Another email to Representative Burridge

January 17, 2007 by Caleb
Filed under: Uncategorized

The following is an email I sent to representative Burridge regarding his conduct and HB92

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Dear Representative Burridge,

I would like to take the time to write you regarding your stand on HB92, as well as your remarks to my colleague, Toby Iselin.

You claim to represent the people here in Keene. As such, you must be approachable. Your constituents must trust that they can approach you with their concerns about pending legislation. You have betrayed that trust by forwarding a constituent’s email to the local police department.

I trust that this was a momentary lapse; I have no desire to see you publicly condemned for this error in judgment. But I do hope you realize that it was indeed a lapse of judgment. If your constituents fear reprisal for contacting you, you will be unable to effectively represent them.

Please consider the effect that your actions have had on the community, and the level of trust that you must earn.

I understand your position on HB92. I do not, however, agree with it. I hope that you will at least consider the reasons for my position.

You have experienced the bad side of mind-altering drugs; and your life was unfortunately changed for the worse.

But consider the negative impact that prohibition has had on the lives of many people. Drug prohibition has resulted in a strong increase in the number of people incarcerated. This results in an increase in broken homes and single-parent families, and perpetuates the cycle of poverty.

Drug prohibition has also resulted in an increase in violent crime. This is due to the effect of organized crime and gang activity that go hand in hand with the black markets created by prohibition.

Meanwhile, the drug war has resulted in loss of prestige overseas, as the United States has committed great crimes against peoples in other nations in order to combat drug use here at home. Consider, for instance, the devastating impact of â€œPlan Colombiaâ€ on the impoverished people in Colombia.

Consider, too, that Drug Prohibition has resulted in the creation of dangerous drugs (such as meth) that are preferred because they are easy to produce cheaply. If alternative drugs were easier to acquire, meth would not even have a market.

Finally, consider that drug prohibition makes it unlikely that addicts will seek help, because they will fear punishment.

Granted, legalization of marijuana will not solve all these problems. Only completely ending the drug war will accomplish that. But it will be a step in the right direction. As others have noted, marijuana users are not violent, and hence, legalization of marijuana will be a good step towards ending the incarceration of non-violent individuals.

I should also note that legalization of marijuana will make it easier on people who are in my situation. I suffer from a degenerative form of arthritis: psoriatic arthritis. I have been prescribed numerous NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.) These NSAIDs all have devastating side effects, particularly with long term use. They are almost universally hard on the stomach and liver. Last year, the NSAIDs contributed to a stomach ulcer, and I was forced to endure the pain without any treatment at all while my stomach healed. I shudder to think of the damage that these drugs are doing to my liver. Interestingly, I am currently taking a prescription dose of napoxen, which is available over the counter. Your philosophy is troubling to me: You believe that I should not be able to get marijuana over the counter (which has been shown effective for pain relief), but I should be able to get Aleve (naproxen) over the counter? This is inconsistent.

Consider, also, the inconsistency of permitting alcohol and tobacco use, while forbidding marijuana use. The ravages of alcohol and tobacco outstrip, by far, any detrimental effects of marijuana usage. It has been estimated that tobacco kills one person in the world every ten seconds! There were almost 17,000 alcohol related fatalities in the United States last year! The effects of marijuana on Society are negligible by comparison.

I am not advocating that we illegalize alcohol or tobacco. If alcohol prohibition taught us anything, it is that it is impossible to criminalize a product for which there is a substantial market. The attempt to do so only leads to violent crime, corruption, and a loss of legitimacy as people flaunt the law.

Please remember that your brother was many things: He was obviously a very intelligent person, who would have contributed a lot to Society. He also was a person who made a tragic mistake, one that cost him his life. However, for whatever else he may have been, your brother was not a criminal. Please remove the law that says he was.

Sincerely,

Caleb Johnson

Keene, NH

Comments

9 Comments on Another email to Representative Burridge

Ian Bernard on Thu, 18th Jan 2007 12:51 am

I really liked the last part. Very persuasive.

toby on Thu, 18th Jan 2007 7:28 am

It seemed very diplomatic and respectful.

AK-Cleveland on Thu, 18th Jan 2007 1:40 pm

My prediction for his response:

Dear Caleb:

I have dispatched your local SWAT team to shoot you in the face. My pot-smoking brother is avenged!

Rep. Burridge

cerebellum on Fri, 19th Jan 2007 11:44 am

Love the last part…

Very nice. This rep is a madman.

LEGALIZE FREEDOM!!!

cerebellum on Fri, 19th Jan 2007 11:45 am

Need a preview function on this thing, sorry about the previous comment. It was butchered after I submitted it.

Cerebellum on Fri, 19th Jan 2007 11:48 am

[...] Updated: Read response to Rep’s emailÂ [...]

Lovejoy on Sat, 20th Jan 2007 12:51 pm

Stating the effects of juveniles under the influence is irrelevant, this law wouldnt effect juveniles. The problem of tearing families apart is the childs wrong doing, not a substance they may have used. This law wouldnt affect anyone under 18, and alas, you’re opinion is based on delinquints. thus making youre reply to that particular part ” invalid ”. Also you are chosing to blame a family members death on a drug, and not an irresponsible choice to get behind the wheel. had it been alcohol, you wouldnt blame the alcohol, because you know its already legal. But as a politiciam, don’t you feel you should listen to those whom voted you in? Youre job isnt to vote on you’re opinion, but rather to listen to the people you represent, and not judge based on you’re biased opinion.
I respect the work that you have done in you’re career. I do. It takes someone who cares about the children and envirement to be in that field… But 3 things are very evident here.

1.. this law wouldnt affect juveniles, and by juveniles, you only worked with dilenquints. not responisble tax payers over 18 years of age.

2. youre reason for keeping it illegal is based on a family members poor choice. He made selfish decision that led him to getting himself killed.

3. You have lashed out on a concerned person whom which you represent. If you are serious about you’re position, you should let the voices be heard underneath you, not just base you’re opinion as a cold hearted fact… And of all things, demeaning a concerned person by calling them a “dime” show a serious lack of proffessionalism and I hope you would appoligise….

I would love to further discuss this issue with you, and I hope you take the time to reply…

this is the reply I wrote to Mr burridge yesterday.. Toby please contact me a.s.a.p. so we can talk about this please.

toby on Sat, 20th Jan 2007 9:07 pm

Lovejoy, you can e-mail me at toby@freekeene.com. Thanks

Militarydad on Tue, 23rd Jan 2007 10:46 pm

Another response to Rep. Burridge

Rep. Burridge,
Well, you certainly created a little excitement in cyber space, now didn’t you?
Let me start by saying that personally I am not in favor of legalizing marijuana.
Not for the reasons that you post in your response to Mr. Iselin, but because I fear that legalization would be cause for regulation, which equals more government involvement.
I wonder if those pushing for legalization have thought out the ramifications?
Once government gets involved, there will be age restrictions, sales licenses, or permits, an agency formed to regulate sales, and so on.
Do supporters think that government will pass a bill legalizing marijuana, and people will be popping up on street corners selling pot?
One need only take a look at the trouble hot dog vendors have in Keene!! Or the individual who posted signs offering free rides for people in need.
I am in favor of government having less to do with our personal choices, and spending their time on more important issue.
A fair way to fund education. Less expensive higher education. Affordable health care.
Bringing our troops home from Iraq.

The bottom line here is that among your constituency there are those in favor of, those opposed to, and others who just could care less about HB92.
As will be the case in every bill you vote on.

It is your obligation as our elected representative to put your ego, and opinion, aside and listen to all of us.
Then incorporating your opinion, with an unbiased approach, decide how you should vote, in good faith, and good conscience, to represent the well being of the majority of us.

To report a constituent to the police for asking you to support legislative action on his/her behalf, while posing no threat to anyone, is irresponsible representation at best.

All though my political beliefs are more in line with what use to be Republican core values, I voted for Democrats in all but one case, during the last election.
I did so because of my displeasure with the way our country is being run.
I’m sick and tired of elected officials deciding what is best for me.
I’m sick and tired of politicians changing laws and the constitution to meet their needs and support their personal agendas.
From what I see, so far, of the Democrats elected to change all this, I wonder if we didn’t jump from the frying pan to the fire?

Your’s is a difficult task at best!
You are going to be right with some, wrong with others, on every decision you make while in office.
When it is all said and done, I hope that you were right with the majority, most of the time.

Sincerely,
JR
In closing, I would add that I am not a user of marijuana, and I am not opposed to HB92.
I am affraid of the increased government that legalizing marijuana will most certainly create.

Rep Burridge,s response to me was,”Thank you for the comments”.

JR
http://infantrydad.blogspot.com

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