Stay Tuned

Here we are on the verge of 2011. Time flies doesn't it? These days are also a very dramatic display of really good story telling, Fortunately, unfortunately, fortunately, unfortunately. Yes, this is a great movie we're in and It feels like we're about to reach a climax. And If these are in fact the last days, well, we came in with a bang so let's go out with a bang.

It is a time of biblical proportions. As evidenced by the extreme weather and the miracles that took place in the US congress last week. In the lame duck session of the 111th congress we saw the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, the passage of the 9/11 responders health care bill, the signing of the SALT treaty, the community radio act, mandating the FCC to issue thousands of licences for lower power FM Jesus Christ! what a Christmas. Even the economic indicators were good when it came to folks spending money.

Right now, I'm looking back on 2010, I suppose you are too. Sometimes we glance over our shoulders, but at times like these we gaze into the past take inventory and know that we are an accumulation of all that has happened. I'm trying to fathom the depths of just the last 360 days, I am flabbergasted at the events in my personal life never mind the rest of the world. The deaths of my dearest dog, and of my mother. Turning 50 years old, The return of my daughter from her world tour, birth of our grandson Sterling. Wow.

Through a global lens we witnessed,The earthquake in Haiti, Floods in Pakistan, escalating violence in Afghanistan, The Thai revolution, the Icelandic Volcano that closed airports all over Northern Europe for two weeks, the BP oil spill (that still sends chills up my spine), the chilean miners rise to fame and great fortune, the ugliness of US mid term elections, riots in Europe over Austerity measures. All stunning extremely emotional events.

The Insane Political behavior almost drove me completely crazy this year. I was most recently outraged when Obama made a deal with the devil and let the Bush Tax cuts extend for two years, but then, we got the SALT treaty, etc and billionaires like Zuckerberg, Bloomberg And 14 Other Pledged To Donate Majority Of Their Fortunes To Charity. Wow, great plot twist.

When I sit in the audience of life I am much more surprised, deeply moved and entertained. Like when I'm listening to Haley Barber wax nostalgic about segregation, I can't help but think of Borat, yes. Or Watching Bernie Sanders ( http://sanders.senate.gov/) filibuster on the Senate Floor against the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts, I remember Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Last week, we left the country and I had the great fortune to find myself immersed in the jungles of Costa Rica. In my movie, I was swinging like Tarzan from vines through the jungle, eating fresh picked pineapple, coconut, drinking coffee flavored with locally grown vanilla. We enjoyed the company of The Costa Rican people who are warm, happy and generous and it became more apparent with each Capuchin monkey that visited our dwelling, or sloth hanging upside down above our heads or toucan flying effortlessly through the palm tress that their connection with the natural world is the reason. They share the earth with its marvelous creatures and they are rewarded with happiness. Their motto is Pura Vida which means Pure life. And though they are not literally "rich" they are stable financially, they are secure in themselves. And Though we may see ourselves as intelligent, successful Americans many are infected with wild ambition, doubt, greed, apathy, consumption and waste, which may not imply a happy ending to our story. Who knows?

So much in Destiny's hands now. We may not be able to significantly change anything to stem the outcome, but the story can still be inspiring, sacred, joyous and positive with every step we take. It is the best of times, It is the worst of times. It is extreme and The sheer magnitude is breathtaking. I'm on the edge of my seat and I Can't wait to see what happens next!.
I want to wishing everyone a healthy and prosperous, sustainable new year.

The Most Wonderful, Awful Time Of the Year

It's the most wonderful time of the year, It is very beautiful with the all the gift giving and electrifying light displays, but it's also a mixed up, highly emotional, economically challenging and dramatic time and yes it's filled with wonder. We wonder what the heck is going on. Like those Crazy Bush Tax cuts on the verge of being extended, If that doesn't make you wanna holler. I don't know what will.

But let us rejoice for the moment because we've got to do that as well.This is the sixth night of Hannukah, there are two more to go. So Happy Hannukah, It falls on the 25th day of Hebrew month of Kislev, On that day the Macabbean army reclaimed the Temple in Judea from the Syrians and in their rededication, they had to light the eternal lamp, but only had enough oil (olive, I presume) to last one night. The miracle was that the oil lasted 8 days.

For me Hannukah is about being with the family, the delicious anti nutritious food, the singing of songs, lighting candles. The first night I lit the candles by myself and sang the prayer. I closed my eyes and instantly I could see my deceased mother and fathers faces flickering in the candle light and I bawled. It was truly a religious experience. This year I couldn't find the menorah at first, so we had to improvise with a banana which made me laugh hysterically. On the fourth night, after searching high and low we ended up with two menorahs and celebrated with four native americans, 5 Central Americans, 3 agnostics, 2 pagans and one Jew, that was me.

Yesterday, I was completely possessed by the spirit of my mother. I put on a bathrobe that looked remarkably like one of hers, and spent four hours in the kitchen making stuffed cabbage, chopped chicken livers and potato latkes. I got out the old fashioned stand up grater and grated the potatoes and onions by hand, being very careful not to grate my knuckles like I did as kid, helping my mother in the kitchen. And I cried, yeah, those damn onions are a bitch.

It's that time of year for me, Happiness and sorrow colliding into a spontaneous outburst of tears. Like tomorrow, which is Pearl Harbor day, a day that will live in terrible infamy, but the infamy for me is that fact that my daughter was born that day and will be 23. Her terrific beauty and enormous humor is a gift to the whole world and was witnessed by a good chunk of it this past year as she traveled through 12 countries, in her banana suit (w accompanied by her Gorilla friend. The sensation of watching my child mature into a natural comediane and wander happily into the world is a tear jerker for me. I'm so proud.

I am blessed, lucky to feel so much. To me it is the richness of life, the breathtaking emotional roller coaster of being alive and loving so deeply.

On that note, Wednesday, December 8th, the world will remember the assassination of John Lennon 30 years ago. I am still grieving his murder and wept freely watching the film "Imagine" Playing over and over this week as a tribute to his life. How apropos in a time of such darkness and continuous war to recall his magnificent light and know we are more need than ever for a voice as powerful and meaningful as his to unite the world with songs of Justice and Peace.

Symbols, metaphors, deeper meanings, the realm of December's Sagittarius, I'm surrounded by the, Sagittarians that is. Thursday is my wife's birthday. She is Ruled by Jupiter, the king of the Gods. She, as well as most Sag's. is huge in her presence, expansive, truth seeking, philosophical, generous, and has an insatiable wanderlust. And it is my great fortune to be in such close company for to celebrate the birth of my wife and daughter we are off to the wild blue yonder to the jungles of Costa Rica. Costa Rica, (a welcome relief from the good ole freezing cold USA, enjoyed first place last year on the Happy Planet index, measuring it's well being in part by it's devotion to ecological sustainability, the indigenous population's well being, and of course, joy. The United States was 114th in the index, just two below The Republic of Congo.

I feel it Highly auspicious and symbolic of our quest for peace and equality in this world to seek out adventure in one of the happiest places on earth. Costa Ricans have enjoyed stability and very little hostility since 1948, have no standing army, and have recently elected, a woman for president, Laura Chinchilla, who hails from the party of previous President, Oscar Arias who won the Nobel Peace Prize, (unlike our President) for his work in the 1980's to END Central America's wars. Inspiring isn't it. It is with this respect, curiosity and intention that we leave this country at the darkest time, the winter solstice, where our President who promised us the light of change and hope is about to cave in to Darkness ruled by fear and make the rich richer, the poor poorer and the wars warer. Bah Humbug!

Warm Up Exercises

Its cold. It's really, really cold. This isn't something I am used to so early in the season. It's not even officially winter, but It's been snowing and hailing and the roads have been icy since last week. And oh, that toilet seat! Brrrrr. It took me ten minutes to scrape the ice off my windshield this morning. I almost slipped on a frozen deck in Brooke trails on Saturday night. The tip of my nose has been red for days and lots of friends and family are dealing with colds, mild flu, and coughs.

I am distracted by the cold, thinking about what I can do to get warm. Of course, right off the bat, there's all the delicious Thanksgiving coffee we have to choose from, fair trade, roasted and brewed locally, Yes mamma!. There's the traditional cup of hot tea, something with cinnamon, ginger or chai with it's exotic flavors of cardamon, cloves and pepper. Then, there's the more medicinal cocktail of hot water, cayenne and lemon which will happily devour nasty bacterium and viruses in your throat on contact. Try a little brandy with that too. Another really great warmer upper is making a boiling pot of water and throwing in some fresh cedar, eucalyptus, or pine needles, steam, put a towel over your head and inhale. Aaaaah.

Of course there's the logical layering of clothing. A set of thermal underwear, jeans, wool sweaters and socks, boots, felt hats, and furry gloves sometimes even while your sitting in your living room. And then there's the hearth. I find myself spending a lot more time in the kitchen when I'm cold. I want soup, don't you? There's a ton of canned and boxed soup on sale right now, get some for your self and throw in a couple extra for a food bank donation. and then there's the home made, left overs from Thanksgiving, mmm, turkey noodle soup, or a hefty beef or buffalo stew, or something vegetarian Hot, sour, spicy. Get out your cookbooks and crockpots! It's time for baking brownies, cookies, and breads and oh don't forget the pies. It's time for butter and biscuits, scones and chestnuts.

Go out for some Thai or Japanese food from some of the great local haunts like, Happy Garden in Clearlake, Oco time in Ukiah, or Viraporn or Off the Hook in Fort Bragg get yourself a hot curry or a lump of wasabi, a big bowl of Soba and some hot sake, Yum.

There's the fabulous option of climbing into bed when the sun goes down with a Heating pad, a pillow case full of warmed sea salt, or a brick warmed in the oven at 350 for an hour and then put under your quilt. It will radiate warmth long into the night. Cozy up with with a good book.(Check out some of KZYX"S Tony Miksaks' Words on Books recommendations) I recommend the collections of Paulo Cuehlo, The Witch of Portabello, The Alchemist, the Fifth Mountain and more Cuehlo is profoundly dramatic, and far reaching in his imagination and spirituality.

You can simmer yourself in the local cauldrons of indulgence of, Wilbur, Orr Hot Springs, Bamboo Gardens, Sweetwater Spa, the hot tubs and sauna not only warm you up, but clean out your lymph system (a crucial component of the immune system)

Use your muscles, that's an instant rise in temperature. Stretch, jump up and down, Doing yoga or dancing to gypsy music will bring you to a salty sweat. "An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day" according to Henry David Thoreau. It really warms my bones especially when followed by a very hot shower and then turning the cold water on for 5 seconds sending all the blood back to my core where it will do it's best to keep me toasty inside.

Getting into bed with a lover is a super good idea. I find holding my wife very close and rubbing our feet together is very effective. Then if you like turn up the heat, friction is fun and sets the kundalini fires. Hot cha!

Then there's the heart warming. There are a lot of people in this world who are suffering beyond our comprehension. Whether it is from war, poverty, natural disasters like the constantly unfolding one in Haiti. Acts of charity, in this holiday season, are immensely comforting. I'm a huge supporter of Heifer international. They are the ones who, with our modest donations, provide livestock for families all over the world to help them become self sufficient in an ever collapsing international economies.

Take some time to write a letter to someone in prison, someone fighting abroad, or send a box of books, or toys to an orphanage in Afghanistan you will experience and immeasurable warmth. Or simply write a letter to an elder in your family. It's very rare to get a real letter these days, Remember, lots of older folks still haven't mastered the internet, (my mom never could do Facebook) and getting a letter with your name written on the envelope is truly Heart warming gift.

And Finally, there's the warmth of a friend. We are so fortunate to live in deeply familiar communities where we have the pleasure of running into friends and neighbors on our daily journey. Stop a moment give them a hug, rub their back and take off the chill.

Armchair Quarterback

We all know The reason the Democrats controlled all three branches of government for the last 18 months was because the people of this nation had a mandate. In November 2008, We said, "No more republicans in charge, end the war, and deal with climate change. It was crystal clear and it was our moment of triumph after eight years of torture, literal and figurative.

Alas, the last 18 months have been occasionally uplifting, but for the most part, deeply disturbing and while I am the the first to say, "Hey this administration came into a nightmare economic scenario, two wars and an embarrassing international posture", the decisions made on high have left me in a state of confusion and deep disappointment.

There are three major elements that I allude to number one is the housing crisis, 2: the escalation of war and 3: the failure to address global warming. These major ongoing catastrophes are the the nails in the casket of change, because it is the earth, the animals, the people, the families scarred and ruined that I care about. There are tens of thousands of dead casualities of war and millions of people who are, unemployed, scared, suicidal, homeless and hopeless.

They are not the "middle class" that we hear about ad infinitum, they are simply Americans who bought in and believed in the system. The impact of these events on Americans and the rest of the world may turn out to be ultimate reason we descend into utter chaos and permanent war.

Today is the first day of the Lame Duck Congress. Do we accept this declaration of stagnation. Do we allow our government to grind to a complete halt while the democrats are still in power, or do we demand they "man up" and make things happen. We've got seven weeks until the new republican congress takes power. that's 49 days. How dare they surrender? They just had ten days off since the election. Let's make them work. Call them at 202-225-3121 and make your voice heard. I did. I demanded they pass The dream act which provides a path to citizenship for immigrant students,t hen repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell, Extend unemployment benefits for laid off workers, and do not extend the Bush tax cuts. If they address one bill a week, they can pass at least five laws to protect the people, like the food safety act.

I do not accept the excuse of lame duck, because it's just, lame. I will not accept it because to do so would be to accept defeat and there is too much at stake and there is no time to waste.

In this last Sunday's edition in the New York Times Week in Review section, there is an invitation to Balance the National budget. There is an interactive graphic grid and options for Spending cuts and Tax increases and you take your number two pencil and go to work. It's truly exciting fun and easy to Cancel or delay weapons programs and save $20 billion dollars, or cut 250,000 gov't contractors and save $15 billion. You can opt to raise taxes on banks weighted by size and riskiness of holdings collecting $105 billion dollars or tax carbon emission and raise $70 billion. Strangely, they didn't include legalizing Marijuana and Hemp which would also raise considerable tax revenue. You can go to New York times Week in Review and experience the thrill of doing what needs to be done. Balancing the Federal budget before breakfast. I can do it, why can't they?

You remember the phrase arm-chair quarterback. It's comes from the act of sitting in your living room and shouting at the quarterback on TV to play the game the way you would. I have this feeling frequently especially when it comes to running the government. So I guess I am an arm-chair President. Yeah, Put me in coach. Here's the plan. Withdraw all troops from Iraq and Afghanstan, that'll save a bundle for sure. Let's tax all big oil companies. Let's call it a global warming tax and transfer all the revenue into alternative energy. Okay, then there's the banks, let's invite them to pay at least %35 in taxes and really plump the economy. Put an immediate moratorium on all foreclosures and reduce mortgage interest rates to 4 1/4 and watch everyone pay their mortgages on time and use that money to lend to families trying to find homes after they were immorally and illegally removed from their homes. And I concur with 500 economists who agree that legalizing marijuana and hemp would generate billions in tax revenues.

I know a lot of us have this feeling and it really does feel so easy to second guess the Prez especially after the disastrous mid-term election. Those of us who are managing to somehow navigate this treacherous social and economic tight rope are acutely aware of the next bold moves the government is about to impose on our already stressed out existence.

Mr President I do want to tell you how to do your job, I want you to lead according to our original mandate, not republicans. Do not compromise on not extending Tax cuts for the rich Do not compromise anymore. Americans would really appreciate that. Because we're on the 9th yard line, it's 3rd down, are you gonna punt? Because with all do respect sir, we really need a touchdown.

Referendum Shmeferendum

I'm sitting at my office on the Albion Headlands gazing at the great blue Pacific ocean. The Albion river runs east as I look over my right shoulder. The sun is shining, after a weekend of nurturing rain. I am eating delicious Indian samosas and parmesan stuffed mushrooms from the Albion Store and a cup chai of tea, From the Mendocino Tea company with whom I share the office space. Blessed doesn't' really describe my position in life. It is truly a treasure and I am fully aware of my privilege to be here. I am a free woman in paradise.

I daily exercise and fight for my rights and for those less fortunate than I, because With privilege comes responsibility to make the world a better place. At least that's my moral imperative.

I was, as you know, optimistic about the elections, thinking that the progressives were laying in wait to jump out of the election day cake and yell "Surprise! We are here, we are sane, we are patient and we are voting". But alas, I was wrong. Really wrong. I wanted to wake up Wednesday and say "Good morning, Marijuana and hemp legalized in California" But no. I know it wasn't a perfect proposition, but I truly believed it was a step forward.I thought it was for the good of all and the idea that we would pay taxes, no one would go to jail for reasonable cultivation and transportation and the cops couldn't touch seed, nor stalk was exciting to me.

The only county the majority voted for prop 19 was San Francisco, Here in Mendocino county only 47% wow. San Francisco is more progressive than we are. What's happening just doesn't makes sense to me. And all the election hoopla! The unprecedented spending of $four billion dollars on mean and nasty campaign ads. Glad that's over. They called it a referendum on the Obama Presidency, but I can pretty much guarantee that much of America's electorate wouldn't be able to define referendum. Here, let me. referendum is "a vote" Yes indeed that surely was a referendum.

I wanted to see a positive change from this election. sensical, logical, progressive solutions. Nothing much changed in terms of going forward, but a whole hell of a lot happened in reverse.

Am I alone in this? Well I may not be alone, but I am certainly in the minority. Yes, and as far as minorities are concerned this was a devastating election. Minorities who are the majority didn't turn out in large numbers to vote. And the new bosses are not concerned with the general welfare of this nation. So sad, so sad, The Democrats lost because they had no respect for the people who brought President Obama to the White House. They and He remained a staunch ally of the Banks, Corporations and the people felt disposable. If President Obama had just listened to me, when I told him to bail out the homeowners and not the banks, we could have stabilized the entire economy. If he had been more vocal and active on withdrawing troops and making those accountable who went to war under false circumstances. I say there would have been a groundswell of support and reelection, but most people I know, felt abandoned and apparently have answered in kind.

Oh well, republicans are already gloating, mouths watering at the opportunity to dismantle the health care reform, terrorize immigrant workers, take away a women's right to choose, destroy Same sex, marriage. Yes, it's all on the chopping block. A giant step backwards. The country has turned a disturbing shade of red with the republican sweep of the election I have an eerie chill running down my spine. I hear the sinister laugh of Eric Cantor and Mitch McConnell in my ear. Mwa ha ha. It's the The culmination of, racism, colonialism, despotism, nepotism and capitalism, ism, ism, ism. It's a corporate capitalistic coup.

We hear that the major issue in this election is jobs and the economy and the failure of the Obama admin to do something about it. Like he could pull jobs out of a hat. Yet the republican agenda, like that of Rand Paul, elected in Kentucky, supports the tea party's major initiative to cut the federal workforce and it's wages by %10 and freeze hiring. That sounds counter productive to me as opposed to Obama's job stimulus bill and tax cuts for new small businesses, which I myself will take advantage of.

You know what would really stimulate the economy? Ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and making 2/3 of American Corps who don't pay taxes, like Exxon and Citibank, do so. Think of the net savings from both and then reinvesting in Alternative energy, conservation and education. Then we'd legalize marijuana and hemp and voila! A fat and happy economy for all! To me, that would be logical, sensical and responsible. Gosh, maybe by 2012 we'll get the progressive agenda together just in time for a happy ending.

Certified Sane

When we arrived in Washington DC last Friday, we immediately went to the Congressional and Senate buildings. We visited a number of offices of those elected officials who we have been spouting angry, racist, homophobic and irrational rhetoric from, Jim Demint to John Boehner, to ask them to please, mind their manners and show some respect to each other and to our President. Now, none of them were at the office, They only work four days a week and they had lit out of town because of the election this Tuesday. Their aides were polite, a bit frightened by our Northern Californina Lesbian Grandmother Presence, but we are civil,intelligent, loving people and we left them with our message, a smile and our integrity in tact.

It was a perfect precursor for participation for the Rally to Restore Sanity and or Keep Fear Alive that took place on the National Mall on October 30th. I must say, without a single doubt it was the most uplifting, restorative,powerful political rally I have ever been to for so many reasons. The company, the weather, the demographics, the signs, the comedy, the vocabulary, the heart and especially the inclusive nature of the event. For Mr. Stewart and Colbert invited everyone to the table and the program of performers from The Roots of Philadelphia, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, The Myth Busters, Kid Rock, Mavis Staples, the Ojays, Kareem Abdul Jabar, the Jet Blue flight attendant, Tony Bennett, a seven year old girl, Ozzy Osborne and Cat Steven proves my point.

To be among 300,000 people who were polite, friendly, willing to all jump at the same time to measure our impact or create the "stadium" wave to measure the distance from the stage to the back of the crowd was not only educational, but exhilarating as well. To be with so many different people who may not agree on every issue but do agree that it is time for intelligent, political discourse without hysterics, to keep a sense of humor and clean up after one's self was significant in these times when all the media is foaming at the mouth and the political rhetoric from all sides is mean, ugly and cruel was truly healing.

We met folks from Sacramento, Dallas, Seattle, LA, Minnesota, Kentucky, Florida. The older man who wanted to stand on our soap box so he could find his wife. There were the The African American women with signs that said, "Fired up and ready to vote". The white seven year old boy sitting next to us with his mother. The Iranian family who asked us to take their picture, the Asian lady who used our soapbox to stand on because she couldn't see. The Elderly couple who sat in their little camp chairs tapping their feet to the Ojays, And then we saw the signs like; "I get my comedy on Fox TV, I get my news on Comedy Central", "Babies will take our jobs in twenty years". "I masturbate and I vote", "Does this sign make my ass look big?" "No one is Hitler, but Hitler" "If my sign is blocking your view please tell me" "This sign is spelled correctly" "God hates people who write what God hates on signs". Funny, I tell you.

This rally was actually effective. When was the last time the Star Spangled Banner made you cry? Hearing actual soldiers sing it did it for me. When have you been at a really where people were quiet when someone singing or speaking on stage? Truly listening. When have you been at a rally when there was no trash left on the ground. Amazing!!

We were touched, we were deeply moved and we laughed till we cried. People all who had come to show the world that Americans are good, logical,educated and very funny people and In the end Mr. Stewart held this truth to be self evident by narrating a Jumbotron video of drivers merging into the Lincoln Tunnel. He imagined the diverses passengers inside, taking turns to drive through the 34 ft wide tunnel under a mighty river, you go then I'll go, you go then I'll go. It's a basic principle of humanity to take turns and then theirs a jerk who speeds up on the shoulder and cuts everybody off, but he's the exception. the metaphor was visual and visceral. He said we can, do and will work together to get through. He said these are hard times, not end times and sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is only New Jersey. Sanity plus wit is so comforting.

The fact that the Stewart Colbert Rally was twice the size of Glenn Becks' Rally gives me hope for tomorrow's election. We personally witnessed an American consciousness we've never seen in such huge numbers before and we are proud. This is the most important mid-term election of my life. The polls say that the the extreme right is going to take the country by storm tomorrow, but I think the pollsters featured on mainstream TV, on NPR and the New York Times, some who boycotted the rally, are stalled in the 20th century and their demographics can only be reached on land lines. Well, from what I saw this weekend in DC on the Mall, we have a new and exciting party in American Politics one you would never expect to upset an election because their so moderate, funny and sane. Ladies and Gentlemen, Make way for the surprise party. And oh yeah. Go Giants.

Props to Prop 19

Midterm Elections are a week away and there's some very strange, even frightening candidates spending hundreds of millions of dollars to buy themselves a seat at the table. There's a lot of misinformation and fear mongering floating around regarding candidates and propositions. I guess that's the nature of politics.

So,in this commentary I would like to share some positive progressive thoughts with you. I'm talking about Proposition 19. The Marijuana legalization initiative. Know what I like about proposition 19?. I like that it makes it legal for people over 21 to cultivate, possess and transport marijuana. That's gonna be a huge relief to a major part of the population. Imagine it. It's a deep breath for a lot of people I know.

I like section 11303 regarding seizure, "no state or local law enforcement agency or official shall attempt to, threaten to, or in fact seize or destroy any cannabis plant, cannabis seeds or cannabis that is lawfully cultivated, processed, transported, possessed, possessed for sale, sold or used in compliance with this Act or any local government ordinance, law or regulation adopted pursuant to this Act". I like the end of destructive behavior on the part of law enforcement when it comes to legal and medical grows. Yeah, I like that. I like it better than measure G, which I liked very much, but was repealed by measure B. I like that Prop19 is state law and it treats adults like adults. And, the measure provides that the state could also authorize the production of hemp. How exciting is that??

Passing Prop 19 does not change 215 or 420. All medical laws stay in tact.

Some say they worry about the penalties and illegality of of sharing, selling, and smoking with regard to minors,but that's always been prohibited.

I've also heard rumors saying that there will be a fifty dollar an ounce tax and that is not true. In fact the measure says that "Many of the provisions in this measure permit, but do not require the state and local governments to take certain actions related to regulation and taxation". A tax can only be imposed by a vote from the people. I do agree that there should be tax especially when it comes to Recreational use.

Medicine is not taxed in this country and I think that should apply to this medicine as well. As far as I understand it any Marijuana dispensaries will be taxed exactly like other businesses that operate in the state. It becomes an even playing field and marijuana begins to appear as Normal. As far as Marijuana as medicine that's already established, yes it's almost normal at this point. Although we still have Federal Agents wreaking havoc from time to time, this election may effect change there as well.

So here we have this plant that millions have consumed with many beneficial side effects especially when dealing with life threatening illnesses from Cancer to AIDS and it has helped them heal and repair and endure the treatments they are subject to. Then there are the recreational users who smoke pot because it makes them feel good. Let's not underestimate that benefit. When a society feels good, feels pleasure it is more likely to be peaceful, productive, cooperative. Happiness is a good thing. (Check out the NHP, national happiness index) If someone chooses a painkiller that serves them and helps them cope with life I say blessed be. Life can be very painful, challenging, scary and we can have a culture of tolerance for personal use of medicine.

I like the idea of regulation, environmental protection, organic standards, cottage industry protection and these are all things we can influence with our local board of supervisors who are there to represent out interests, well being and protection. We can work this out. Humboldt county's board of Supes have already endorsed 19 and are beginning consideration on how to implement regulations.

Don't take my word for these things. Facts are fuzzy these days and there's really no regulation when it comes to telling the truth about something. You really have to find out for yourself which I'm encouraging you to do. What matters is that we do our best to put politicians and propositions into place that look out for the good of all,not just the profit margin, but the more empathetic route of Making the world a better place or doing no harm. In my opinion Prop 19 does no harm. In fact in reduces harm for a lot of people and I'm a big fan of harm reduction.

Hey Progress isn't easy, it's risky, it's tricky . According to the headlines of the Newspaper West Coast Leaf, published by Chris Conrad and Micki Norris. "All eyes on on California" waiting to see how courageous we are to lead the country in legalization of marijuana and hemp. For me waking up the day after election and finding Marijuana and hemp legalized in this state will be a moment that will shine bright in our history.

Hey, There's a lot that can go wrong this election. We are looking at Corporate Coups, far right extremists who hate gay people, are outright racists, deny global warming, call for second amendment remedies to our current administration' s agenda and sanction the idea that even if a women is raped or a victim of incest she cannot have an abortion. I don't know about the rest of the country, but I know here in California if any of those candidates take office and begin to make policies we'll be really happy we legalized marijuana cause we're gonna need to smoke a lot of pot.