The Drug War is Failing - So is Our Democracy

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "t r u t h o u t" <messenger@truthout.org>
Date: Aug 15, 2013 1:25 PM
Subject: The Drug War is Failing - So is Our Democracy
To: <aquarianm@gmail.com>
Cc:

PROGRESSIVE PICKS Tell a friend about Truthout! Donate Today! Truthout is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization; donations are tax deductible.

Can there be any doubt, at this point, that America's war on drugs has been a catastrophic failure? In fact, according to neuroscientist Dr. Carl Hart's book High Price, the drug war - with its intrinsic links to racist policing and mass incarceration - is often more harmful to users than the illicit substances that they use. Meanwhile, there are significant economic as well as moral arguments for the legalization of marijuana, as revealed in Doug Fine's Too High to Fail. It's not just the American justice system that is broken, however - as John Nichols and Robert McChesney explain in their new book Dollarocracy, corporations and the wealthy have devoted extraordinary resources to dominating the political process. This state of affairs is deadly serious, but it's also too absurd not to laugh at - which is what makes Life Begins At Incorporation, a collection of cartoons and essays by Matt Bors, such essential reading too. Sincerely, The Truthout Team PS: Even if you're not interested in one of these Progressive Picks, you can still support Truthout's ongoing original investigative reporting and critical analysis. Make a tax-deductible donation today! To see our full catalog of Progressive Picks and order a gift, click here (for orders within the United States) or here (for international shipping). To order by phone, call (213) 489-1971 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Or order one of the latest Progressive Picks by clicking the title below and making the minimum donation to Truthout:   High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society By Dr. Carl Hart High Price is not your typical science text. Eugene Jarecki, award-winning documentary filmmaker, calls it "a fiercely uncompromising look at public health and an inspiring personal journey." Dr. Hart waves together memoir with neurological findings and policy analysis, to create a compelling personal and professional account of why the war on drugs is doomed to fail.   Life Begins at Incorporation By Matt Bors Glenn Greenwald says that Matt Bors "embodies the highest virtues of political cartoonists: fearless, provocative satire and cutting, acerbic insights. He's also unfailingly funny." Life Begins At Incorporation demonstrates Bors' instinctively hilarious wit, as well as an unwillingness to pull punches when tackling topics ranging from drones to reproductive rights, from homophobia to other cartoonists.   Dollarocracy By John Nichols and Robert W. McChesney Sen. Bernie Sanders says that in Dollarocracy, Nichols and McChesney "invite Americans to examine the challenges facing America in new ways, and to fully recognize the threat that the combination of big money and big media poses to the promise of self-government... And they tell us that we can and must respond to our contemporary challenges as a nation by rejecting the Dollarocracy and renewing our commitment to democracy."   Too High to Fail By Doug Fine In Mendocino, California, a tolerant county sheriff sees growing marijuana as a source of much-needed revenue for his department and local government, even as the Obama administration sporadically swoops down on medical marijuana dispensaries. Given the passage of statewide initiatives legalizing pot in Colorado and Washington, Doug Fine's exploration of the Mendocino model provides insight into what may be in store for many states.   All of these Progressive Picks come highly recommended for Truthout readers and your friends and family. You can read exclusive interviews with all these authors, as well as book excerpts and more, at Truthout.     HIGH PRICE Get it now! LIFE BEGINS AT INCORPORATION Get it now!     DOLLAROCRACY Get it now!     TOO HIGH TO FAIL Get it now!

Support Truthout with a tax-deductible donation  Please add messenger@truthout.org to ensure you receive our messages Truthout is a proud member of the Newspaper Guild/CWA, Local 36047 Subscribe | Unsubscribe Privacy Policy