Article: A Radical Confession of Hope Regarding Obama

Speaking of race and the authorities... I am hopeful that Obama will take steps to dismantle the overtly racist prison-industrial complex. One African-American might be the Commander in Chief but as long as 1/3 of all African-American men continue to be cycled through the police state and prison systems... racism will still be a prominent feature of American society. The key to dismantling the prison-industrial complex is, quite simply, the decriminalization of drugs (this will also bankrupt the poppy growing, heroin exporting, Taliban). There is already widespread support for the decriminalization of marijuana (and hemp is a crop which could be grown to great economic advantage). My advice would be to rally around this issue and give Obama the political ability to make general decriminalization a reality. The Drug War is a war on American citizens -- and it needs to end. Diverting funds from the prison-industrial complex and decreasing related police aggression in poor communities (particularly minority neighborhoods) could have positive impacts on both the economy and general social harmony.

Special mention needs to be made about the Taliban as justification for increased military activity on the part of the U.S. in Afghanistan. The Taliban and Al Queada are certainly a repressive menace to the people of that region (and around the world). However, if removing them from power militarily will increase the level of civilian suffering and produces more anger against the west, wouldn't that defeat the purpose? This is a delicate situation and a subject which will continue to require much scrutiny when Obama moves into the Oval Office. As stated before, the Taliban could be rendered far less influential if their drug trade was disrupted and bankrupted by wholesale decriminalization of drugs in the west. It sounds extreme in the context of puritanical right-wing prohibitons and anti-drug propaganda, but any domestic problems caused by decriminalization would be offset by the benefits to national (and world) security.

Finally... my greatest fear is that the progressives and radicals will be placated and pacified because they have tied themselves politically and psychologically to Obama and his cult of personality. It is very important that we do not allow this to happen to ourselves or the larger progressive/radical community. If Obama institutes harmful environmental policies he needs to be called on it. If he expands the police state, he needs to be held accountable. If he fails to deliver on his promises of military withdrawal and/or if he seriously escalates the conflict elsewhere in the region... he needs to be recognized as a warmonger. Serious issues are not going to disappear just because Obama has been elected and we need to make sure that we continue to struggle for justice and environmental sustainability -- whether Obama proves to be working for the same things or not. Optimism and hope concerning Obama is understandable, but let's try not to let it blind us.

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