From: hagerp@moose.cs.indiana.edu (Paul Hager)
Newsgroups: alt.drugs,talk.politics.drugs
Subject: WoD: Frontline Report -- 2-Oct-92
Date: 4 Oct 92 02:50:21 GMT
Organization: Computer Science, Indiana University


		Meeting the Anarchists

	On Friday, 2-Oct-92, I spoke at a meeting which was a part
of a three day convention of anarchists that was being held in 
Bloomington.  "Convention of anarchists" is sort of humorous and
oxymoronic on its face -- just say it to yourself a few times and
see what kind of image it conjures up.  In any case, Dan Combs (local
politico), Guy Loftman (an attorney in B'ton often associated with
progressive causes), and I conducted a "seminar" on community
responses to the drug war.  I regret to say that it didn't live up
to my expectations.

	I had hoped, going in, to be addressing a more outwardly
mainstream -- in the sense of engaged -- group of people.  In other
words, I anticipated that the audience would be composed of local
small business and entrepreneurial types and/or established
professionals and academics.  Instead, these folks were mostly
what I would call dilletante revolutionaries whose major political
statements seemed to be more sartorial and tonsorial than practical.

	We did do presentations: Dan did a general rant against
the drug war, citing facts and figures on incarcerations and the
transformation of the U.S. into a police state; Guy spoke about
the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations ACT, better
known as RICO, and how it had expanded into a major instrument
of coercive power in the hands of government drug warriors; and,
I spoke on erosion of civil liberties and what steps might be
taken locally to fight back.  Matt Fasano was on hand and I had
him say a few words about the medical MJ petition drive he has
started.  His idea is to circulate petitions in Monroe Co. calling
for MJ to be available for medical use -- somewhat along the lines
of the San Francisco resolution.

	After the presentations, there was general discussion.  One
fellow with purple-dyed hair began excoriating us for treating with
the "statists" by such things as petition drives.  He said, that just
legitimized the system.  Dennis Withered, my HCRC comrade, had been
sitting in the audience throughout.  Periodically, he would, by
gesture or expression, indicate to me that he thought the whole thing
was an exercise in political masturbation -- of course, I kept my
responses to subtle eyebrow movements.  When Purple-hair suggested
that the only valid political approach would be something like
slashing police car tires, Dennis seemed to reach some kind of limit.
He said to the guy, "Where are YOUR grenades?  When I start reading
in the newspaper that cop cars are getting their tires slashed, I'll
start taking you seriously."  While Dennis isn't squeamish about
the possibility of direct action if the situation warrants it, he
doesn't have a lot of patience with hopped-up, post-adolescents who
get all dewy-eyed after reading a little Bakunin.  The funny thing
is that Dennis is ex-Green Beret and was involved in counter-terrorism
operations back in the late 70s.  Purple-hair had no idea who he
was dealing with.

	Things eventually wound down.  I don't believe that Matt
got any takers on helping with the petition drive.  It's probably
just as well -- Purple-hair would reinforce every bad stereotype
about "druggies."

	On other fronts, things may be looking up.  I finally
made contact with Indiana State Representative, Mark Kruzan.  He
and I are meeting for lunch on the 21st of this month.  Among
other things, he and I will talk about the egregious drug excise
tax he warned me about in 1991 and then proceeded to vote for in
1992.  I have also come up with some ideas for other discussion
points.

	One idea derives from my invitation to participate in
a panel discussion at the International Conference on Drug Policy
this November in D.C.  The topic is grassroots organizing.  What
occurred to me was that, because Kruzan is on the Ways and Means
committee and the Judiciary committee, he might be in a position
to set up hearings on amending (or repealing) the tax bill and
addressing MJ legalization in Indiana.  While in D.C., I'm hoping
to "network" with people in the drug policy reform movement.  My
idea is to try and get Indiana "targetted".  If Kruzan can promise
to initiate hearings, I will try and line up important people from
around the nation to lend credibility to and generate media interest
in the activity.

	Of course, all of this is pretty inchoate right now.  I'll
have a better sense of things in a few weeks so look for some
amplification then.  Also, expect to see some kind of report from me 
on the doings at the conference.
-- 
paul hager		hagerp@moose.cs.indiana.edu
"Run 'em down, Fred!  They don't belong here!  Run 'em down!"
-- Bobby Fischer to Fred Cramer, who was driving him through a
a crowd of spectators after Fischer adjourned game 1 in his
1972 match with Spassky.
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