Want your base to come out? Put marijuana decriminalization on the ballots

[no limit]

All we hear about this election cycle is how pissed off the right wing is. So as a result the national conversation right now is about whether all the muslims in this country are trying to kill us and how scared of black people we should be. When it comes to liberal issues they never get discussed, even though many of us are just as pissed off as the right wing is.

Meanwhile the democratic base gets pissed on constantly. When we're not getting beat over the head with insults by this administration the only thing we have to look forward to is getting our social security cut not by republicans by by the democrats. All this will ensure the right wing will come out in huge numbers to vote this November while many on the left will stay home.

If the democrats want to change the national conversation and get the base all fired up all they have to do is put some kind of marijuana decriminalization law on the ballot. Yet the democrats in Washington treat this like some kind of 3rd rail in politics, why? Whether I am talking to my liberal friends, people that don't care about politics, or some of the most far right people on this planet most of the time no matter what group these people come from they support legalization of marijuana. Yet our voice in this matter isn't heard.

I will make a prediction that because California did this they will have one of the largest turn outs in the country come November, and if the democrats in that state fully supported the legalize it measure such a turn out would be extremely beneficial to them. But I know, this is far too common sense of an issue. And as we know there is no common sense in Washington, just stupid petty political games that I was told would change as long as I voted the right way in 2008.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. What's the failure rates for those kind of ballots?

Tends to be rather mixed, doesn't it?

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4. 14 states have legal medical marijuana. I don't have any stats, but I doubt it's very mixed

How many people do you talk to that think pot should be illegal? Very seldom to I ran in to people that think that way, in fact I can' think of any off the top of my head. And I talk to a lot of people about this issue.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

9. Right, but that's medical marijuana, but not decriminalization.

States that have passed marijuana, have turned down initiatives on decriminalization.

"How many people do you talk to that think pot should be illegal?"

Problem is it doesn't matter how many people your or I anecdotally know who are for legalization. Polls consistently show that most voters are against it. Although the news coming out of California is certainly encouraging.

[no limit]

10. The polls for legalization are very good, considering this issue does not get national attention

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002941-503544.html

Oregon, Michigan, and Massachusetts all successfully decriminalized possession. The other states where it was tried within the last decade; Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada it all did fail. But again, this was without any support of the establishment and even then usually more than 40% of the population supported it.

We'll see what happens in California, I bet you the voter turn out will be much higher than in prior midterm elections. As you know yes on prop 19 is leading by as much as 10% according to the polls.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

11. Um, your polls show the issue is seven points behind.

Although it's certainly better than 1979.

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13. Yes, and as I explained above 7 points could easily be gained

This issue is getting support from far more many people today than it did even 10 years ago. And this is without any national debate on this issue. In California where a debate is actually taking place support for prop 19 is leading by 10%. If we had a national debate on this issue the same things would happen because once you compare marijuana to alcohol no person in their right mind would oppose legalization.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. Seven points is a huge gap in an election.

Obama creamed McCain, and that was a seven point gap.

Moreover, if the issue is behind by seven points, that's not going to bring out huge numbers to the voting booths for other causes if you put it on a ballot.

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18. Why do you constantly ignore things?

Yes, 7% is a big gap normally. But when you consider that the establishment is opposed to such a measure and as a result that measure gets no attention 7% is actually a very small gap to make up. In California after they had the debate on this legalization is leading by 10 points. In fact if you look at the numbers over the last few years as this issue got debated in California support rose, not declined. And asa I said above, as soon as you have this debate nationally support would also rise, not decline. And it would rise quickly.

As an example take the mosque. Back when nobody gave a shit even Laura Ingraham supported it. But as soon as the right started making noise now as much as 70% of Americans are opposed. The same dynamics would be at work in legalization. Once you ask people why marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol and they can't give you an answer support for legalization very quickly increases.

[notesdev]

23. Pretty low from what I have seen

I see far more of these measures pass than fail.

[kentuck]

2. Are you suggesting Democrats are a bunch of potheads??

:-)

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6. No, I'm just suggesting a lot of their potential voters certainly are ;)

They might not care about voting, but put legalization on the ballot and they will get up off their ass. And eventhough many republicans support this not enough to them do so you can easily make this a Democrat vs Republican issue.

[Subdivisions]

7. Oh hell I was about to cut loose on you...

...until I saw the smilie.

:hi:

[pscot]

22. I resemble that remark

:smoke:

[LiberalFighter]

3. That could just as easily cause the other side to come out too.

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5. The other side is already going to come out.

[Subdivisions]

8. From my experience, the other side might surprise you on this issue. n/t

[Greyskye]

24. The Libertarian contingent, at least.

Libertarians are Republicans who smoke pot.

[NNN0LHI]

12. Considering that Bush once had a +90% approval rating just how big is our base?

I am thinking its not all that big.

Don

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14. The white house agrees with you, we'll see how that works out for them

the 90% approval was right after 9/11 when Bush was made a hero by our media. That approval very quickly fell:

http://www.hist.umn.edu/~ruggles/Approval.htm

[NNN0LHI]

17. If our base got scared into supporting a boob like that there is nothing the WH can do about it

As for working out for them, their lives won't change regardless of what happens.

Other peoples live will change drastically though. So I guess we will show them.

Right?

Don

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19. Only 70% of americans supported the war in Iraq. So I don't think you're giving the base credit

credit it deserves.

And no, you are absolutely right. Things won't change. Social security is going to be cut either way with a democrat in the white house. Doesn't matter if that democrat has the house or not, social security is on the chopping block and it will stay there.

[NNN0LHI]

20. 'Only' 70% of Americans supported the war in Iraq

I will concede that but even using that figure we are only left with a base of 30%.

30% of the electorate generally won't win elections.

And don't get me wrong. I think marijuana should be legalized immediately. My father on-law is currently dying of cancer and I believe it could alleviate some of his suffering.

Don

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21. 'only' was a dumb way to word it, you get my point. And 30% of the electorate also loses elections

when that 30%, or atleast a portion of that 30%, stays home.

[RadiationTherapy]

16. Not only voters, but activists and leaders too.

I know potsmokers interested in public office, but know that their smoking makes it unlikely to impossible.