"The government could have offered a point-by-point refutation of Bryan Gonzalez’ spur-of-the-moment comments, but that would be missing the point. The War on Drugs is not a Socratic dialogue; the War on Drugs is a harried dialogue with your five-year-old: because I said so, that’s why." - Ken @ Popehat.You should go now and read the whole thing.
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12 comments:
Last I heard, even Border Patrol Agents have the 1st. Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech. Wonder if the ACLU will come to this Agent's Defense?
The war on drugs is the definition of insanity.
P.J. O'Rourke had a good argument both for and against the drug war in his book C.E.O. of the Sofa where he was in favor of drug legalization because he was a staunch libertarian. He believed people had the right to snort mountains of blow, lose their jobs, their condos, and end up sleeping on his couch except he didn't sleep, bla bla bla, yammering on until (P.J.) shot him, being a staunch Libertarian and also pro gun.
However, the war on drugs caused small problems, coke boogers, drool, bloodstain, bullet damage to couches, etc.
It's a hoot, and I highly recommend reading it as opposed to my incoherent halfway remembered quote.
Border Patrol Agents don't have the 1st. Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech at, or and, their jobs.
He doesn't have the right to speak his opinion when identifying himself as an agent of the govt.
As a private citizen, yes. As a BPA, no.
As it should be.
That said, our current prohibition of drugs is about as effective as our prohibition of alcohol... and just as stupidly pointless.
The post to which I linked has nothing to do with the 1st Amendment.
He was having a private conversation with a co-worker, fer cryin out loud. It's not like he gave a press confrence or something.
Nothing says 'professional' like having to watch your guard at every moment on the job, because if you fail to espouse the party line at every moment, you will be reported, and terminated.
I wonder if the camp guards at Dachau had the same problem...
I suspect the 'colleague' was bucking for promotion. Nothing says 'management potential' like stabbing a colleague in the back.
I expect the camp guards at Dachau and similar places tended not to do much thinking at all, let alone talking.
How come they even hired someone named Gonzales?
Nothing says 'professional' like having to watch your guard at every moment on the job, because if you fail to espouse the party line at every moment, you will be reported, and terminated.
I read somewhere that in the US, police have unions to back them up in this kind of situation. Border agents don't?
It's an American thing, so it might be hard for a gypsy-gassing Euro to understand. ;)
It's an American thing, so it might be hard for a gypsy-gassing Euro to understand. ;)
Hah. Your gov't agencies totally don't get the concept of reliable cadres.. how can they expect corpse-like Jesuit obedience they want if they let in all kind of riff-raff..
If you liked that one, read his Rabbit post, quote of the year potential in that one.
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