Buckdog

Hypocrisy it may be, but the NDP's shying away from the anti-prohibition movement is disappointing nonetheless. When the NDP opposed C-15 I thought they may be the only sane federalist party when it came to an important policy issue. Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come.

This is NOT the 'anti-prohibition movement' ...

They aren't shying away from the anti-prohibition movement. They're throwing Larsen under the bus. He's just too stupid to realize it.

btw... as for this:

"As Stephen Harper prepares to increase penalties for simple pot possession and mandatory sentences for any amount of cultivation, will the Liberals support him?"

They already did.

It died when there was prorogue, then the Liberal immediately re-introduced a bill to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. Why did that die? Oh ya, Layton went with Harper and forced an election. Hypocrisy indeed, as well as pathetic revisionism.

Anyways, it's quite amusing to watch you guys try to hide the "kooks", as Lavigne and his color changing, name changing, Obama ass kissing (who has nothing in common with NDP policy) agenda takes center stage. You know what Lavigne is up to you, don't you? He's trying to move the party to the center, just like you did in Nova Scotia. Ironic, that for all the praise heaped on the new Premier, he essentially became a Liberal to get elected. The horror! And, that's a fact jack.

The NDP isn't moving to the centre, Steve. They're just expanding into territory left abandoned by Iggy's New Libservative Party.

The Libs are always ideological, nothings changed. And now Ewwww another Con crosses over. (Daniel Veniez) Just too many now. The Libs will never do anything progressively except marginalize. Just like the Cons. I'm happy Jack's moving centrist, i mean there is just so much room now with the Liberals full of so many old blue tories, it gives me a headache. I can't be bothered, but really, someone should do a count.

The only revisionism here, Steve, is yours.

Only a liar can say that "Layton went with Harper and forced an election."

1. The NDP approached the Martin Liberals to discuss supporting the minority. The Martin Liberals refused.

2. Even if every single NDP MP had voted with the government, it would have fallen anyway, since the combined Liberal - NDP vote would still have been smaller than the combined Conservative - Bloc vote.

In any event, the Liberals never had any intention of actually PASSING the marijuana decriminalization bill.

How do you know a Liberal is lying online?

His fingers are moving over the keyboard.

The Liberals were in power for a very long time. During most of their reign they were "just about" to decriminalize marijuana. It was clearly never gonna happen. And the Liberal version of "decrim" means a $1000 fine for simple possession, accompanied by a crackdown on the growers and traffickers. That is not really that much better than what we have now.

There is definitely a division within the NDP caucus on drug policy. But that division is between the "decrim" and the "legalize" crowd. It is between those who consider drug policy a major issue and those that see it as a minor issue. The current formal NDP policy as passed in the 1990's is to support "decrim."

No-one in the federal NDP is backing longer sentences for pot-users like the Liberals and Conservatives have done with their recent votes in favour of C-15.

Dana ... first of all, thanks for posting here. I have no problem with the passion that you feel for this issue.

You said, "The current formal NDP policy as passed in the 1990's is to support "decrim." - No-one in the federal NDP is backing longer sentences for pot-users like the Liberals and Conservatives have done with their recent votes in favour of C-15." AGREED.

I have fully come to the conclusion that ending pot prohibition will be an incremental exercise, not an overnight liberation event.

Like it or not, we are still in an debate with the nation, a debate where we are a sizable minority, but by no means an majoirity.

It is time for those of us who would like to see pot prohibition end, to drop the 'Cheech and Chong' factor from our message and our presentation.

We are going to make success with rational measured arguments that counter the lies of those who want to advance ongoing criminalization.

The New Democratic Party is NOT the problem in the fight to end prohibition. The Liberals are two-faced and they should be called on it.

Harper is making incremental progress advancing his agenda. It's time to get 'real' with our message to Joe & Mary Average, and to stop using 'shock' tactics in our defence of decrim.

I've never been a part of the cheech/chong decrim mary-jane before, so pls. excuse me. I suppose, like most folks, it doesn't matter to me, because it is always available. So having said that, my question is, is the real reason the Libs/Cons refuse to move towards that is because the very low voter turn-out (which I totally understand as being cynical not lazy) would be pushed even lower? Is that that the big scare?

leftdog said this...

>>>Like it or not, we are still in an debate with the nation, a debate where we are a sizable minority, but by no means an majoirity.<<<

Last Angus Reid poll on repealing marijuana prohibition showed 52% of Canadians answered the poll saying to legalize marijuana. 62% of British Columbians, in fact.

Those wanting a repeal of prohibition are in the majority, yet not a single Member of Parliament or MLA from the BC Legislature has proposed legislation allowing for a taxed and regulated distribution model that would, as the public noted in that last Reid poll, also see a radical reduction in gang violence and activity.

Thanks Marc .. that is good news. I was not aware that the numbers had now reached the 'majority' level. Very good! Thanks for sharing that info!
LD

Though I am not comvinced of most poll stats I think down here in the US the desire to overturn anti-pot laws is a bit higher. What I have issue with is why such laws are not under deep scrutiny by what was thought to be a more progressive administration.

That's always been the Liberal party's MO on a lot of things. Stealing the most popular platform items from both the left and right and then implementing none of them.
RRRR