Native Americans one perspective

Native Americans

For most Americas when they think of Native Americans they think of Thanksgiving, which has recently been shown to be a false image of what happened. Or they remember playing cowboys and Indians as children, where no one was really killed and fun was had by all. But what do we really know about the Native people of Northern America?

DEATH

Despite the fact that the settlers thought of all natives Americans as savages, there were many different tribes, with many different customs. Unfortunately, there some tribes of which we may never know the names of do to all the “taming of the savages” in which many Native Americans were killed.

The first few death were probably accidental and were most likely caused by unknown diseases that settlers brought with them. According to Kristine Patterson (2002), “With the arrival of Europeans in the Western Hemisphere, Native American populations were exposed to new infectious diseases, diseases for which they lacked immunity. These communicable diseases, including smallpox and measles, devastated entire native populations.” These deaths following so closely to the plague that according to O'Brien (May 15, 2012), “wiped out about 96 percent of the Indians in Massachusetts” (The Indians Weren't Defeated by White Settlers) greatly reduced the number of Native Americans left. In Addition, according to "North American Indian Timeline (1492-1999)" (n.d.), "1709 A slave market was erected at the foot of Wall Street and here Negroes and Indians, men, women and children were daily declared the property of the highest cash bidder,” (para. 1709) furthering endangers the health of this once strong people. Native Americans were not keep as slaves as long as African Americans because they were capable of running off to the wildness unlike the African American slaves.

Co-habitation

Most American believe that the Native Americans started with warfare and then realizing the superiority of guns over arrows gave in. However, in reality it was just the opposite.
Reality shows that the Native Americans first tried to adopt Anglo-American practices and treaties. However, the treaties did not give the land fast enough for the settlers and therefore where a failure. In response to the demands for more land, according to "Indian Removal" (n.d.), “In 1823 the Supreme Court handed down a decision which stated that Indians could occupy lands within the United States, but could not hold title to those lands. This was because their "right of occupancy" was subordinate to the United States' "right of discovery." This lead to even more Native Americans being told were they could live, forcing them off their Native lands and requiring them to move to the west coast.

The Cherokee in 1827 tried to protect their lands using the ways of the whites and wrote a constitution. However, according to McBride (December 2006), “in 1828, the state of Georgia passed a series of laws stripping local Cherokee Indians of their rights.” By 1838 according to "CCD History 201 - History Of United States 1" (n.d.), “The U.S. government sent in 7,000 troops, who forced the Cherokees into stockades at bayonet point. They were not allowed time to gather their belongings, and as they left, whites looted their homes. Then began the march known as the Trail of Tears, in which 4,000 Cherokee people died of cold, hunger, and disease on their way to the western lands.” History shows that during this time period there were a few whites who saw the removal as an excuse to take their land, however, many people believed removing the Native Americans from the “white man’s land” was better for everyone.

Finally having been driven to violence the Native Americans began to fight back, and fought even harder when the settlers decided to try to settle the west coast. Do not all humans have a breaking point? Could you say you would not do the same when your land was taken, your family separated and abused ?

Today’s World

Modern day has seen many changes to the face of America and its people. We all know that the beginning of the settlers and Native Americans relations was a good one because we all know the thanksgiving story right? Wrong, as the internet allows for more sides to be heard we learn that Thanksgiving was nothing like the picture Americans have in the minds. Not only do we now know the name of the tribe that was there; which is the Wampanoag Nation; we also know there was no inviting was done by any pilgrims. In fact the Native Americans showed up ready for war because of the loud noise of gun fire the pilgrims were shooting off to celebrate the first harvest. So where did the happy thanksgiving story come from? It was invented to help bring a nation back together after the civil war. ("What Really Happened At The First Thanksgiving?” n.d.)

Even after all the mistreatment of the Native Americans they help America with World War II. However, they would wait years for any recognition for the huge part they played in the successful ending of the war.  ("Real Code Talker Interview", April 7, 2014).

This is not to say there have not been strives to help protect the American Indian. One such law is Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. According to "Indian Child Welfare Act Of 1978" (2014), “The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is a federal law that seeks to keep American Indian children with American Indian families.” There are also the Hunting and fishing rights are some of the Native Americans enjoy due to the courts. ("Native American Rights - Hunting And Fishing Rights ", 2014). According to "Congress Granted Citizenship" (n.d.), “Congress Granted Citizenship to All Native Americans Born in the U.S. June 2, 1924” giving them the same rights as any other American Citizen. However, “until 1957, some states barred Native Americans from voting.” The "Congress Granted Citizenship To All Native Americans Born In The U.S." (n.d.)

Conclusion

In today’s world the remaining Native Americans live on the “roughly three hundred Indian Reservations in the United States” ("Indian Reservations", n.d.) instead of throughout Northern America. Although, they are no longer treated by laws as second class citizens and are not told where they must live, they still face hatred and discrimination throughout America. Historians are still learning the real truth of what happened to the Native Americans and the facts stated here only cover a small portion of what we know. Despite laws that were enacted to protect the Native Americans the “white man” still seems to find ways around these laws.





Resources:
• Patterson, K. (2002). Smallpox and the Native American. Retrieved from      http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12003378
• O'Brien, J. (May 15, 2012). 6 Ridiculous Lies You Believe About the Founding of America. Retrieved from http://www.cracked.com/article_19864_6-ridiculous-lies-you-believe-about-founding-america.html
• Indian removal. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2959.html
• McBride, A. (December 2006). Cherokee Indian Cases (1830s). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/antebellum/landmark_cherokee.html
• CCD HISTORY 201 - History of United States 1. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://roebuckclasses.com/201/conquest/removal.htm
• NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN TIMELINE (1492-1999). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/imperialism/notes/nativeamericanchron.html
• What Really Happened at the First Thanksgiving? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/11/23/what-really-happened-first-thanksgiving-wampanoag-side-tale-and-whats-done-today-145807
• Real Code Talker Interview. (April 7, 2014). Retrieved from http://navajocodetalkers.org/
• Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.nicwa.org/indian_child_welfare_act/
• Native American Rights - Hunting And Fishing Rights. (2014). Retrieved from http://law.jrank.org/pages/8750/Native-American-Rights-Hunting-Fishing-Rights.html
• Indian Reservations. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.indians.org/articles/indian-reservations.html

Do the positive effects of consumerism outweigh the negative effect, or are we just ignoring the consequence of this life style?

I am writing this for my college class but i thought it would be worth share . hope you all like it.

Do the positive effects of consumerism outweigh the negative effect, or are we just ignoring the consequence of this life style? In American people are surrounded by advertising, no matter where they are. Whether they are driving down the road listening to music, or reading billboards, or at home playing games or watching television there is someone trying to sell them something. This is not news to anyone living in today’s world. “However, as the years have progressed, the sophistication of advertising methods and techniques has advanced, enticing and shaping and even creating consumerism and needs where there has been none before, or turning luxuries into necessities.” says Anup Shah (03/04/2012),   in her article Media and Advertising.  Or as Chuck Blore,  said in The Media Monopoly, Sixth Edition, (Beacon Press, 2000), p.185. said “Advertising is the art of arresting the human intelligence just long enough to get money from it.”  Products, and even beliefs, sold in the form of entrainment and have made consumerism a way of life in America but is the true cost?

The first question that comes to mind when we think about consumerism is; when did it all start? The Industrial Revolution, in the 1800’s allowed products to be mass-produced but it was not until about 1906 that consumerism really took off.  According to Gale Research Inc. (1996 and 2002), “The radio got its voice on Christmas Eve 1906.” (Heading title: History). With the invention of radio, businesses were finally able to reach people in their own homes allowing consumerism to move full steam ahead. In 1927, with the invention of television, consumerism was already a way of life in America but television gave a renewed passion to owning things.

Though mass-production and in home advertising American were encouraged people to think about leisure actives and devices. In addition, the high demand for newer and better things, brought on by this, allowed for the invention of newer and better things. However, consumerism also made noticeable classes available in America and started the saying “keeping up with the Joneses.”

            Consumerism also had an effect a “The Great Depression.” According to the history books, The Great Depression of the 1930s started with the stock market crash of October 1929 and lasted until early 1940s.”  Rosenberg (2014)  Some believe The Great Depression was the first effects of a consumer driven society. Many blame mass-production for The Great Depression while others do not think it is that simple. Whatever the belief it is easy to see how The Great Depression lasted longer due to the overstock of products brought on by consumerism.

However, without mass-production and consumerism we would not have had the factories to help us with World War II. According to "The Rise of American Consumerism" by PBS (n.d.), “Wartime production had helped pull America's economy out of depression.” One has to wonder how much longer the depression might have lasted if the factories were not available to help the United States.

The belief that consumerism only has good outcomes has continued to make it a huge part of American culture. Of course, everyone can see how consumers need for the latest gadget is pushing for new inventions. It is easy to see how this continuous turn over for newer and better products is also allowing for more jobs in and outside of the factories.  The saying “yesterday science fiction is todays science fact” is easy to see in the world today. Within this height of consumerism, we can also see how it has led to many people thinking outside the normal product and services box. Consumerism therefor is allowing from growth in smaller or owner run business. (Self-publishing, Uber, EBay sales, just to name a few.)

It has also increased the availability to Americans for more avenues of entrainment and leisurely actives. All we have to do it turn on a radio, movie, or the television to reminded that more stuff equals happiness and without consumerism we still be stuck in the dark ages. With today’s entrainment needing to double for a babysitter so both parents can work, it is even more important that it teach morals. Having one set of morals is important to ensure all of society has a similar belief system. Disney is a great example of showing how everyone can have a happily ever after if they just follow the right path.

Why fix something that is not broke right? Consumerism is breaking the American society. In addition, it is causing damage (possible irreparable) to the earth.

Businesses are using planned obsolescence (or built-in obsolescence) to make sure we continue to buy the latest product and throw out the old without getting it repaired. Dan Kulpinski’s show The Human Footprint, from national geographic, (Dec 5, 2013), reminds us “Americans generated 251 million tons of trash in 2006, the most recent year for which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has data.” Rachael Tulipano (Dec 5, 2013), further explains “This “garbage” ranges from the obvious examples of food waste, to the material goods that have broken beyond apparent repair, to the objects we choose to abandon in exchange for their newer, more efficiently innovated counterparts.”

In addition, Heinberg, R. (Jul 24, 2013) The Brief, Tragic Reign of Consumerism tells us “The math is simple: even at a fraction of one percent per year growth in consumption, all of Earth’s resources would eventually be used up. The consumer economy also produces an unending variety of wastes, of which water, air, and soil can absorb only so much before planetary life-support systems begin unraveling.” (Paragraph: What could possibly go wrong?)

Not to mention that fact that all the over time, or second job, leaves the average consumer with little or no leisure time. So who is really enjoying the benefits of all these “time saving” gadgets? The throwaway society mentality is also seeping into Americans home life. According to Meyer on about.com (n.d.), “We live in a disposable society. Marriages are thrown away in the same fashion one would toss an old pair of shoes.” (5). So what about the “fact,” “more stuff equals happiness and without consumerism we still be stuck in the dark ages”? The American dream of owning it all continues but Americas just become more depressed. According to The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2004), “Major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.” (Paragraph title: Major Depressive Disorder).

However, teaching strong morals through movies and televisions is working, right? Some say American has become a nation of sheep, with the select few choosing the morals for the country, and the status quo are happy keep them sheep. One has to wonder what will happen to make Americans wake up to reality of it all. Let us not forgot, that the media maintains several antiquated ideas like that, a woman must have a man to survive or that men are incapable of raising children.

So, do the benefits out weight the cost? Are the American people still willing to pay the price of a throwaway society with increased divorce rates, increased depression, and the irreparable damage to the planet we live on? Are they willing to continue to allow a select few to set the Morals for everyone?

As they said in the Brad Pitt 1999 movie, fight club “The things you own end up owning you. Right. We are consumers. We’re the bi-products of a lifestyle obsession” We do not NEED all the things we think we need, and NEWSFLASH! When we get the things we think we need…they probably aren’t making us any happier.” (http://theblogformen.com/fck-martha-stewart-11-lessons-from-the-movie-fight-club/)

This is one American, which is ready to stop paying for the carousal ride, where you never get the brass ring of happiness. Is it not time to learn to enjoy life without the stress of consumerism?

Resource links:

·       Shah, A. (03/04/2012). Media and Advertising. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/160/media-and-advertising

·       Chuck Blore, a partner in the advertising firm Chuck Blore & Don Ruchman, Inc., quoted by Ben H. Bagdikian, The Media Monopoly, Sixth Edition, (Beacon Press, 2000), p.185. Retrieved from http://www.globalissues.org/article/160/media-and-advertising

·       Gale Research Inc. (1996 and 2002). Radio. Retrieved from http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/radio.aspxhttp://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/p/greatdepression.htm

·       Rosenberg, J. (2014). The Great Depression. Retrieved from http://history1900s.about.com/od/1930s/p/greatdepression.htm

·       The Rise of American Consumerism. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/tupperware-consumer

·       Kulpinski, D. (Dec 5, 2013). Human Footprint: Where Does All the Stuff Go?. Retrieved from http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/human-footprint/trash-talk.html

·       Tulipano, R. (Dec 5, 2013). America the wasteful: A detailed look into our throw-away society. Retrieved from http://gentwenty.com/america-the-wasteful-a-detailed-look-into-our-throw-away-society/http://www.postcarbon.org/blog-post/1786882-the-brief-tragic-reign-of-consumerism-and

·       The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2004 ). The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml#MajorDepressive 

The Monogamous Surrounded by Poly People

Sounds like a sci-fi story right? I bet you're thinking wait, isn't Monogamy the norm and Polyamory still rare? Guess it would depend on the circle you run with. As for me, my best friend and my boyfriend are both Poly. When I first met my boyfriend, I was a swinger and I preferred open relationships with extra sex on the side. I thought that Poly made sense and it couldn't be that different.

Wow, was I wrong, LOL.

The first word you learn around a poly person is communication, but all people should come with a dictionary. It is amazing to see how many fights can be started over a definition of a word.

"You agreed to this and that"

 "Of course I did, that has nothing to do with this"

Definitions got me in so much trouble in the beginning, and after 2 years, they still catch me off guard sometimes, but not as much as not knowing who I was and what I needed in a relationship. I have always believed that we never stop learning but I didn't realize how much, at 42 years old, I still needed to learn. Like being careful of experts; or at least the ones who feel their version of relationships are the only way.

 I like to have very set rules in place in a relationship, my boyfriend is the opposite, preferring to roll with the waves and see where things lead.  It can be hard when he wants to go out with a female friend, since I know anyone of them could turn into a girlfriend. But see the problem here is I think every girl wants him and no girl would ever just want to be friends with him. (Don’t we all think that of our partners? lol) He has lots of female friends that he doesn't sleep with and some that he does, (Friends with benefits) but he only has 3 girlfriends.

One of his girlfriends, he knew before me who is also Poly, is a very sweet girl. She has a boyfriend that lives near her and he is her primary, for lack of a better word, partner. (Be careful of words like “primary” not all people believe in having one partner above the other, there those definitions again.) My boyfriend and I use to help organize a poly party and she would come and help out.

Once he and I went out with her and her boyfriend, the whole time all I could think about was how she got both of them and I felt left out. I see him all the time she sees him once or twice a year maybe. He didn't ignore me at all either. This had nothing to do with anyone but me. My boyfriend is always encouraging me to date others. I am only trapped by myself. Thoughts like how my parents stayed married but fought all the time, with my father leaving and coming back again. Or things like being sexually abused as a child and not knowing how it affected me. Even things like feeling I was raised to be strong and I couldn't show weakness; after all I came from women who pushed boundaries. Or even society leaving the impression that I am not good enough if he wants more than one lover.

My boyfriend’s second girlfriend has a harder row of hoe with me. Again, through no fault of her own as I have never met her.

Some of which is due to the fact that he had another girlfriend when he and I started dating. She was new and they started dating about the same time him and I did. It didn't end well with them and wound up affecting our relationship even though he promised me that another girl would never affect us. I tried to be friends with her. I was a little hurt when they broke up, after all I didn't get any closure with her. Which, why should I? I wasn't dating her after all.

I realize, as I am writing this, that this has a lot to do with me feeling she would have been a better choice. She blamed their break up on me; that I was too controlling. And she called herself Poly. He calls himself Poly and so do both his other two girlfriends. But here is the next lesson I need to learn. He is an adult, he chose me and I have to respect his opinion that it is a better fit for him.

Tonight we are supposed to go out with my best friend who is also Poly and her new dating partner who is Poly. I am so nervous; more Poly people to judge why I am not right. More people to explain why a Poly - Monogamous relationship will never work. 

So here is my advice which I have been given and have yet to take to heart. The only people who matter in your relationship are the people you are dating.  Remember your all adults and entitled to make your own choices.  If he has to deal with me being jealous, not white knighting and leave because he think I would be better off. Then I need to remember he chose me and it is not my place to decide he would be better off with all poly girlfriends.

All relationships are a give and take. So my advice to the Monogamous person who falls for a Poly? Communication. :D

OK I am sure I have lots more to write. Feedback is much appreciated too :) 

when is a word derogatory?

So today I was having a talk with my 16 year old niece and she says" if I put tape on my glass I will fit right in . we even have a geek day, where we dress up like geeks for fun." when I explain that dressing up like "geeks" for a fun day at school was still derogatory her response was they do it on tv so it is ok. I of course was thinking " so they shoot people on tv that's ok right?" even my sister thinks that dressing up like someone doesn't cause those who do dress that way normally to feel like outcast. ( of Course my niece's finally response, I was making a fun day at school into a bad thing. mmm I thought school was for learning ??)

The definition of derogatory is " showing a critical or disrespectful attitude." So for me a word becomes derogatory when it is used to make others feel like an outcast or to feel ashamed. in today society we are constantly trying to reclaim words and change their meaning. For our black youth it ok to call each other niggar , gays use dyke or fag, and feminist even use the word bitch . But what if you happen to find the word offensive or derogatory ? you are told to grow a thicker skin. So sorry that you have lived long enough to remember words like "niggar, fag, dyke" being followed by a beating or being arrested.

And of course we got media telling us it is funny to single out a person(or a group of people) for anything we find different in them.  When we consider ourselves so enlightened and tolerant of each others feelings, isn't it funny we still  have a society building on putting others down?  Now we have convinced ourselves that if we are the one putting ourselves down it doesn't matter???

what happened to teaching our youth respect?? we don't even teach them to respect themselves and we wonder why so many of them turn to drugs?? Why so many become depressed adults ?? I watched a great video recently that i felt really ties in with this. (http://www.upworthy.com/one-of-my-favorite-authors-says-theres-something-we-should-remove-from-all-classrooms?g=2&c=ufb1) the old saying stick and stone will broke my bones but words can't hurt me was so wrong. Words cut deeper than any other tools.

thoughts? opinions??

the facebook caption simply read Police had to threaten force to break up the protest directly outside the house of White Supremacist.

the facebook caption simply read :

Leith, ND 
Police had to threaten force to break up the protest directly outside the house of White Supremacist.

I was wondering what is the rest of the story? isn't ok for us to protest in this country ? as long as we are on public property and not blocking an entry , doesn't everyone have the right to protest?? so I looked up the story.

I do not find anywhere that was said they were outside anyone's private residence. I did however find something alot scarier then some white people wanting to just live all together in their own town.  Cobb, 61, openly describes himself as “more of a white separatist. I don’t lord it over other races, but we want our race to remain separate.” however his so called friends are  Schoep, former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard Tom Metzger, and April Gaede, founder of the neo-Nazi group National Vanguard. 

Being a former child of the KKK there is no way they can try to say they are only separatist.  And when I read thing like "where he(Cobb) envisions a park — perhaps with a swimming pool —dedicated to the late neo-Nazi and white supremacist William L. Pierce." or "'It would be extraordinarily beautiful when people enter the town, particularly at night because we will have floodlit flags from both the bottom and the top of all the formerly white nations of the earth. We will probably have the National Socialist hunting flag with stag horns and a very small swastika in the center, very discreet.' I get even more worried. I am all for these people living in their own little community but this sound like alot more then just a community to themselves.

There is also the problem that they didn't just buy up some land somewhere off by itself but decided to take over an existing town. "The 24-strong population of Leith had to deal with a turbulent weekend of verbal disputes and busloads of neo-Nazi supporters and anti-racist detractors. 'The values of our town include safety and acceptance for everyone. We stand firmly against the bigoted views of this group, and will not be participating in their events.' Local residents have been exploring ways to encourage Cobb to leave Leith and have even gone as far as setting up a defence fund to pay for legal fees to remove him for the area." Cobb's thoughts about locals not wanting him to stay ?? "he said once the media hype goes away, everything will be back to business as usual " the other thing is if he is such a "separatist" why in town full of empty land did he decide to live across from the towns only black resident?

I bet you are wondering what so special about this little town? why did he decided it was ripe for taking over?? "We have every intention of legally assuming control of the local government," Schoep said in a statement." It seems this town was pick because of the fact that it still has a town council. The preexisting residents are even thinking "of dissolving its government because an extreme hate group is wanting to take over".

With him using phases like "“It’s fine for minorities to talk about race. Let me tell you about racial cohesion and people loving their own tribe,” he says. “It’s fine for minorities but not for us. If you dare to even speak about it you’re defamed in this country.” he is trying to keep us from noticing the  little details. And Goddess forgive we notice that he is also buy up other towns. "Cobb's plans don't end in Leith. He also wants to take over other towns roughly adjacent to the state's oil fields, like one near the Canadian border called Alkabo. "A little bit like 'al-Qaida' but 'Alkabo,' " he says with a laugh."

Here I thought we were moving forward.:( Some think  laws like the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968 that prohibit discrimination in housing opportunities will very likely put a brake on Cobb's all-white vision. but are we ready to count on them?? Sorry but the fact that he has chosen a Nazi symbol to put on his flag says more than any words that come out of his mouth. IF we sit by and wait to see where all the hate is going and growing into who will be next on their hit list ?? this reminds me of a poem i once read.

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.  (Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

there are several more versions of the poem but they all finish the same way

Then they came for me and 
                  there was no one left to speak out for me.



link to the full story if you want to know more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2428991/Defiance-black-resident-Leith-North-Dakota-set-taken-white-supremacists.html

http://www.mintpressnews.com/small-town-in-north-dakota-fends-off-development-of-white-supremacist-community/169539/

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/north-dakota-town-ready-trouble-white-supremacists-stake-claims-article-1.1464003

marijuana for medical conditions

 With naturopathic methods being revived again isn't time we as a nation look at this matter again? After all 20 state governments  and even  Washington DC have already made medical marijuana legal. (http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881)  But as this is not nation wide there are still several pit fall is you wish to travel with your new medication  In 13 of the states that have legalized medical marijuana they do not recognize cards from other states. and of course there still the others 30 states that haven't legalized medical marijuana. So far, only Colorado and Washington state have legalized marijuana for recreational use.(On May 20, 2013, the state of Colorado became Americas first legally regulated market for cannabis for adults.) Many places have decriminalized non-medical cannabis in the United States; however, cannabis is illegal under federal law. there are 16 states that have passed laws decriminalizing marijuana which may include no prison time or criminal record for first-time possession of a small amount for personal consumption. (http://norml.org/aboutmarijuana/item/states-that-have-decriminalized) 10 of which have legalized for medical use. even as a state the people cant seem to deiced where to draw the line? So you can take your narcotics across state line but not your medical marijuana ?

Under the new guidelines, federal prosecutors are required to focus on eight enforcement priorities, including preventing marijuana distribution to minors, preventing drugged driving, stopping drug trafficking by gangs and cartels and forbidding the cultivation of marijuana on public lands. but I have to wonder if we just make it legal won't it interfere with profits for the gangs?? And being the pessimist I am, sounds like the cops could still decided to charge you if they word it right. So they say the government will not interfere with state who have legalized marijuana but will that hold true ?

 King James I in 1619, ordered every colonist to grow 100 plants specifically for export. As early as 1853, recreational cannabis was listed as a "fashionable narcotic". There are studies that show marijuana does have medical benefits. In 1937 they made possession or transfer of cannabis illegal throughout the United States under federal law, excluding medical and industrial uses, in which an inexpensive excise tax was required.  In 1978 the FDA set up a program to grow cannabis on a farm at the University of Mississippi and to distribute 300 cannabis cigarettes a month to a patient to treat his glaucoma. However, In 1992 George H. W. Bush discontinued the program after the patient tried to make AIDS patients eligible. So there is history to show even the federal Government knows it can be used to help medical conditions.

However they are still not moving forward to  legalize it  federally as a medication. So the question is why?

It is easy to grow, after all it was called weed for a reason. it has less side effect then almost all of the man made medications. No one has ever overdosed on marijuana..

Are they people who will use it as a gateway drug to harder more dangerous drugs? of course don't we do the same with prescription drugs? Is there a chance of more driving under the influences ? if they are gonna drive won't they do it under the influence of narcotics ?

So it better to fill our sick with chemicals (man made drugs) we have no clue how it will affect the body long term ? How many times do you open the web to see someone suing a drug company because their drug made them sicker? So why are we not using what the Earth has provided us with? Other herbs are used in helping us to keep us well. Makes me wonder who is afraid they will lose money if marijuana is used as a medication ? And it worries me that profit is in the way of our peoples health.

Obama health care, have you seen what it means to low income people every where?

If the Republican do not get to hold congress hostage to "protect" the american people from Obama care, things will be changing in a few weeks. as of OCt 1st. American people might actually be able to see a dr with out waiting until it cost so much because you have to go to a hospital. preventive care could be in reach of all americans. If your one of those Americans who need insurance but don't see how you will pay for it you might be surprised. they have lowed the eligibility for medicaid. you should check out the Washington State Health plan calculator athttp://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/calculator/index.html to see if your fall under the new rules to get in. (The Affordable Care Act of 2010, signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010, creates a national Medicaid minimum eligibility level of 133% of the federal poverty level for nearly all Americans under age 65. ) If you qualify you might want to check out http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Benefits/Medicaid-Benefits.html for more info on what is covered.

futher looking  around with get you to: https://www.odshealthplans.com/SecuredFormsWeb/ODS/drug_card_wpdp.jsp which can help lower the cost of prescriptions . there is no cost to join this service.

But be careful when looking for the Washington State Health Care exchange as number of websites that have popped up which have striking similarities to the state's Washington Healthplanfinder site which is located at http://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/


If congress really wants to lower the national debt they should take a pay cut. we pay our politicians way too much money.