Food for thought. Is Billie saying that slaves were sometimes just as free as people in other walks of life who suffered from there own brand of servitude? Is freedom a state of mind rather than of servitude?

Oh how precious is Awareness and the struggle for ever greater Light and knowledge regardless of the discipline, whether it be the job, education, spirituality etc. To stive for the better and to know it is there and to do it is true empowerment and freedom for the individual. Many slaves like many on welfare do not know the world that is there for their taking if they will but stive.

She was obviously and overworked non-union blues singer.

First of all who the hell is they? Frank is obviously another covert conspiracy theorist. All things tend towards a norm, including ideas and opinions. If you find this tendency to be controlling or a conspiracy it does not matter, I don't think there is much we can do about the law of normativeisity (sic). Anyone can and should have their far left or far right views and this will be fed into the equation but normative will always rule.

Sinclair Lewis was a social critic who commented on the terrible conditions of the working class. He wrote contrary to the political correctness of money and priviledge. His novel about the meat packing in Chicago led to a government intervention of that sector of business and to a large extent to the creation of the Food and Drug Admin and USGA Government inspected meat. He thought outside of the box. He was rewarded for his efforts by the Pulitzer. I think they like people who think outside of the box. I think your remarks are unfathomable Logan and off the mark. The pressures Lewis must have felt were from the right wing power structure.

All of the quotes today are great stuff in my view. I don't it would have hurt for Sinclair to accept the Pulitzer though. It is good for us to think outside of the box but also to be open to recognize when an idea, method, system, procedure, or public policy is good as is and how and why it got that way. To always think outside of the box means one thinks everything done before is somehow erroneous. Political correctness knows no party or left or right persuasion. For many it is polictical correct to say that "The USA is a republic not a democracy". I say that that expression or phrase is a false hood. I don't care how PC it may be to those who mouth or print it it is still a damnable lie.

Where you err Archer is in seeing what society does to us as "the government". Society has a right to protect itself and when it does yes some individual freedoms may take a back seat. Don't always see what society does, like fad diets, as something that is being done by the government.

In principle the quote is a good one but let us not forget that we have "public health" officials for a reason. Reasons like plague, epidemics, etcetera. In emergencies such as this individuals and their behavior may be required to be controlled beyond what appears to be constitutional authority.

P.S. There still is a death penalty for the use of tobacco, it is called cancer. It feel certain it has killed many more than China, Russia and Turkey combined.

I gave it three stars because it is not an opinion but appears to be a statement of fact. If true it shows how wise if even barbaric China, Russia and Turkey were. American tobacco began moving around the world in the 1600's banning it had nothing to do with socialism/communism just common sense. Now America too is developing common sense with the ban of tobacco in public places etcetera. Amazing how common sense is not very common sometimes. Remember when opera singers use to brag about smoking Camels because they were good for their throat.

That is not what I said Archer, I said just because we have unsolved murders does not mean we should not solve and prosecute the ones that we can and any other crime. You hear and read only what you wish to Archer.

Jim I don't know what planet you come from but I don't believe that regualting some of these things is a liberal plank. Hell prohibition was passed in the '20's and signed by a Republican President, I assume it was a republican congress. It was repealed under the Democrat Roosevelt was it not? How do you exactly characterize the flower children drug culture of the '70's; as liberals or conservatives. I think "we" sometimes throw these labels around a bit too loosely. Anything you don't like you say it is liberal when it is neither liberal or conservative but is an issue unto itself.

Archer it is cute how you use "democracy" to your benefit when you think you can get away with it. I respectfully suggest that 15 states do not a majority make, so democracy is not helphing you here Kid!

Archer, the 15 states notwithstanding I assume it is still a Federal Law that is being violated. Don't blame the cops for enforcing the law. You and the 15 have a right to keep fighting until you change the law, you and the 15 have a right to disobey the law but don't bitch if you get caught.

It has always amazed or bemused me how an 18 year old or 21 year old cannot buy alcohol or tobacco. But once "we" become of age and sophisticated we can do all of those things that we forbid our kids to do.. Hey! if smoking, drugs, and alcohol ain't good for kids it ain't good for you either. I guess maybe "adults" are sophisticated enough to be moderate. Teeheehee, hahaha!

What is the point of the quote? Legal drugs supposedly have a beneficial use. Is there a beneficial use of coaine? A redeeming value?

I, just like the nation have had periods in which I drank too much and ate too much. Put on weight and had a beer belly. I would go on my own prohibition. That is personal responsibility. I do believe that there are laws world wide however regulating or controlling these things so there must be a reason for them. It is not that America and/or its various governments (local, state, federal) are just plain evil controllers of human freedom and passions.

Archer your line about prosecuting one who got caught while millions got away is a specious argument. Did your mother or father ever tell you "I don't care what the other kids are doing, YOU are not going to do it." Police and law enforcement are limited in what they can do but that does not mean they should not do anything.

I repeat myself CHANGE THE LAW leave the poor cops alone.

Unfortunately many feel that a few "bad eggs" do screw up their lives, such as prostitutes, drug dealers, and porno vendors, molesters on the internet. Most of us do like to see clean and pleasant streets with well dressed and respectable people. Restaurants etc. do have dress codes etcetera. Screw up your life if you will but keep it from affecting the rest of us and keep it out of sight.

We have a commision to live up to our ideals. All men are created equal and have a right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It does not say all United States Men but all men. As Martin Luther said, and I paraphrse "When there is injustice anywhere it affects me, etcetera". We have a right to try to influence the world and we have for a long time, as do other nations. Thus "we" work for womens rights in Afghanistan, try to stop genocide etcetera. Another quote is "No man is an island unto himself." as nice as that would be sometimes. Alex you may be correct but maybe we could be come the greatest country by doing the right things, what do think it?

If there is a law enforce it. The way govenrment is suppose to work is the legislature(s) pass law and the executive is suppose to enforce them. Just like illegal immigration if marijauna laws are on the books enforce them. Honesty in government is the best policy and until the people through their congresses change the law the laws should be Enforced. The pay and advancement of the hard working and courageous law officers have nothing to do with it..

Jim I won't argue with your point. But why or why are laws regulating drugs on the books? Must be a reason. Don't blame the problems on the cops who are doing what we as society through our laws ask them to do. Change the law and quit fighting the cops.

Illegal immirgrants think the war on illegal immigrants is worse than the illegal offense also. Stop the police abuse by stopping the law violation. What is wrong with that approach? As long as the laws are on the books let us enforce them! If the laws are wrong take them off of the books.

People got tired of carrying this s%$# around so they gave it to Shylock somewhere in Italy, I think it was in Venice and he gave them a receipt for it. They then found that they could give their receipts to others in exchange for goods and services, voila! paper money. Eureka man advance apace. Later people found out that intrinsic value meant nothing what was and is important peoples faith in each other abilities to render goods and services to each other. You can not eat gold or silver, and women that wear it look like prostitutes, yet the value of an honest workman or farmer can hardly be calculated.