Aw shucks, Str8survivorVA. I'm glad you're finding some use for this site. But really, anybody can do it. I took my que from drug policy reformers. When I first started looking into that issue, I was shocked. I was
sure every last one of them would land up disposessed, in prison on some bogus charge or other and their children adopted out to TOUGHLOVE hategroup members.
But that didn't happen. Fact is, you really can say damned near anything in this country. It really pisses off the Religious Reich, but there's really not much they can do but stomp their wittle feet and throw a fit. I've tried to demonstrate that; sometimes to the extreme. And, to a large degree, it's worked. When Wes first asked me to set up a forum (cause he couldn't get Usenet to start one on the topic), I think ours was the only one. Now there are dozens that I know of, very likely hundreds who's members don't really invite outside interest.
I'm somewhat frustrated, though, over the persistant idea that no one can understand our unique experience. I don't think the Program is so much unique as it is an extreme example of a much broader social and political trend.
And it's not even the worst or most extreme example. Ok, so we did and, sometimes, believed some crazy shit under the presumed authority of the Program, backed by the parents and law enforcement... hell, even the president, first lady, vice president gave the nod. All the king's horses and all the kings men.
You want to see an
extreme example of drug war group-think? Just take some time and read up on the
Tulia Drug Bust* One of the early defendants (all of them have since been exonerated) was sentenced to
over 300 years! in prison for a first time, chump change drug offence w/ no evidence, no wittness coroboration, nothing but a criminal gypsy cop who says he wrote his case notes on his leg.
Now, I ask you, how does an entire town or region--the cops, prosecutors, judges, DA, individual jury members and all--arrive at a state of delusion like that evident in this bizarre (though all too typical) case? At first blush, I just assumed there were direct affiliates of Calvina Fay involved. I even asked around if anyone from the Texas programs remembered a guy by the name of Tom Coleman.
But that ain't it, it's the other way around. The drug war, in all it's excesses, hasn't grown out of the Program. The Program has grown out of the drug war. We just got a potent slice of it. And if we're ever to do anything meaningful about it, I think it's absolutely imperative for us to find common ground w/ our good neighbors and fellow Americans who are subject to a less extreme version of the same mindfuck.
* The Tom Coleman who plays the malevolent clown in this comic tragedy has, as far as I know, no relation whatever to Tom Coleman the lawyer out in California. I think maybe it's just a cursed name. So, in the event that you marry a man name Coleman and bear him a son,
please to
not name the child Tom!
The divinity of Jesus is made a convenient cover for absurdity.
--John Adams, U.S. President
