Convention News August 1, 2000 News | Candidates | Convention | Vote | Shop | Classifieds | Search | Help Does Bush need your state to win?   August 1, 2000 What Darkness Lurks in the Heart of Man? The Shadow Knows. By Sarah Brand 2000GOP.com Correspondent PHILADELPHIA -- Unlike Sunday, when those attending the Shadow Convention at the University of Pennsylvania booed John McCain, a discussion of "The Failed Drug War" drew support from several hundred participants. Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico said, "Drug prohibition is what is tearing this country apart." He thinks drugs should not be illegal because many drug related arrests are victimless crimes and charges should only be pressed if the drug user injures another person. Johnson thinks knowledge will decrease drug use, especially among young adults. "We've got our heads in the sand if we think our kids don't do drugs," he said. Johnson enforced a popular slogan at today's speeches: "Just say know to drugs." Also at the Shadow Convention, Reverend Jesse Jackson said that the government is "building jails for profit, not beds for healing." He said elected officials are more concerned with making and profit and being reelected than doing what the people want. The government builds jails, Rev. Jackson said, because they are good for the economy. New jails create jobs and opportunities for salesmen. He said, "We have first class sales and second class schools--we must do better." "We must make America better for all of its people," he said. Al Franken, author of "Why Not Me?," was scheduled to speek after Rev. Jackson. However, his friend "Stuart," a member of several 12-step programs, spoke in his behalf. Fans of Saturday Night Live were elated to see one of SNL's most memorable characters addressing "The War on Drugs." Aside from bringing humor to the Shadow Convention with jokes about Charleton Heston's time in rehabilitiation for alcohol abuse, "Stuart" said, "For every dollar spent on treatment for drug abuse, people in jail save seven dollars. And that could buy a lot." Return to main convention page   Want to advertise on 2000GOP.com? Click here for special rates!     FastCounter by LinkExchange

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