"A political solution has become more difficult, as a convicted felon cannot vote while in prison, and in many states will never be able to vote again. The felons have become less than a full citizen. Slaves were once considered to be three-fifths of a person for population purposes.
Perversely, black prisoners now are coveted by rural areas which are losing population. Why? Prisoners count towards the population of the county, even as they cannot vote. Thus rural areas have more representation than justified. Examples abound."Legislators in Upstate New York are fighting changes to drug sentencing laws because it would reduce their regional voting power. They need the prisoners to count as residents.
On horseback, Howard Wooldridge and "Misty" crossed the USA
"As I rode my horse thru New York in 2005 on my way from Los Angeles to the Big Apple, I learned that 93 percent of the States' prisoners (on drug offenses) were black or brown. This despite every survey showing that people-of-color neither use nor sell more than their percentage of the population. Did politicians ask – or did they want to remain ignorant of what race would be butchered with a 100:1 disparity in sentences for crack vs. powder cocaine? Either way, 20 years later they are still allowing a 70:1 ratio."
Please, gentle readers – read the previous paragraph again, slowly.
In the 1990s pregnant, black South Carolina women were singled out to be drug-tested. When tested positive, they suffered arrest after the birth of their child. Authorities took the child away. This ended when the Supreme Court stepped in to stop this baby-snatching.
"Where slave-owners or the KKK used to cause so much pain, suffering and death now it is the effects of the New Prohibition," Officer Howard Wooldridge said. "When will we become as wise as our grandparents – and end this most dysfunctional, devastating, immoral policy since slavery?"
Follow-the-money
As you can imagine, my brother Howard tells me the inside stories facing Americans concerning the "War on Drugs." Because the DEA enjoys $70 billion annually in paychecks, everyone involved wants the "War on Drugs" to continue. The department exists – to exist. It's like a plane being held in a circular pattern around an airport, but never allowed to land. It burns up fuel, wastes time and accomplishes nothing!
ONE TRILLION U.S. GREENBACKS – for what?However, you, the American taxpayer forked over $1 trillion in the past 35 years with zero results!
Today, my brother Howard Wooldridge (the personification of a balanced cop) heads up a task force in Washington, DC to educate and enlighten congressmen at the highest levels. He works for a better future for all Americans. He can be reached at: Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), www.leap.cc, Washington, DC. Wearing his trademark white-Stetson cowboy-hat, he speaks at colleges, political clubs, Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs across America. He captivates audiences at political conferences in Washington and scores of cities across the USA. wooldridge@leap.cc
So, what the heck is LEAP ? Once you get the message and think about the big picture – you will realize that 50% of our expensive incarceration facilities are occupied by addicts. THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY !
The mission of LEAP is to reduce the multitude of unintended harmful consequences resulting from fighting the 'war on drugs' – and to lessen the incidence of death, disease, crime, and addiction by ultimately ending drug prohibition."Envision a nation where crime is cut in half, terrorists don't make money selling drugs and kids are not employed in the drug trade," Howard Wooldridge said. "Envision a nation where the police focus on DUI, child predators and terrorists. Imagine a nation where – If you have a drug problem – you see a physician, not a judge. All are possible, when we find the courage to end our dysfunctional Prohibition."
Contact my brother, Howard Wooldridge, and invite him to come and speak to your local groups. Together, we can turn the herd and make life better for millions.
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