this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2023
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[–] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I'm not surprised Biden isn't pushing marijuana reform. He's one of the biggest proponents of the horribly racist, classist, and murderous drug war. He's from a generation that thinks reefer madness is an accurate representation of pot, and his personal prejudice towards recreational drugs is widely known.

He's always been the wrong candidate, but the Democrats can't seem to find anyone better. All we can hope is that Republicans stay home and he gains votes that way

[–] silverbax@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Biden stated during the 2020 election debates and town halls that he regretted supporting the drug war and some of the racist policies. I'm not clear on why people keep claiming he supports it, it's all on tape to see and has been for years that he said he was mistaken.

[–] Son_of_dad@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Big lot of good his regret does all the people who suffered. Especially when he's not fixing the mess he helped create

[–] FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

He regrets thst it hurts his polling, maybe.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Biden stated during the 2020 election debates and town halls that he regretted supporting the drug war and some of the racist policies.

So what has he done to undo the damage the policies he supported caused?

[–] BraveSirZaphod@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He issued a general pardon in October for all federal possession crimes.

https://www.justice.gov/pardon/presidential-proclamation-marijuana-possession

You can even apply for a pardon online.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you for actually answering the question instead of getting mad and making accusations.

[–] BraveSirZaphod@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'd also add that he's directed the department of Health and Human Services to begin the process of potentially removing marijuana from Schedule 1. That's a bureaucratic nightmare that will take entirely too much time, but Biden has been taking real steps, even if it's not as fast as it should be.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

That’s a bureaucratic nightmare that will take entirely too much time, but Biden has been taking real steps, even if it’s not as fast as it should be.

I'll admit to being a layman on this, but why is it such a huge hairy problem to deschedule it?

[–] silverbax@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Since you've done no legwork on your own, I would say broadly that he's worked for and voted for major equality and financial reform over the past twenty years of his career. Its not hard to find. Your just being lazy and regurgitating something you heard online.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you can't answer the question, vague bullshit and insults will do.

[–] silverbax@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So you won't look or even try to educate yourself, just deflect. Expected.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world -2 points 1 year ago

I asked a simple question. What has Biden done to undo the damage he did by supporting the racist war on drugs? Specifically, please.

[–] Melkath@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Its not that Democrats can't find anyone better. It's that they won't allow anyone better to advance through the ranks.

Its that Biden is exactly who the DNC wants in office.

Once upon a time, there was an argument that at least some Democrats tried to represent their constituents.

Those days are long gone. Citizens United stands. Corporations are "the people" the federal government represents. Money is speech. If you don't have the money, they don't have ears for you. Both parties represent the corporations, not the people, and Biden has a wonderful history of supporting all of those corrupt things that make the corporate overlords happy.

[–] Argongas@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

There are a lot of great Democrats out there, but there are plenty of bad ones too. I don't think we'll see real change until most of the boomers are dead and gone.

There's also the issue that with Republicans losing their damn minds, big money and corporations have been shifting their support to Dems.

[–] Melkath@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago

Because The Party is The Party.

But I agree that Boomers are the worst offenders of voting R or D regardless of whose name the letter is next to because they fancy their letter the lesser evil.

Gen X really amped up the problem on the D side though.

[–] spaceghoti@lemmy.one 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Please stop with the "both sides are the same" bullshit. We don't need repetitions of Republican talking points.

[–] Melkath@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Please stop with the "my color good, your color bad" bullshit.

I have never heard a republican say they are the same as a Democrat.

But just like a republican, if it doesn't pledge fealty to your color, it's the other color and its bad.

Stop treating America like a Grease high school rivalry.

Stop supporting corrupt politicians.

[–] spaceghoti@lemmy.one 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We've seen how the government works when Democrats have control. No one will call it perfect, but it works and they generally try to help people.

We also see repeatedly how government works with Republicans in power. They don't do shit to help anyone but themselves and their donor class.

Until we fix the first past the post electoral system, these are our choices. Whining about it won't fix it. We first have to eliminate the fascist threat posed by Republicans, then we can talk about reform.

Just because you've never heard a Republican declare they're the same as a Democrat doesn't mean you aren't repeating Republican propaganda. They don't care what you think of them. If you have no faith in government, they win. If you think Democrats are just as bad, they win. Shrinking government until it can be drowned in the tub is the point. Then they can break up its functions and sell them off to private interests. If you want to see a return to feudalism, keep repeating this bullshit. Just don't think you're going to be welcomed into the new nobility.

[–] Melkath@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Bullshit.

Democrats had the oval office and a congressional supermajority.

The Patriot Act still exists in full form. Citizens United still exists in full form. Gitmo is still operational. Roe v Wade has not been codified.

In those years where we could have gotten universal Healthcare, they delivered everyone must pay for health insurance, employed or not.

In those years, the Iraq War not only continued, but the US added arial drone warfare to the military industrial complex.

When Obama spoke, he inspired, he lead, he made you feel something positive. He didn't follow through on ANYTHING though.

Biden got us out of Iraq. I think he botched the exit, but at least we got out of Iraq under his presidency. Then he decided to triple down on funding a genocide.

I can name 3 democrats (and politicians in general for that fact) I still trust. Bernie Sanders, AOC (though the longer she is hanging out with the dogs, the more I fear she is hosting some fleas) and Katie Porter.

The rest of em are Hilary progressives that are only concerned with cozying up with wall street insiders and lobbyist funders.

[–] spaceghoti@lemmy.one 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Well, I see the Russian disinformation crew had joined us. Congratulations to lemmy for growing enough to become a target!

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Can't refute? Just make wild accusations!

[–] spaceghoti@lemmy.one -1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

There's no point in refuting Republican talking points that were discredited thirteen years ago. The Democrats had their supermajority for a total of two weeks at the end of 2009. Not nearly enough time to pass anything and everything they wanted. That talking point is dead and buried and is more than enough evidence that I'm not dealing with someone arguing in good faith.

Is that your intent as well? Sealion me so I waste my time rehashing old, dead arguments?

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

There’s no point in refuting Republican talking points

What talking points? I asked what Biden has done to fix the damage caused by the policies he says he no longer holds. That's a reasonable question until you try to answer it.

The Democrats had their supermajority for a total of two weeks at the end of 2009.

They could have done away with the filibuster forever with a simple majority but they didn't want to. Might have passed the public option, after all. And just think of all the stuff the party would have to find new excuses for not passing.

In any event, Biden has been president since the start of 2021. During that time, he has been the head of the executive branch, which includes the DEA. We have entrusted him with that agency. What has he done to walk back the war on drugs? This should be a layup if he's actually done anything. If he hasn't, it draws his statements on the subject into question.

Is that your intent as well? Sealion me so I waste my time rehashing old, dead arguments?

More wild accusations. It was one question. You tried to bullshit your way through it, and when I didn't accept it, out came the "well you must be a Republican Russian like everyone to my left who doesn't instantly accept bullshit at face value! SEALION!"

EDIT: My apologies. It was silverbax who tried to bullshit an answer. You immediately jumped to the wild accusations because I dared to expect Biden to behave consistently with his stated position.

Biden's support of the war on drugs caused real damage to the communities that the war on drugs was designed to disrupt. If he says he's changed and is now against it, asking what he's done about it or even what he intends to do about it is not unreasonable. If you make a mess, you do what you can to clean it up.

If you just want me to shut up and be happy, you can just say that.

[–] spaceghoti@lemmy.one 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you want to defend a Russian troll, that's your lookout. That you took my comments personally is your problem, not mine. I'm not interested in rehashing ancient history.

[–] Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If you want to defend a Russian troll, that’s your lookout

If you want to call anyone who doesn't worship failure as much as you do a russian troll, that's yours.

That you took my comments personally is your problem, not mine.

You immediately accused me of being a russian troll.

I’m not interested in rehashing ancient history.

After using the 2009 congress as an excuse.

EDIT: It appears that I have this thread and the one further up where I asked what Biden had done to undo his war on drugs policies confused. My bad. I leave this in place as evidence of my foolishness. Ridicule as you please, for I have earned it.

[–] Melkath@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago

Biden is funding a genocide. Wants to be given the power to do so closed door.

New argument.

Go. Tell me why this man is worthy of being my leader.

You don't get to reference Trump. Or Republicans in general.

Why should I vote for a man fervently enabling genocide?

[–] Melkath@kbin.social -2 points 1 year ago

Wooooooooow.

Imma hope you were shittin' yer britches during the Obama administration and that's your defense for being that ignorant.

[–] ripcord@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Is he? He's said publicly that he supports it and his admin just pushed to reschedule it from schedule I to schedule iii. Which isn't perfect but would be a HUGE step forward.