Why do we take take these people seriously? The WA Libs have already made some remarkable comments about repealling sensible cannabis laws (that have have beening working) because of some idelogy clap trap about that old furphy, “Sending the wrong message”. I’m sorry , but this just doesn’t cut it today and is just shameless politics expoliting the drug issue.
Now Opposition youth affairs spokeswoman ‘Dippy’ Donna Faragher has condemded the WA government for appointing Criminal lawyer Paul Roth as a magistrate. Why? because he once stood as an independent candidate on a pro-Australian Marijuana Party platform. That was back in the 1998 federal election. What Dippy Donna fails to explain is that The Australian Marijuana Party and other pro legalisation groups don’t want marijuana sold at 7-11s or the corner store but regulated and taxed like the far more dangerous drug, alcohol. If she was really concerned with youth affairs or “sending the wrong message”, she should also be critical of anyone who supports the legal sale of alcohol. Youth binge drinking (in the real sense not Kevin’s new definition) causes far more damage than marijuana use and to single out Paul Roth’s involvement in a group that would actual improve the health of people, is political posturing at it’s finest.
Does DD really mean, “sensible on drugs”? How does a rational policy that is supported by most experts, deemed to be negative? The answer is always the same - when it’s political. Colin Barnett, DD and co. are not just playing the usual game of sleazy politics but are playing with people’s lives. Their attempt to use drug hysteria as a tool to win office is selfish and dangerous. It might be amusing that these so called leaders still live in a world of medieval science and continue to use worn out phrases like “sending the wrong message” but the fact is they will cause a lot of damage to families and society.
They want to wind back evidence based policy, ruin thousands of lives and put many drug users at risk of disease or even death. The question is - where’s your evidence? When repeatedly asked if marijuana use in WA had increased because of the current drug policy, Dippy Donna’s repeated reply was that it could lead to harder drugs. Yes, that gateway drug theory that was disproved many years ago was her reasoning. To continually repeat something that is false as a reason to change a policy that works and reduces wrecking people’s lives, is outrageous. Where’s Labor on this? Where’s the other political parties taking this bullshiter to task? She is lying in public for personal and political gain and not a word? Is this what it has come to in politics in WA?
For Donna Faragher this is not new and she has made similar comments previously. For repeating the fabrications, the question remains; is she ignorant of the facts or she is lying. Either way, she are not worthy of holding office ... a position of trust and responsibility.
How can we, as a society put faith in someone who uses junk science as an argument against proper researched medical knowledge? Ample research? A gateway drug? This is laughable and it feels like a quote from the John Howard handbook of propaganda. And it seems I’m not the only one to notice either. Here is an interesting take of the situation at the Politics West blog - Barnett Just Says No
The depth of anti-drug rhetoric is deep in the Liberal party and they often crumble to pressure from the MSM. A local newspaper actually printed a picture of Paul Roth, the newly appointed magistrate at the centre of the controversy, in front of hundreds of bongs. Using junk science from trash media is all the evidence they need to put forward their flawed preconceived ideas. Sometimes, those ideas border on being so ridiculous that you must wonder about the fate of mankind under this buffoons.
As Dippy Donna settles into retirement in many years time as Grandma Dippy Donna, she will be in the history books as one of the last wave of ignorant, self serving politicians who used the well being of her constituents to drum up drug hysteria for political gain. She may have regrets, she may not. For some, it might be easy to forget they were incompetent at the highest level or were lying to millions of people. In the end, history will decide.
Now Opposition youth affairs spokeswoman ‘Dippy’ Donna Faragher has condemded the WA government for appointing Criminal lawyer Paul Roth as a magistrate. Why? because he once stood as an independent candidate on a pro-Australian Marijuana Party platform. That was back in the 1998 federal election. What Dippy Donna fails to explain is that The Australian Marijuana Party and other pro legalisation groups don’t want marijuana sold at 7-11s or the corner store but regulated and taxed like the far more dangerous drug, alcohol. If she was really concerned with youth affairs or “sending the wrong message”, she should also be critical of anyone who supports the legal sale of alcohol. Youth binge drinking (in the real sense not Kevin’s new definition) causes far more damage than marijuana use and to single out Paul Roth’s involvement in a group that would actual improve the health of people, is political posturing at it’s finest.
I would suggest that shows another soft-on-drugs attitude of this Government. I would not think a member of a former party involved with cannabis sends a very good message. We'll see what he does as a magistrate, but my view is we cannot take a soft-on-drugs attitude.
-Donna Faragher: W.A. opposition youth affairs spokeswoman
Does DD really mean, “sensible on drugs”? How does a rational policy that is supported by most experts, deemed to be negative? The answer is always the same - when it’s political. Colin Barnett, DD and co. are not just playing the usual game of sleazy politics but are playing with people’s lives. Their attempt to use drug hysteria as a tool to win office is selfish and dangerous. It might be amusing that these so called leaders still live in a world of medieval science and continue to use worn out phrases like “sending the wrong message” but the fact is they will cause a lot of damage to families and society.
This is about protecting our community and taking the issue of drugs seriously, rather than treat it as a joke the way Labor has since 2001.
-Donna Faragher: W.A. opposition youth affairs spokeswoman
They want to wind back evidence based policy, ruin thousands of lives and put many drug users at risk of disease or even death. The question is - where’s your evidence? When repeatedly asked if marijuana use in WA had increased because of the current drug policy, Dippy Donna’s repeated reply was that it could lead to harder drugs. Yes, that gateway drug theory that was disproved many years ago was her reasoning. To continually repeat something that is false as a reason to change a policy that works and reduces wrecking people’s lives, is outrageous. Where’s Labor on this? Where’s the other political parties taking this bullshiter to task? She is lying in public for personal and political gain and not a word? Is this what it has come to in politics in WA?
For Donna Faragher this is not new and she has made similar comments previously. For repeating the fabrications, the question remains; is she ignorant of the facts or she is lying. Either way, she are not worthy of holding office ... a position of trust and responsibility.
Ample research continues to show that cannabis can lead to a host of health and mental health problems including schizophrenia and can be a gateway to harder drugs. This is about protecting our community and taking the issue of drugs seriously, rather than treat it as a joke in the way Labor has since 2001.
-Donna Faragher: W.A. opposition youth affairs spokeswoman
How can we, as a society put faith in someone who uses junk science as an argument against proper researched medical knowledge? Ample research? A gateway drug? This is laughable and it feels like a quote from the John Howard handbook of propaganda. And it seems I’m not the only one to notice either. Here is an interesting take of the situation at the Politics West blog - Barnett Just Says No
The depth of anti-drug rhetoric is deep in the Liberal party and they often crumble to pressure from the MSM. A local newspaper actually printed a picture of Paul Roth, the newly appointed magistrate at the centre of the controversy, in front of hundreds of bongs. Using junk science from trash media is all the evidence they need to put forward their flawed preconceived ideas. Sometimes, those ideas border on being so ridiculous that you must wonder about the fate of mankind under this buffoons.
The opposition claimed that about half the infringement notices would not be paid, because the people who received them would be too drunk, stoned, stupid or bombed out of their minds by some other substance to understand what they were meant to do.
-Simon O’Brien. W.A. deputy opposition leader. 2006
As Dippy Donna settles into retirement in many years time as Grandma Dippy Donna, she will be in the history books as one of the last wave of ignorant, self serving politicians who used the well being of her constituents to drum up drug hysteria for political gain. She may have regrets, she may not. For some, it might be easy to forget they were incompetent at the highest level or were lying to millions of people. In the end, history will decide.
Liberals Attack Pot-Platform Magistrate
Alana Buckley-Carr
August 13, 2008
The Australian
LIBERAL leader Colin Barnett promised yesterday to toughen Labor's "soft" drug laws as Attorney-General Jim McGinty refused to overturn the appointment of a magistrate with links to the Australian Marijuana Party.
Criminal lawyer Paul Roth was made a magistrate last week, but it has since been revealed he stood as an independent candidate in the 1998 federal election on a pro-Australian Marijuana Party platform. That included the legalisation of marijuana and licensing limited retail outlets to sell the drug.
Opposition youth affairs spokeswoman Donna Faragher yesterday condemned the Government and Mr McGinty for appointing Mr Roth.
"I would suggest that shows another soft-on-drugs attitude of this Government," Ms Faragher said. "I would not think a member of a former party involved with cannabis sends a very good message. We'll see what he does as a magistrate, but my view is we cannot take a soft-on-drugs attitude."
Speaking at a residential drug treatment facility in South Perth, Ms Faragher said a Liberal government would repeal current laws that allow police to fine cannabis users rather than charge them with a criminal offence.
Instead, a one-time cautioning system would apply. Drug paraphernalia would be banned from sale and stiffer penalties would be introduced for drug dealers who target children or manufacture drugs in a child's presence.
"This is about protecting our community and taking the issue of drugs seriously, rather than treat it as a joke the way Labor has since 2001," she said. "Over the past seven years, Labor has had ample opportunity to fix drug and related law-and-order issues but it has instead turned a blind eye."
Mr Barnett said the Government was sending the wrong message to young people that cannabis was a "social recreational drug". "It gave a sense that somehow drugs are acceptable -- I don't think they are acceptable," he said.
Mr McGinty said Mr Roth was recommended by a selection panel as the best candidate for the position. "The Solicitor-General's advice was that past political involvements should not bar an otherwise excellent candidate from judicial office," he said.
3 comments:
Sounds like a perfect script for "the Hollowmen"
Very Good BLL.
Good pickup.
Couldn't agree more.
As we all remember, scanning magisterial appointments was a serious business for us risk taking teens. Plunging headlong into Wrong Messages Of Destruction. Gateway messages, elite messages, poly-messages - we took it all.
Of course, it helps if some dimwitted lime light hungry blonkosaurous actually tells us to Duck and Cover. Then we'd save on researching normal teen stuff like appointments to the Bar, the distant past of Magistrates, law reform skills and be WMOD'd into party mode.
I gagged when I saw it too. 'Bout the only plus is McGinty didn't buck pass. Which - given he's a vocal supporter of our implanting friends - is a reality touchstone.
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