Updated: 03/30/2012 08:22:37 AM PDT
Robert Minch ( Courtesy photo )
It is, "If elected, will you vote to legalize drugs?" All will acknowledge that the war on drugs has failed but then the waffling will begin.
As a result of this "war", that can never be won, the numbers are staggering. There are now more people under "correctional supervision" in America .6 million than were in the Gulag Archipelago under Stalin at its height. The U.S.
has 760 prisoners per 100,000 citizens. That is 7 to10 times more than most other developed countries. In 1980 our prison population was about 150 per 100,000 adults.
It is four times that today. More than half of America's federal inmates today are in prison on drug convictions 4 out of 5 for simple possession.
Partly as a result, the money spent on prisons has risen six times the rate of spending on higher education in the past 20 years.
Since 1980, California has built one college campus and 21 prisons. A student costs the state $8,667 per year; a prisoner costs it $45,006 a year. (Source: TIME and the New Yorker).
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Oregon has a right-to-die law. A proponent of same, Dr. Peter Goodwin, who recently availed himself of this law in his own demise, wrote knowingly about the subject when asked if being a doctor made it easier or more difficult to make this decision:
"Physicians die
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They know what's in store, and they have a way out." What that way out was he did not say.
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Recent police logs reported a woman was arrested on a warrant at Pine and Jackson for walking around with a bat in hand. If she had been wearing a Giants cap she might have avoided the warrant.
About the same time, a woman reported to be strolling about Hooker Creek Road carrying a saw and talking loudly to herself, but was not to be seen when sherriff's deputies arrived.
In each of these cases, I suspect politics may have played a part in their behavior. Whereas it should not be construed that a Tea Party member, for example, was spoiling for a fight, it certainly has been a time when aggressive behavior has come to the political forefront.
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There appears to be no truth to the rumor that Former President Bush made an appearance at the former Vice President's hospital, hanging a "Mission Accomplished" banner in Mr. Cheney's room hours before the operation was completed.
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Sources say within a generation, a majority of working wives will out earn their husbands. This is startling news. How can that be?
In my generation the man was the breadwinner.
If a woman worked she was a widow, a spinster or biding her time until swept off her feet by some fellow who could provide for her a life of domestic bliss free of the demands of the business world.
What put women into pants and into the driver's seat when it came to earnings?
Some say education. Some say modern household appliances.
No wonder more women are engaged in revolutions sweeping the eastern countries heretofore dominated by males.
They have seen the good life as displayed on the Internet and they are demanding a part of the action.
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Regarding the Florida teenager shooting, is it not reassuring that Jesse and Al have shoveled their way into the front row of this unfolding drama? That should cause viewers to dive for the mute button on their remote.
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Last week's quiz was answered by many, but R Hogan was first in by completing the sentences, "Was Clare Boothe Luce, What did Ezra Pound, What did Saul Bellows and What did Alistair Cooke? This week's quiz:
"A word there is of plural number foe to ease and tranquil to slumber. Any other word you take and add an s will plural make; But if you add an s to this so strange the metamorphosis:
Plural is now plural no more and sweet what bitter was before."
Hint: the word is often found in any discussion of homes for the homeless.
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A Russian grappler and Ole, the Norwegian wrestler, were set to square off for the Olympic Gold Medal. Before the final match, the Norwegian wrestling coach came to Ole and said, "Now, don't forget all the research we've done on this Russian.
He's never lost a match because of this 'pretzel' hold he applies. Whatever you do, do not let him get you in that hold. If he does, you're finished. Ole nodded in acknowledgment.
The match started when suddenly, the Russian lunged forward, grabbed Ole and wrapped him up in the dreaded pretzel hold.
The coach buried his face in his hands, for he knew all was lost.
He couldn't bear to watch the inevitable happen when suddenly there was a scream, then a cheer from the crowd and the coach raised his eyes just in time to watch the Russian go flying up in the air.
His back hit the mat with a thud and Ole collapsed on top of him making the pin and winning the match. The crowd went crazy.
The coach was astounded. When he finally got his wrestler alone, he asked, "How did you ever get out of that hold?"
Ole answered, "Vell, I vas ready to give up ven he got me in dat hold, but at da last moment, I opened my eyes and saw dis pair of testicles right in front of my face...I had nuttin' to lose so wid my last ounce of strength I stretched out my neck and bit dose babies yust as hard as I could."
The trainer exclaimed, "That's what finished him off."
"Vel not really. You'd be amazed how strong you get ven you bite your own nuts."
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Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff and former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magzine. He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com.
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