Posted October 8th, 2009 by hiwayhowie
Howard on the Hill
Stories from the week of October 2, 2009
So easy, anyone could do it: On Friday I had a fairly average day of six presentations. One 30 minute chat with the legislative director of a major, Republican office set the tone for the day. Right from the start, he said he agreed with the COP position. We agreed that marijuana was the ‘no-brainer’ * to start with. We spent the bulk of the time brain-storming* on how to persuade Members to vote for change.
NOTE: the previous aide for this Member on the issue was an absolutely intractable, mean and nasty person. This made the meeting all the sweeter.
Connecting the dots: * On Sunday I attended a yearly, national gathering of leaders who are concerned about mass immigration both legal and illegal and overpopulation of the country and world sponsored by the www.thesocialcontract.com I was honored by their request to have me speak on the collision of two highly emotional polices: immigration and Modern Prohibition. After my standard 8 minutes of how and why drug prohibition is so destructive and dysfunctional, I made the case that drug prohibition severely impedes our ability to control illegal entry of people on the southern border.
The 120 attendees listened and judging from the robust 15 minute Q & A*, many agreed with the COP position. We gained allies for change.
**Note: for my German friends I translate/help them with certain words and phrases
*brain-storming = gemeinsame Problembewältigung
*connecting the dots = wie ein Rätzel zu lösen
*Q&A = question and answer
Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 per year. Add your voice to those agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow.
Make checks payable to:
Citizens Opposing Prohibition Inc
PO Box 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717-0772
Officer Howard Wooldridge (retired)
Drug Policy Specialist, COP – www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org
Washington, DC
817-975-1110 Cell
howard@citizensopposingprohibition.org
Posted September 25th, 2009 by hiwayhowie
Howard on the Hill
Stories from the week of September 25, 2009
Small steps: My third appearance at the annual Congressional Black Caucus three day conference filled my week. Wearing the COP shirt over my dress shirt, tie and largest cowboy hat, I was able to engage many in conversations. I am thrilled to report that for the first time, a majority of the 50 odd conversations I had ended with the person agreeing with the COP position: i.e. legalize/regulate/tax.
Be afraid, be very afraid: stopping by the Dept. of Justice booth at the CBC, I picked up their pamphlet on marijuana. It states that marijuana use causes cancer…and (love this)…”It has not yet been proven that using marijuana leads to other drugs, but….” LOL. Our government has tried for 40 years to prove a causal link between marijuana use and harder drugs, without success. Apparently they are still spending tax dollars trying to prove it.
Sweetest sound to your ear: I read once that hearing your name generates the greatest pleasure of any words spoken. At the CBC conference I was invited to be a guest on the Bev Smith radio show out of Pittsburgh, PA. We had great 30 minute chat. Towards the end, on the air, Bev said, “We need to legalize all drugs.”
To this old cowboys’ ears, THOSE are the sweetest words I can hear.
PS – the COP website is complete: please take a look at: www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 per year. Add your voice to those agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow.
Make checks payable to:
Citizens Opposing Prohibition Inc
PO Box 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717-0772
howard
Officer Howard Wooldridge (retired)
Drug Policy Specialist, COP – www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org
Washington, DC
817-975-1110 Cell
howard@citizensopposingprohibition.org
Posted September 18th, 2009 by hiwayhowie
Howard on the Hill
Stories from the week of September 18, 2009
Going fishing: How many times does a fisherman throw his line in the water before he catches a fish? I don’t know because I don’t fish. I do know that having thrown my hook out some 1200 times now, I have found/caught some fish (Congressional offices) drug reform did not know existed.
This week I received a response back from my ‘thank you for your time’ note I send to all legislative aides. This R aide asked how I am became such a polyglot (answer I sent below). Perhaps when I need him to ask his boss to consider a repeal prohibition bill, he will step up to the plate* just because he was impressed with my language skills. Whatever sticks to the wall = hat, boots, buckle, Long Rides or languages.
One step back: This week Georgia State Republican lawmaker Tommy Benton (31st House District) stated he favors “caning”* minor marijuana offenders and “executing” those who sell the drug, according to a recent correspondence sent by the representative to a constituent. I wrote him a letter asking if he understood that 900,000 teens are employed as drug dealers. Would he really put a 14 year old to death? No response yet.
One step forward: An aide to a Blue Dog Democrat* whom I had met a year before spent the last 10 minutes of our meeting giving me a step by step map on how best to end federal involvement in state drug policy. Essentially it would be to insert a one paragraph amendment into an appropriations bill stating that no federal funds may be used directly or indirectly to enforce federal law, where the State had nullifed federal law by choosing a different policy. (think medical marijuana in 13 states).
He was a 10 year police veteran turned legislative aide. His passion showed, as he made sure I understood what to do. He wants at least marijuana prohibition to be ended ASAP.*
*step up to the plate = der Mut und Begeisterung finden, etwas schwierig und hart zu tun
*caning = jemand mit einem Stab schlagen
*Blue Dog Democrat = im Demokratischenpartei aber conservatif mit Geld
*ASAP = so bald wie möglich
Polyglot – short story: at 19 spent 3 months in Europe in 70…felt like illiterate ‘cause only spoke English. Came back to U and began German – became my minor. After 6 more months (2 trips) to mostly Germany = fluent German: Before starting LIFE, I wanted to be an average European which means 3 languages…so after graduation from Mich. State, made bunch of $$ driving a semi for United Van Lines, in Switzerland took intensive 3 month course in French and poof…tri-lingual…..police work needed Spanish = took junior college courses at night and then 3 months in Spain…poof…4 languages.
My 3 months of Arabic studies in Egypt resulted in being semi-fluent but have lost nearly all of it.. I could still piss off a terrorist on an airplane but not really carry on a conversation.
BTW, I also speak ‘horse.’…for that I needed to ride my pony across North America twice…13 months in the saddle. Okay- now I am bragging. LOL
Consider joining COP. Your tax-deductible contributions are appreciated and put to good use.
Posted September 11th, 2009 by hiwayhowie
Howard on the Hill
Stories from the week of September 11, 2009
Feels good to contribute: This week I assisted two major reform groups in DC. I provided them the names of 92 House offices where the aide was very much on our side of the question. This list of both Ds and Rs will help my colleagues decide where to spend their time looking for allies on bills. I am sure they knew the names of most Democrats. I am also sure that the list of R offices contains a few pleasant surprises.
Resistance continues to crumble: How conservative does one have to be to board a bus & travel all night to go to a march on Washington on September 12th? The DC fire department estimated the crowd at about 70,000 & I would say it might have gone to 100,000. Regardless, I was there, wearing the shirt & had about 60 ask why. Keeping in mind these were extremely serious conservatives, 80% were agreeing with the COP message of legalize all drugs. Many more read the shirt and waved or nodded.
For the few that disagreed my standard line was: ‘I believe in liberty & keeping the police out of my house.’ What do you believe in?’….that tag line* was effective in helping the listener understand what priniciples I stood for.
*tag line = was man immer sagt (kurz und zur Sache)
Love my hat: Attending a monthly conservative breakfast, the gentleman across from me, 10 years my senior, asked what COP stood for. I told him. He replied he had just given a presentation on why all drugs should be legalized & regulated. At the end of the breakfast he invited me to his ‘pre 9/12 march’ on Washington soiree on one condition; wear the hat.
The crowd was definitely a ‘grasstops.’….doctors, lawyers & indian chiefs*affaire. For two + hours I chatted with über conservatives from all over the country…wearing my best Stetson. It was an 18 hour day and well worth it.
*Indian chiefs = Ausdrück = wichtige Leute
Howard
Citizens Opposing Prohibition
PO Box 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717-0772
Modern Prohibition/The War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional & immoral domestic policy since slavery and Jim Crow.
Your tax-deductible contributions are appreciated and put to good use. ($30.00 yearly membership)
Posted September 4th, 2009 by hiwayhowie
Howard on the Hill
Stories from the week of September 4, 2009
Time marches on: I was struck this week at the number of offices where the first person I met in 2006 or 2007 had been promoted: Legislative Assistant to Legislative Director, two had been promoted from LD to Chief of Staff. The new aides I spoke to pass on a summary of the meeting to their boss (usually the LD and a 60-90 second summary to the Member). Thus, the anti-prohibition message is refreshed & reinforced . One aide who had become chief of staff said she only had 3 minutes. Because she kept asking questions, we said good-bye after 10. Small steps.
How do you spell frustration?: I spoke to a good number of aides this week who stated their personal support for repeal of prohibition but whose boss was never going to change. I can imagine how difficult a conversation with such a Member would be. I have been at this for 12 years. One must have the patience of Job.
Git R Dun:* During the August recess I managed 117 staff presentations + a few other activities. Now that the members are back and the aides busier, I have time to catch up on some paperwork.
*Git R Dun = Get the work done! = Schaffe es!
Howard
Citizens Opposing Prohibition (yearly membership starts at $30.00)
PO Box 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717-0772
Modern Prohibition/The War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional & immoral domestic policy since slavery and Jim Crow.
Your tax-deductible contributions are appreciated and put to good use.
