Pubdate: Thu, 02 Dec 2004
Source: Anchorage Daily News (AK)
Copyright: 2004 The Anchorage Daily News
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Author: Robbie Cowan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/marijuana+initiative
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion)

PERSONAL LIBERTIES MUST BE RETURNED TO CITIZENS

Oppression Needs to End

Exit polls from the recent election tell us that people voted the way
they did because of "moral issues." The whole foundation of our
American government, though, is based on the idea that the government
shouldn't, under any circumstances, be involved with dictating our
morals. This is what is meant in the Declaration of Independence by a
"right to liberty."

The government wants to tell us who can be married to whom, yet the
government has no right to dictate the direction of an institution
which is so clearly religious. The government should not be
sanctioning any type of marriage, regardless of the gender of
participants.

The government tells us what substances are "right" to put into our
bodies. Sadly, Alaskans failed to acknowledge this simple personal
liberty on Nov. 2 in not affirming the basic rights embodied in the
marijuana legalization bill.

The government doesn't stop with these violations, though. Our
government dictates what is "right" or "wrong" for its citizens. This
is not freedom, this is not liberty, this is not even constitutional.
Let's end government oppression and return personal liberties back to
the individuals that comprise this great nation.

Robbie Cowan

Anchorage