Marwan Bishara rocks on al jazeera's show "Empire

I just watched an episode of Empire on al jazeera. Wow. Where was the snark we see constantly in the U.S. media? Where was the obvious political bias of the host? Where were the stupid politicians spewing think tank truisms. Where was the obvious attempt to hide, evade, shape public opinion, and lie?
The episode was about Latin America. Anytime they turned to the war on drugs I waited to hear some expression referring to how the military training and weaponry provided to Latin American regimes over the years has provided governments with the implements of a war it could use on its own people. And Marwan Bishara did! He asked if the war on drugs was a "Trojan Horse."
I, for one, wonder at the genius of Nixon and his henchmen in declaring a "war on drugs." Here was a way to get around the horrid legacy of CIA sponsored coups AND to disenfranchise Americans, especially the dreaded youth and minority vote.
I have just been made more intelligent by not only the material discussed, but by seeing an example of how reasonable people interact. You don't get this on American news shows. Everything American news networks do is based upon making money and propagandizing for the Military/Industria/Secrecy/Prison Complex. American children don't have on television a role model to teach debate and questioning skills. I believe the loss of reasoned debate in America, both in Congress and on television will ALONE undermine all educational reforms.

of another reason to legalize cannabis

The federal government should treat cannabis like it does alcohol and tobacco because every family in America is at risk. Parents may have never used cannabis, may have been against it all their lives, but somewhere in every family tree is a kid or adult who has or will try it. And they may get arrested that one time they try it. And everyone knows it is not as deadly in its affects as alcohol or tobacco.
I know Republican parents of a pot lover who were appalled at what happened when their son was busted for a pot pipe in the back seat of his car. He got a criminal record and they paid heavy fines or else he would have done jail time. They said, "The government uses it as a way to extort money." Right you are.
The ones in jail for simple possession of pot or paraphernalia are poor kids, mostly non-white kids. Free them! No Gore, no Bush, no Obama child will EVER do time for pot. Nor will a Hilton or a Trump. We all know it.
Forbidding states like Colorado and Washington from legalizing cannabis will be a blatant move to prop up the "private" prison system, to lock up and disenfranchise minorities, to continue the arming of foreign militaries in the name of the "war on drugs." It will fly in the face of logic. It will cost a fortune (already has). And it WILL NOT stop the weed!
It will open the door for the Republicans to use the issue and earn the votes of millions who know that smoking pot is less harmful to self and society than alcohol, tobacco, and firearms.