As a Pennsylvanian who writes on politics, it was a given, in spite of my current level of apathy where the President is concerned, that I would end up saying something about his visit to Allentown today. For years I have preached that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, while not a hotbed for political action per se, remains a haven for individuals who have no problem speaking their minds. That is precisely what happened today.
Since the current visit was to tout administration plans for stimulating the economy and creating jobs, it is doubtful that the President expected to be hit with one particular question. A student in the audience asked about legalizing drugs and prostitution.
Given the source, perhaps one could conclude selfish motives for the question, but given the current debate in the Commonwealth about medical marijuana, perhaps that wasn’t the case. Regardless of the motives, the response was at least a little unsettling for me. The idea was rejected immediately as something that is not part of Obama’s jobs strategy.
Releasing law enforcement on all levels from the responsibility of attempting to stop drug trafficking couldn’t be classified as a “jobs strategy” regardless. Proponents of drug legalization regularly dangle the carrot of regulation and taxation as the prize for stopping expenditures to try to prevent it, and similar arguments are offered by those seeking to legalize prostitution. Law enforcement would be able to focus more attention on other more pressing needs, jails would be less crowded, and assuming that it was done sensibly, tax revenue would cover most if not all of the increased costs in health care for those who choose to partake. That said, it has been and probably always will be a potential plan for deficit reduction.
The fact that Obama didn’t shift gears and recognize that the question probably was asked in the context of relieving the deficit as opposed to job creation is bothersome to me. I have no doubt that his supporters would say that he was ambushed, and didn’t have time to think it through. They might even say that I’m being too particular about details. Perhaps, but the cold hard truth is that anyone who has bothered to pay attention to politics in this country for any long amount of time knows that legalization of vices of any sort is an action taken to decrease expenditures and/or collect revenue.
The real question I would love to see answered is whether or not Obama for even a second considered calling the situation for what it is. Did he think of saying he would consider it if it wasn’t for the fact that the religious right would jump all over him? Or even better, did the days of prohibition cross his mind?
While generally a proponent of legalization of both drugs and prostitution, I am not foolish enough to think that we have reached a point in this country where we can debate it without getting mired in a war with the radical right. However, we are at a point now where we have to consider whether or not we can afford to allow fear of confrontation keep us from exploring all of our options. Obama campaigned on the mantra of “Change”, but it’s looking like business as usual. It would be a huge gamble, but I don’t think that the people of this country wouldn’t understand that we need to do everything we can to get our economy back on track. When it’s a choice of being able to afford what you need, or compromising to allow others to do some things you don’t agree with morally, it’s amazing how many people will choose to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables.
Tags: Barack Obama, drugs, economic reform, prostitution
Secured by