This is about Weak-kneed legislators

(Editor's Note:  As is the policy of Black River Today, we will publish signed letters to the editor.)

Letter to the Editor:

This is about weak-kneed legislators --
or, how federal intimidation tends to work.  Sadly. 
Vermont legislators who favor marijuana dispensaries in principle
get an intimidating letter from US Atty Tristram Coffin
http://www.law.columbia.edu/media_inquiries/news_events/2009/may2009/tristram-coffin
who somehow thinks its a good idea for a federal prosecutor to meddle
with a state legislature.  Of course it suits his ideological goals. 
And state legislators run scared.

What's going on here? 
Do we have legitimate disagreements about pain-mitigation with marijuana
and the fundamental stupidity and destructiveness of the federal drug war
(mostly on people of color)? 
Yeah, we do. 

But do these legislators have the courage of their convictions? 
Apparently not. 
Although it's unclear which is lacking,
the courage or the convictions, or both.

Here's the Burlington Free Press version of the story: 
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110505/NEWS03/105050302/-1/RSS22

Seems this story is redolent with thug tactics,
including VT pub safety comm Flynn's cynical solicitation
as well as a pattern of US Atty interference in other states. 
Scaring prople is what you do when you don't have a decent argument.

As for profiles in courage -- Shumlin and others, for now --
but silence so far from Leahy, Sanders, or Welch
on the abuse of federal power. 

William Boardman
Woodstock  Vermont

Comments

[Moncler Sverige]

That was my thought,too.