Spring Break
What America needs: rise of strong three party system
Kurt Ritzman
Issue date: 10/21/05 Section: Ed-Op
This election gives many other options, as eight independent and third-party candidates are running. If you were going to line up these candidates with the most interesting candidate at the top, then I would expect Edward Forchion to rise to the top of everyone's list.
Forchion, perhaps better known as NJWeedman, has created his own party, The Legalize Marijuana Party of America. I know what you must be thinking: NJWeedman for Governor? That's a joke, right? Well, not exactly. In 2004, Forchion was the leading third party vote-getter in all of New Jersey. His goal is to receive at least 100,000 votes and to finish third in the gubernatorial race. But this led me to wonder, what if Forchion actually won?
I can say this for him: He certainly would be a defender of people's rights. He claims that he is not a marijuana activist but a rights activist. Although the party's main goal is to legalize marijuana, it also wishes to protect all rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The LMP Web site espouses the idea that the country will either be free or drug-free, but certainly not both. LMP members "declare their support to freedom only." The LMP also claims that Republicans and Democrats are traitors and that no party member should lend support to these parties, but parties that support personal freedoms, such as the Libertarian party, should be treated as allies.
So what could we expect from Forchion if he were elected the governor of New Jersey? Well, I'm not sure that Forchion has thought much about a tax plan, although he does advocate the taxation of marijuana. Taxation not incarceration is the stance, according to the LMP, for use of the herb. Instead of jailing people for use, make it a government-regulated commodity. This would benefit the general populace in two major ways. First it would increase tax revenue, and second, it would save a lot of money by ending the "expensive failure" of the war on drugs.
I can picture Forchion's policy on most all issues somehow relating back to marijuana, which perhaps is not the best way to govern. I'm afraid that I can't endorse Forchion as a candidate because of his limited platform, even though I agree with what he wants to do. I suggest that he consider what he wants to do besides issues regarding marijuana if he wants to be considered a viable candidate.
Forchion, perhaps better known as NJWeedman, has created his own party, The Legalize Marijuana Party of America. I know what you must be thinking: NJWeedman for Governor? That's a joke, right? Well, not exactly. In 2004, Forchion was the leading third party vote-getter in all of New Jersey. His goal is to receive at least 100,000 votes and to finish third in the gubernatorial race. But this led me to wonder, what if Forchion actually won?
I can say this for him: He certainly would be a defender of people's rights. He claims that he is not a marijuana activist but a rights activist. Although the party's main goal is to legalize marijuana, it also wishes to protect all rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The LMP Web site espouses the idea that the country will either be free or drug-free, but certainly not both. LMP members "declare their support to freedom only." The LMP also claims that Republicans and Democrats are traitors and that no party member should lend support to these parties, but parties that support personal freedoms, such as the Libertarian party, should be treated as allies.
So what could we expect from Forchion if he were elected the governor of New Jersey? Well, I'm not sure that Forchion has thought much about a tax plan, although he does advocate the taxation of marijuana. Taxation not incarceration is the stance, according to the LMP, for use of the herb. Instead of jailing people for use, make it a government-regulated commodity. This would benefit the general populace in two major ways. First it would increase tax revenue, and second, it would save a lot of money by ending the "expensive failure" of the war on drugs.
I can picture Forchion's policy on most all issues somehow relating back to marijuana, which perhaps is not the best way to govern. I'm afraid that I can't endorse Forchion as a candidate because of his limited platform, even though I agree with what he wants to do. I suggest that he consider what he wants to do besides issues regarding marijuana if he wants to be considered a viable candidate.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Fred Moseley
posted 10/07/09 @ 1:11 AM EST
What America needs is a multi party system.
We have a three party system today, Democrat, Republican and Bureaucrat.
The problem is that the Bureaucrat is elected for life. (Continued…)
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