Edwardsthegreat's Blog

Remove The Profit Of Drugs, Remove The Violence!

 I have developed certain convictions that have remained strongly intact. One of those personal convictions has always been that illegal drugs are destroying people’s lives and greatly impacting the high cost of criminal activity associated with drug use. Nothing pleases me more than to see drug dealers and users arrested and jailed for their crimes against society. I have always, and still do support the war against drugs.  I have witnessed first hand the devastation of families, the loss of life in countless drug related murders, Children who were shot down on their own porches during botched drive-by shootings. I could go on and on but we all see the violent results of illegal drugs in our neighborhoods. It has become common place.

While I still hold firm on those beliefs, I wonder if the tactics used on the war on illegal drugs have been effective. I am convinced that the violent element concerning illegal drugs is the high profit of sales and that alone is the motivating factor. I read recently that the profit margin on psychoactive drugs is 17,000 %. It is such high profits and a demand for supply that motivate the criminal to go to extremes of violence and murder to protect his profits. What would happen if the prohibition on illegal psychoactive drugs were made legal and regulated by legislation such as alcohol and tobacco? What did we learn from the prohibition of liquor and alcohol? When it was illegal to purchase and consume alcohol an underground black market was formed and huge profits were made by the criminal enterprises that took advantage of the laws against it. Violence became common in the underworld trade because demand was incredibly high because it was against the law.  As soon as prohibition was lifted, and the government taxed the sale of alcohol the huge profits were removed and the gangs moved on to other illegal activities that were never as profitable. As we all know history repeats itself and the emergence of illegal drugs have again brought forth unprecedented profits for the criminal enterprises that take advantage of the laws and supply the ever growing demand for the drugs.

I can’t help but wonder how much violence that we have in our city streets, against law enforcement, and against law abiding citizens would be lowered by legalizing, taxing, and regulating psychoactive drugs? Yes, of course we would have people who remain dependant on drugs and we always will just as we still have millions who are addicted to alcohol. I also believe that so much federal funding wasted on the war on drugs would be better spent upgrading and better equipping local law enforcement agencies that could focus on other criminal activities. Could more federal funding be spent towards treating drug addiction? It is obvious that drugs continue to be delivered into our country unabated. There are just simply not enough police in the United States to effectively combat the problem of drug trafficking, not to mention the ridiculous border control problems that have been ignored by the federal government.

These are merely thoughts that have crept into my mind after years and years of seeing the senseless violence and loss of life in the communities that I have been.  It has never become better, only worse year to year. I will of course continue to support the laws of the land but I just have to believe that there are more effective ways to deal with this epidemic that continues to destroy lives. My opinion at this point is to remove the profit and you remove the violence and corruption that fuels the supply of illegal drugs.

I heard a song today on one of the more popular Birmingham radio stations that troubled me. The title of the song was " I kissed a girl today, and I liked it!"  What disturbed me greatly was that a woman was singing this song! Now I was born and raised in the south and have a conservative attitude about most things political, but I must ask my fellow bloggers and my blog readers a question about it. Am I just showing my age and becoming like my parents criticizing the music of the age, or do you agree that songs such as this are just artists pushing the envelope further to make a name for themselves, or simply trying to push their own sexual agenda? The lyrics to the song went on to describe how the singer was CONFUSED and EXPERIMENTING and even describes tasting CHERRY LIPSTICK from the girls lips. TO me it sounded almost borderline pedophilia. Not to mention just plain weird. It sounded to me like more of the in your face Homosexual brainwashing of our youth. Like go ahead and do what I did, try it out, you might like it too! Well, I for one think it is sick and irresponsible! So let me hear your comments! AM I homophobe? Too old for the crowd now? Or am I just plain old right?

I heard a song today on one of the more popular Birmingham radio stations that troubled me. The title of the song was " I kissed a girl today, and I liked it!"  What disturbed me greatly was that a woman was singing this song! Now I was born and raised in the south and have a conservative attitude about most things political, but I must ask my fellow bloggers and my blog readers a question about it. Am I just showing my age and becoming like my parents criticizing the music of the age, or do you agree that songs such as this are just artists pushing the envelope further to make a name for themselves, or simply trying to push their own sexual agenda? The lyrics to the song went on to describe how the singer was CONFUSED and EXPERIMENTING and even describes tasting CHERRY LIPSTICK from the girls lips. TO me it sounded almost borderline pedophilia. Not to mention just plain weird. It sounded to me like more of the in your face Homosexual brainwashing of our youth. Like go ahead and do what I did, try it out, you might like it too! Well, I for one think it is sick and irresponsible! So let me hear your comments! AM I homophobe? Too old for the crowd now? Or am I just plain old right?

Maybe Jefferson County could wise up and realize that it's citizen's are tired of paying through the nose for the mistakes, oversites, and outright corruption caused by the commissioner's current and past by allowing a lottery and electronic gambling into Jefferson County in order to pay off the debt the above mentioned actions have caused. When are the people of Alabama going to realize that the only way to stop the flow of untold millions into it's border states is to allow gambling in Alabama? It is very simple, if you do not gamble or dont believe in it you don't have to support it. I would much rather see casino's or gambling hall's about the county than to see our money leave the state and to be burdoned by new taxes. Let Alabama benefit from gambling since it is obvious that we have so many citizens who wish to gamble. Wake up Alabama, especially those in Jefferson County!

  Maybe the new Batman movie release has inspired Birmingham, or rather "Gotham City" politics. One thing for sure is that there is never a short supply of theatrics associated with this administration. Just when you think we can't stomach anymore silliness, along comes Larry Langford in his best ever Lex Luther impersonation pulling along behind him a strong box labeled "Top Secret". As if this were not enough for media hype two Birmingham police officers are flanked at each side armed with high risk entry assault rifles to ensure the safe delivery of such important documents. The only thing I can see that was missing from this performance was smoke grenades in the color of orange and purple launched by the villain "Joker" in an attempt to steal the ever important "Top Secret" box under clouds of confusing smoke screens.

Sadly, the poor Birmingham officers had to prove yet again the depths of politics a police officer must be willing to deal with in order to bring home a very modest pay check to his family. You can rest assured that there wasn't any plans for a substantial raise for the police officers in that box of "Top Secrets"!

It is a shame for sure that the joke is on the tax payers of Birmingham.

 ( I apologize for the lateness of this blog.)

The End of the Constitution is here!

It is a sad day for all American’s past, present, and future. After the latest ruling on behalf of the Supreme Court, the Constitution, one of the greatest documents ever written for the purpose of government, a near perfect document is now null and void. It would do well for the Supremes Justices to read and memorize the Preamble to the United States Constitution. For it’s contents reveal the purpose of the Constitution, and who it was written for.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

It is perfect in it’s simplicity, easily understood by the least educated among us. The Constitution was created with the forethought in mind that it’s purpose would one day be argued. The United States Constitution was created for American’s and the security of their liberty, especially not for the liberty of the enemy of the United States.
The 5 Justices that have taken upon themselves to offer and share what is the very foundation of our Nation to the very enemy combatants who hate the Constitution and those it were designed to protect is an abomination of the Constitution, all Americans, and all who have died in harms way to protect it.
Now every perversed politically motivated opinion of the constitution lies at the mercy of corrupted Justices who seek the purpose of political agendas, not the integrity of the Constitution. One by one rights will be afforded to our Nation’s enemy while one by one the rights guaranteed by the original Constitution will be stripped from Americans.
Never before has such a blunder by the Supreme Court been made. How shameful of those Justices to ignore the very basic priciples The Constitution was based upon. What an incredibly Gross deviation of duty and trust they have committed.

The Supreme Court bounces back from a historical blunder of a decision by granting constitutional rights to enemy combatants during war time to the very enemy we are currently fighting by making a long overdue decision to keep the 2nd admendment rights of the people to keep and bear arms. The Supreme court again with a 5-4 decision ruled that it is in fact a constitutional right of all non-criminal and sane Americans to own and keep a handgun within the confines of their homes for the benefit of self-defense. Although the 2nd Admendment to the Constitution was written in the language that a 5th grader could understand, there are still those who beleive that the framers of the constitution only meant that we the people could bear arms as part of a well regulated state militia. Others that decented felt that those who framed the constitution would not be able to conceive firearms being owned 200 years into the future and the dangers there may be relating to them. How those who decented believe the framers of the constitution would have no forethought about the future is beyond me. After all, they had just lived through a revolution and the basic firearm of today works primarily the same as then. Gunpowder and a projectile. Maybe the forethought of the framers of the constitution was better than some give credit for today? Just maybe they knew that we the people of 200 years in the future needed to defend ourselves from criminals and the possibility of our government being overthrown by those who seek to destroy the constitution?

Good thinking framers of the constitution!

And good thinking members of the Supreme Court who chose to interpret the constitution correctly this time. Maybe there is hope for the constitution after all.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH BEING ON OUR SIDE??????


Obama 'explains'
I sure hope this gets around before Nov.!!!

On Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:48:04 -0400, 'LTG
Bill Ginn' USAF ret. forwarded the following:

Hot on the heels of his explanation for
why he no longer wears a flag pin,
presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama was forced to
explain why
he doesn't follow protocol when the
National Anthem is played.

According to the United States Code,
Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, During
rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all

present except those in uniform are
expected to stand at attention facing the f lag
with the right hand over the heart.

'As I've said about the flag pin, I
don't want to be perceived as taking
sides,' Obama said. 'There are a lot of people in the world to
whom the
American flag is a symbol of oppression.
And the anthem itself conveys a war-like
message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should
be swapped for something less parochial and less
bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like to
Teach the World to Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might
salute it.'

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this could
possibly be our next president!! I, for
once, am speechless. He has absolutely NO pride in this
country!!!!!
This is outrageous!!!! He doesn't deserve
to be dogcatcher!!! (Oh, sorry
dogcatchers, I mean you no disrespect.)

LET'S SEND THIS CLOWN DOWN THE ROAD
KICKING ROCKS!!!!

Mayor Larry Langford and the Birmingham city council has proposed the renaming of the Birmingham International Airport after Reverend Shuttlesworth in honor of his leadership during the civil rights movement during the 1960's. A noble thought to say the least, however, I wonder why we need to change the name of Birmingham's airport at all. The expense involved could obviously be saved for priority issues that face the city of Birmingham's many needs. 

If it was necessary to honor someone by naming the Airport after them why Reverend Shuttlesworth? Why not someone else? It is obvious that Langford and the city council would not choose a member of the white race to give such an honor to. Although there are many deserving.

Since the Mayor and council must select a member of the black community to honor, why not Secrertary of State Condoleeza Rice?

Correct me if I am wrong, but hasnt Condoleeza Rice achieved the highest level of public service for any Alabama native? Correct me if I am wrong again, Has not Condoleeza Rice achieved the highest level of government positions in the United States of any African-American in history? Condoleeza Rice is the third most powerful and important person in the United states today, which means she holds one of the most important positions in the world. Condoleeza Rice was born in Birmingham, Alabama and educated here. She is a product of Birmingham and a success story and role model for women and the African-American race but yet you can not even find an educator or Birmingham politician willing to nominate her for an honor of any kind, much less a street or boulevard named after her, let alone an airport. Could it be that she belongs to a political party that differs from Mayor Langford and the city council that she is not celibrated as a true leader? What a shame on Birmingham not to recognize her achievements.

Dr. Condoleezza Rice became the first African American female Secretary of State on January 26, 2005. Prior to this, she was the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor, since January, 2001.

Wake up America!

High Gas Prices, Just Another Hidden Tax!

It was insane when gas prices climbed up to $2.00 a gallon, but we continued to go to the pump. The price of gasoline goes up to an unbelievable rip off rate when Hurricane Katrina devastates the Gulf. The price per Gallon goes up more, then all the sudden we are faced with gas shortages, long lines at the pump, fear that we may soon be stranded or forced to commute by bicycle or foot to work. The Oil Industry and our government created exactly what they wanted to achieve. Their goal was to make us all grateful to pay three times more for gasoline than we should be paying. After all, who wants to walk to work?

Now we have been conditioned to gratefully pay at least twice what we should be paying at the pumps.

All we hear from our elected officials is that there are shortages due to this and due to that. We Americans have been spoiled with low gas prices for many, many years and should have long ago be paying what we are paying for it now according to them.

They all try to act so concerned while doing absolutely nothing to control the outright robbery of middle class America. They know that we have no recourse, if we are to maintain our lifestyles we have achieved with hard work, we must pay what they wish us to pay to keep what we have already.

Why do I blame the government, i.e. the elected officials? I’ll tell you why! They would love nothing better than the gas prices to remain the way they are today. Why? Because they are making a killing off of middle class Americans with high gas prices, it is nothing more than a huge taxation of the blue-collar worker. How so you may ask? Because what happens when gas prices go up and remain high consistently? The price of everything goes up and remains high consistently. The high gas prices force the transportation industry to recoup and pad the extra cost of fuel. This in turn causes the price of all products and services to do the same. What happens when all providers of products, goods, and services increase their costs? The sales tax increases, not to mention every other tax they are able to tag on in the process.

Who are the winners? Well let’s see! Follow the money and it will lead to the same old crooks that have been ripping off the hard working middle class from day one of taxation. The government, oil companies and other corporations that is crafty enough to pass the cost on to you, the consumer and taxpayer.

What is the solution to this problem? The only solution my poor little middle class blue-collar brain can figure is to oust every politician currently in office. Show them that they are not doing their job to represent us by replacing them at the polls. Get out of this party ticket trap and vote on the individual. Democrats and Republicans alike have lost sight of the American worker and taxpayer. They truly have lost touch with the reality of working to raise a family under this outrageous burden of taxation.

We as individuals should stand united to clean up the mass corruption of our elected officials. Vote them out and let the new elected official know you mean business and will hold him accountable for the representation of constituents.

The next time you go to the polls, walk in, close the curtain, and proudly say “Your Fired!” until each and everyone knows to hold office you must be held accountable.

The state of the city? take a tour of our own state and visit Huntsville, Montgomery, and Mobile. You will see just how badly we have fallen behind. A longer trip to the cities of Nashville, Chatanooga, Charlotte, and Orlando would most likely sober you up to the reality that Birmingham continues to be stuck in the past. With all the cries of change Birmingham citizens continues to vote for activists and political preachers who are motivated by advancing skin color and agendas instead of voting in a qualified and proven city manager to advance the city as a whole.

It is time the voters of this country collectively hold it's politicians and lawmakers responsible and accountable for the runaway crime rate and purge society of it's convicted repeat violent offenders.
The constitution we all have sworn to uphold has been weakened and adulterated to the point of its only usefulness is to liberate the criminal from penalties required for his crimes while victims and law abiding citizens are left with only the protection of a reactionary law enforcement force that is grossly out numbered by the criminal population. Law enforcement officers have a duty to act upon all crime while also being held to a perfect standard and being held accountable and liable for each and every split second decision and action against the most lawless of society.
The self defense of a law enforcement official is held to the highest standard of scrutiny while the rights of a criminal is protected and guarded as sacred regardless of his assault or murder of a police officer, let alone a citizen he is charged to protect.. Any assault against a law enforcement official should be regarded as an assault on the constitution of the united states of america, and all the citizens it was crafted to protect. Furthermore, any assault on a law enforcement official should be a federal offense with heavily imposed and strictly enforced penalties up to and including death for the murder of an officer. If the citizens of the united states truly have guaranteed civil rights, why are the ones who are charged with the duty to enforce those rights and protect the citizen from falling the victim of crime not given the protection of legislation that would impose stricter and more severe punishment including hard labor and restitution when convicted of violent crimes against a law enforcement official? After all, the assault or threat of assault against a police officer is an assault or threat against all citizens and the laws themselves.
2007 has to date been one of the deadliest years in law enforcement across the nation in the past 28 years. These deaths should not only alarm those in law enforcement, but also each and every citizen. How much longer will law enforcement be able to continue to hire capable and qualified candidates to fill these desperately needed positions when an already grossly underpaid and overworked police force nationwide continues to be preyed upon without thought by the ever increasing violent criminal offender who has better and more acurate weapons, and an ever increasing willingness to use them against the officers? As with the bargain basement salaries of local law enforcement officers continuing to fall far behind those salaries in the private job market, so does the lowering of standards and qualifications of candidates for law enforcement. The hiring pool for local law enforcement continues to shrink due to the lack of value society continues to ignore concerning the bare minimum rate of pay and lack of benefits that are awarded to those who are willing to accept the position, resulting in an increase of corruption in the profession. How much longer will we allow this to happen, and at what cost to us all?




This country will continue to be under siege until the American public demands that its citizens be protected from crime and terrorism and that its borders be properly and effectively guarded and protected. This must be the very first priority above all else if we continue to believe in and guarantee civil rights for all. After all, what good are civil rights and criminal laws when you live in constant fear of criminals committing crimes of violence at will? What good are laws that protect crimes against persons when the applicable penalties are ignored or bargained down to lesser charges and weaker sentences?
Every new generation breeds a more violent criminal population, yet more prisoners are pardoned and paroled to re-enter society with a stronger body and an increase in criminal sophistication to better victimize society. And the endless cycle continues and multiplies all in the name of prison overcrowding and civil rights, again trumping the safety and prosperity of law abiding citizens.
Building larger and more generic prisons that are self sufficient and maintained through the daily use of hard labor required of each prisoner serving every hour of his full sentence would both discourage crime and reduce the financial loss incured by crime drastically.
 It may be argued that I am placing a greater value upon law enforcement victims over the non-law enforcement victim of violent crime. However, if you understand that laws are enacted by the will of the people for the greater good of all, then you should understand that the enforcement of those laws are necessary in order for them to be followed. This is what makes us a civilized society. In essence, law enforcement personnel are the will of the people in human form. The will of the people to be free and prosper in the pursuit of happines without becoming a victim. Therefore when law enforcement officials are violently attacked, everyone is symbolically attacked also.
Never before has the need to defend ourselves abroad and at home been greater. Never before has the individual responsibility of the people been greater to demand their personal safety from the most petty of criminals in your own neighborhood to the larger nationwide threats of illegal immigration and terrorism. Your voice and your votes matter and will be the deciding factor.
How will you use it?

I grieve the fact that our soldiers are dying in that Godless region of the world, fighting Neanderthal racist zealot beings bent on the destruction of all mankind that does not conform to their view of life. However, until the federal government of the United States gets off of it's political crutch and decides to build real physical borders with realistic border patrol, and documented immigrants only allowed access into our country under strict and controlled terms we will have to keep the war going in the middle east to keep the terrorist from attacking within our country. After true national security is established (and it isn’t if the borders remain wide open) then we could pull our troops home and let the world police itself. At the same time, the federal government would have to stop fleecing the American taxpayer by cutting all foreign aid to countries who are not true allies of America. That alone would free up the money needed to construct a 10' wide and 25' high concrete border that stretches the full distance of both the border of the south and the north, and to increase the border patrol to operable levels. But sadly, elected officials keep selling our security and U.S. Soldiers away for votes.

Whoever runs the community post board now should be reassigned. There are two post in the community  "News" section for rabbit sales. Wow, now I know why some of my well thought out posts on the News board have been bumped. I guess I should stay away from opinionated news blogs and start selling the junk in my garage.

Nothing against the rabbit raisers, they need somewhere to post. Maybe MyFox can create a classified post on here.

Sad job! Bring the community blog back to the level where it use to be.