans (late 60's), compared to 58 years (twice as long!) of government lies about it - the Marijuana Tax Act was passed in 1937, with testamony such as the following from Harry J. Anslinger: "How many murders, suicides, robberies, criminal assaults, hold-ups, burglaries, and deeds of maniacal insanity it [marijuana] causes each year, especially among the young, can only be conjectured." "There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others." == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe Hofstadter's Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take Hofstadter's Law into account. From tms Wed Aug 2 12:05:03 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <3vl5pv$q0b@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: > >The people through the instrument of government can decide to set age >limits for alcohol consumption. European democracies have chosen a >slightly lower age limit than the US, but there is still limit. "Slightly?" Isn't it something like 12 in Germany? > This will >cease to be a concern to you as you as you and your friends are all 21. It didn't stop concerning me when I turned 21. I am concerned about drinking age laws because they encourage alcohol abuse amoung teenagers, and subject people who have done no harm to others to arrest. A sixteen year old drinking a beer should not be a criminal. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe Finagle's first Law: If an experiment works, something has gone wrong. From tms Mon Aug 7 12:23:39 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <3vqd8v$cid@news.ios.com> <3vtibl$5cv@solitaire.cv. nrao.edu> <403cav$mh@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: > >: How many people choose to work in a chicken processing plant by >: volition rather than desperation? How about McDonalds, or shoveling cow >: manure in a dairy barn? (Both jobs I have had.) People do things they >: would rather not do all the time. It's called working. > >I see a distinction between selling one's time and labor and selling >one's body, however. And while prostitution is often described as the latter, it is clearly an example of the former. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe The Peter Principle: People are promoted until they reach their level of incompetence. From tms Mon Aug 7 14:35:11 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <3vqd8v$cid@news.ios.com> <3vthsn$gk2@frodo.smartlink. net> <405f8b$skc@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: >Clifford A. Schaffer (schaffer@smartlink.net) wrote: >: Actually, in Europe, where it is legal, the majority of them do choose >: it by volition. The same is true in Nevada where it is legal. > >And what events in their lives persuaded them to make such a >self-destructive choice? On what basis do you claim that prostitution, in an environment where it is legal and prostitutes are subject to the same protection as other workers, is a "self-destructive choice?" == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe The Peter Principle: People are promoted until they reach their level of incompetence. From tms Wed Aug 9 13:11:30 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <403cav$mh@news.ios.com> <405ep4$ksl@shemesh.tis. com> <40acpd$s4q@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: >: >I see a distinction between selling one's time and labor and selling >: >one's body, however. > >: And while prostitution is often described as the latter, it is clearly >: an example of the former. > >I find the callousness with which you regard the exploitation of women to >be at odds with your .sig: > >: "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe How is it callous to point out that in is in no way, shape, or form accurate to state that prostitutes sell their bodies? It certainly does not encourage or sanction the exploitation of any person, something I've always fought. Prostitutes sell their time and labor, just as everyone else does; they no more sell their bodies than a dockworker sells his, or than I sell my brain by working as a software developer. Is prostitution the best way to make a living? Probably not. Is it better than flipping burgers at McDonalds? That's a choice for the individual to make. That's something we like to call personal freedom. In a perfect world, no one would have to hold either of these jobs. We'd all have dream careers; I'd be a paid research subject at the Institute for the Development of Hedonism, on a tropical beach with some fancy rum drink and a beautiful woman and small teams of experts constantly working on new ways to be nice to me. And we'd all have as many loving partners as we want, and everyone would get exactly as much sex as they wanted. But as you may have noticed, ours is not a perfect world. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child." -- Former Vice President Dan Quayle From tms Thu Aug 10 11:30:56 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <407rom$fnc@news.ios.com> <408cpr$qsn@news.cc.utah. edu> <40csic$eio@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: > >There's a big difference between consensual sex and having to fork over X >amount of money to a pimp to avoid abuse. Which is a damn good reason to make it legal. Prostitutes working in legal brothels don't get beatten up by pimps. >My contention is that it is not really a "choice" for most women. It's >what they do when they have no choices. So are a lot of jobs. We don't make it illegal for women to work sewing garments; we regulate the industry to attempt to prevent their exploitation. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Fri Aug 11 11:11:09 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <KENT.DALTON.95Aug10154437@a-s.symbios.com> <40e5fu$8rq@ newsbf02.news.aol.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: susantre@aol.com (Susantre) writes: > >I wish all you sanctimonious men would answer my questions asked in a >previous, suspiciously ignored post, i.e. Is this lovely "profession" you >are all so respectful toward is something you might encourage your >daughter or son to go into if it's legalized? What in the world des that have to do with anything? I wouldn't encourage my (hypothetical) children to become priests or nuns, either. That doesn't mean I think that those who wish to do so should be punished by law. >Or is it just so WONDERFUL >for OTHER people? Like you know Jenny, it's tough paying your college >tuition for your Mom and I, you think you could spread 'em for every Tom >Dick and Harry that walks in the door for a few months? If my (hypothetical) son or daughter did, upon reaching adulthood, decide that for whatever reason, they were going to become a prostitute, I'd much rather that they be able to do so legally and not be subject to abuse from johns (or janes?) or pimps. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Mon Aug 14 11:51:32 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <40acpd$s4q@news.ios.com> <40aqau$1fp@shemesh.tis. com> <40g35v$pih@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: > >: Prostitutes sell their time and labor, just as everyone else does; >: they no more sell their bodies than a dockworker sells his, or than I sell >: my brain by working as a software developer. Is prostitution the best way >: to make a living? Probably not. Is it better than flipping burgers at >: McDonalds? That's a choice for the individual to make. That's something we >: like to call personal freedom. > >What if your daughter is making the choice between flipping burgers or >becoming a prostitute? Does the thought make you feel a little queasy? >Pay attention to that feeling. It's telling you something. I might. (I'd hope she'd have much better choices than either of these.) I'd also feel queasy if my hypothetical daughter became a devout Southern Baptist. That has absolutely no bearing on whether either should be legal. "I don't like it" in no way implies "People who do it should be locked in cages." == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Mon Aug 14 12:08:10 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <40gmls$nfr@news.cc.utah.edu> <40h09r$5lf@newsbf02. news.aol.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: susantre@aol.com (Susantre) writes: >To descibe a child's spreading their legs or bending over for every Tom >Dick and Harry or even every egomaniacal movie star and their buddies as a >choice they make that maybe I wouldn't like but I'd rather they do it in a >nice clean antiseptic place etc is in my mind incomprehensible. Who's mentioned children? This entire discussion has been about competent adults. >I believe there can be honor in all work, but I can't see it in >prostitution. Bully for you. I can't see it in personl injury lawyers. I wouldn't enocourage anyone to go into either field. That has nothing to do with the fact that people who make their living by either of these means should not be locked in cages for doing so. Nor should their customers. >And yes I for one would much rather have a son that is a garbageman than >one who bends over or even is a high-priced houseboy for rich homosexuals. Again, bully for you. But what would you do if your adult son announced that he did, for whatever bizarre reason, want to be a homosexual prostitute? Or a heterosexual one, for that matter; let's not pretend that there aren't women who'll pay for sex. >I also cannot comprehend the connection which keeps coming up between >casual sex, enjoying sex and prostitution. I have a feeling that if I >analyzed this issue the answer would be SEXISM. An accusation based on your "feeling" is irrelevant without such a logical analysis. Try again. >As for the legality issue I don't care enough to really look into it. Then why'd you chime in? What do you think this whole discussion is about?! == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Mon Aug 14 12:11:56 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <401ik3$8fc@shado.jaguNET.com> <40df5o$ddc@solitaire. cv.nrao.edu> <40jbrn$go0@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: >Women rarely become prostitutes of their own free will; it is something >they are forced into doing by circumstance. Source? Or is this just your opinion? >Prostitution is not just a >job; it is a violation of self-worth. That's not _your_ choice, or mine, to make; it's the prostitute's. > "Prostitution" and "freedom" do not >go together, no matter how many excuses you make for it. This is, as others have pointed out,quite simply wrong. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Tue Aug 15 10:43:58 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <40onnq$qi@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: >Daron Myrick (daronm@onramp.net) wrote: > >: If women would learn how to communicate with men or even care these >: days (possibly with grunts and groans) we would be able to decode their >: output/input. > >If men would learn how to communicate with women or even care these days >(possibly in whole sentences, and while not watching televised sports) we >would be able to decode their output/input. Nothing like meeting sexism with sexism, eh? I'm not sure if I should be heartened by your evidence that women can be just as prejudiced, unthinking, and insulting as men. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Wed Aug 16 13:17:33 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <40jbrn$go0@news.ios.com> <40jq5u$1asu@rover.ucs. ualberta.ca> <40rgv2$p5d@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: > >Even better, let women make up their own minds without coercion of any type. >This includes no psychological or emotional intimidation or manipulation. >This includes encouraging all women to have a positive self-image, >including feeling positive about their own worth as human beings and >their sexuality. Fine! Wonderful! That's exactly what I want! (Except substitute "people" for "women", above.) A first necessary step is to get the government out of personal decisions about sexuality and control of one's own body. > If this ever happened, prostitution of women would >disappear overnight. Doubtful. (And why just women? Do you think prostitution of men is ok?) But the lot of prostitutes _would_ be much improved. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Thu Aug 17 10:57:03 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <40e92v$k02@nntp4.u.washington.edu> <40jjm6$jp2@news. ios.com> <40ucu3$981@shado.jaguNET.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: leebrown@[address elided] (Lee E. Brown) writes: > >I don't think that a single one of these self-appointed oracles of liberty >and freedom would approve of determining another human being's worth in >terms of physical attributes; fat, thin, black, white, handicapped, ugly >(or in our politically-correct jargon, "unfortunately configured.") True. >Yet that is exactly the case with prostitution; the prostitute's worth is >judged by firm boobs, a tight pussy, and youthful muscle tone. Non-sequitor. First, you are using the word "worth" in two different senses. While above average intelligence may make me worth more as a software developer than some others, it does not make me worth more as a human being. Second, head on over to your local Royal Farms store and check out the variety of porno mags on the shelf - there are ones that specialize in every size, shape, color, and age of woman imaginable. I can only assume that people who desire the services of prostitutes would be interested in a similar variety of sexual turn-ons. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Fri Aug 18 13:33:49 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,talk.politics.drugs,alt.politics.usa. constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <40u8k1$981@shado.jaguNET.com> <4107ds$28t@frodo. smartlink.net> <411bbu$drf@shado.jaguNET.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: leebrown@[address elided] (Lee E. Brown) writes: >> Isn't that something which has to come down to personal opinion? As >>I said, there is a local woman who is suing for the right to be a >>prostitute. She seems to think it is fun, not degrading. > >Ask the other women in the community if they appreciate someone >perpetuating the notion of women as playtoys. Ask them if they think >that's fun. The point you miss is that is not the business of the other women in the community if the first woman acts in a way that perpetuates the notion that women are playtoys. (And it's arguable that she is. Playtoys don't bring lawsuits.) Women have no more right to control the bodies of other women than men do. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Fri Aug 18 13:40:30 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,alt.drugs.psychedelics,talk.politics. drugs,alt.politics.usa.constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <40ubvf$981@shado.jaguNET.com> <41028s$dm4@malibog. hal.com> <41144u$drf@shado.jaguNET.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: leebrown@[address elided] (Lee E. Brown) writes: > >The differences are that human sexuality is NOT a sport Sez you. Maybe others disagree. Ain't your or my buiness if they do. >, and the use of >another human's body is NOT a sport. Atheletes are recognized for their >achievments as POEPLE - while a prostitute is something to stick your dick >into. Maybe other people have different views of prostitutes. Why couldn't a skilled prostitute be recognized for his or her achievements? == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Mon Aug 21 12:32:58 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,talk.politics.drugs,alt.politics.usa. constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <411bbu$drf@shado.jaguNET.com> <412iu0$l4n@shemesh. tis.com> <413qg1$nrt@shado.jaguNET.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: leebrown@[address elided] (Lee E. Brown) writes: >>The point you miss is that is not the business of the other women in >>the community if the first woman acts in a way that perpetuates the notion >>that women are playtoys. (And it's arguable that she is. Playtoys don't >>bring lawsuits.) Women have no more right to control the bodies of other >>women than men do. > >The point you miss is that a RESPONSIBLE person will CHOOSE to forgo >something that is fully withins their own RIGHTS and LIBERTIES to avoid >creating a harmful situation for someone else. (Lee, have you been studying at the Ludwig Plutonium School of Capitalization?) It is not within a persons rights or liberties to directly and knowingly create a harmful situation for another. However, that is not relevant to the matter under discussion here. >Thus, what you ignore or simply fail to notice is the linkage between that >woman's choice and the consequences it has for the other women of the >community. Please attempt to demonstrate the existence of this linkage, so often invoked but never demonstrated or proven by those who wish to control the private lives of others. >By perpetuating the stereotype of women as sex objects, she helps to >perpetuate the attitudes that lead to sexual harrasment and discrimination >against women. People who are going to discriminate against women are going to do so regardless of the choice of any individual to sell or not sell sexual services. The suggestion that one woman's choice to sell sexual services results in harm to other women is specious at best. >So, while she is acting fully within her RIGHTS, That's all I wanted you to admit. If you want to argue that while a woman has the legal right to sell sexual services, you would prefer it if she didn't, go right ahead. You have every right to such a preference and every right to express it; but you also have the responsibility to acknowledge, and even defend, the right of the individual to sell sex. > she has an excellent opportunity to make a RESPONSIBLE CHOICE and look >beyond her own SELF-INTEREST. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Wed Aug 23 15:23:36 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,talk.politics.drugs,alt.politics.usa. constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <413qg1$nrt@shado.jaguNET.com> <41acg1$c3j@shemesh. tis.com> <41fjlu$n4v@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: > >: It is not within a persons rights or liberties to directly and >: knowingly create a harmful situation for another. However, that is not >: relevant to the matter under discussion here. > >That is EXACTLY the matter under discussion here. Then please attempt to explain exactly how one person's choice to have sex with another person for money directly and knowingly creates a harmful situation for some third person. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead From tms Mon Aug 28 16:03:34 EDT 1995 Newsgroups: alt.drugs.pot,talk.politics.drugs,alt.politics.usa. constitution Subject: Re: Newt wants DRUG LEGALIZATION vote! Summary: Expires: References: <41fjlu$n4v@news.ios.com> <41fv81$ldj@shemesh.tis. com> <41n79n$q7j@news.ios.com> Sender: Followup-To: poster Distribution: Organization: from, not for, Trusted Information Systems, Inc. Keywords: I think this has long left the focus of any of these newsgroups. Follow-ups to e-mail. mahababs@ios.com (Barbara O'Brien) writes: > >: Then please attempt to explain exactly how one person's choice to have >: sex with another person for money directly and knowingly creates a harmful >: situation for some third person. > >If prostitution were truly private -- two people who know each other making >a private arrangement between themselves -- then it wouldn't be anyone's >business but theirs. However, prostitution by nature is not private; it >is a business, and it has to be carried on at least partly in public. Apparently you use a strange definition of the word "private" that makes it almost meaningless. Under your definition, if a woman picks me up in a bar and takes me back to her place for a night of unbridled ecstasy, that's not a "private" matter since our meeting took place in public. Shaky, Barbara, very shaky indeed. >Also, in the real world I doubt that very many prostitutes are in a >position to "choose" their partners. What is making the choice for them >is money, not what's in their heads and hearts. So money isn't a valid reason for making a choice? If it isn't for you, fine. But it's up to other individuals to decide for themselves if they want to let money make their choices for them. >The business of prostitution devalues and dehumanizes sexualilty and >people. An assertation you fail to back up. I can see a prostitute as every bit as much of a worthy human being than anyone else. Why can't you? > It is carried on in public, No. > and it has a subtle impact on the way >the entire culture in which it operates perceives sexuality and >relationships. Please provide an argument, not just an assertation. >: "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe > >Most of the time people use phrases in their .sigs that have a special >meaning to them. You just repeat words cause they look nice, I guess. Hmm, so your commitment to peace, love and understanding is to advocate locking people in cages (which certainly devalues and dehumanizes them more than selling sex ever could, if the latter does at all) for consensual acts? On the off chance that anyone really cares about the significance of the quote in my .sig: A few years ago, my friend Mike and I went to a Midnight Oil concert. The last song they did (or maybe second to last) was Nick Lowe's ""What's so funny ('bout peace, love and understanding?)" (often miscredited to Elvis Costello, who recorded the best known version). It was a great show, ending with one of my favorite songs. I was pleased, and we headed back to the parking lot. On the way to the car, we came across two guys, who had obviously just come from the show, shouting and shoving at each other - a fight about to break out. Maybe they just hadn't been paying attention to that last song. I know they heard it; might even have been dancing and signing along to it. But ten minutes later, the meaning was forgotten. I couldn't help it. I yelled, "HEY! WHAT'S SO FUNNY ABOUT PEACE, LOVE, AND UNDERSTANDING?!" The crowd cheered. The pugilists payed no attention. I went over and tried to separate them. My friend Mike joined me. Somehow we broke up the fight and prevented anyone (including ourselves; the pugilists were bigger than us!) from getting hurt. That's my contribution to peace, love and understanding, Barbara. When I see someone about to be a victim of violence, I try to stop it. I try to make peace when I can. If I can't, I try to defend the innocent. I've been fortunate so far in that none of these situation have turned very violent. And if that ain't good enough for you, frankly I don't give a damn. >Barbara O'Brien freelance editor/writer/publishing consultant >"Do I contradict myself? Very well, I contradict myself, >(I am large, I contain multitudes.)" --Walt Whitman ^^^^^ If we're going to trade .sig swipes, than let me say that the only thing large about you, Barbara, seems to be your ego. In the past few weeks, you're asserted that your gender is better than mine, your generation is better than mine, your sexuality is better than mine, and that your age group is better than mine. You've asserted that you know better than other women what is best for them. I mean, my own ego has been accused of having a gravitational field worthy of a large asteroid, but it pales in comparison to what we've seen from you. == Tom Swiss/tms@tis.com ==== "Born to die." === _I_ shot Montgomery Burns. == "What's so funny 'bout peace, love and understanding?" - Nick Lowe "Such a long, long time to be gone And a short time to be there." - _Box Of Rain_, Grateful Dead