fagin@ucbvax.ARPA (Barry Steven Fagin) (07/13/85)
Tom Tryon, an elected supervisor of Calaveras County CA and a libertarian, faces a recall as a result of his comments about drug use. These comments came during a vote on the use of $172,000 of state funds for "buy money"; money used to finance undercover drug buys. Tryon cast the sole dissenting vote, noting "the war against drugs has failed" and calling for the legalization of drugs. Tryon elaborated that he does not advocate the use of drugs, and that "drugs should be legalized to the extent alcohol is legalized and controlled, thus removing organized crime, pushers from campuses, high prices, corruption in government, and exorbitant profits. I state these beliefs because I do have a comprehension of the terrible human cost of drug abuse, and I recognize that our current government policies have been pursued ssince the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914, and the human tragedy only grows." This illustrates a dilemna American elected officials have faced ever since the Revolution: should they vote their conscience, or serve their constituents? I see no easy answers to this question, but I do admire Tryon's courage for making an unpopular statement that springs from his love of liberty, despite the political ramifications. While I believe Tryon will not survive the recall, I also believe that regardless of the outcome he accomplished a lot. The issue got a lot of press in the Calaveras County area, and generated a lot of discussion. Drug legalization got some more media coverage, and at least for now is being debated out there in the real world beyond the net. --Barry -- Barry Fagin @ University of California, Berkeley