Retrospect: An Necessary Lesson to study from the 2024 Elections
Effectively people, right here we’re once more. Donald Trump is again within the White Home, and if his earlier time period taught us something, we’re strapping in for one hell of a rollercoaster trip. I can already really feel my inbox filling up with requests to put in writing in regards to the newest Trump hashish controversy or no matter inflammatory tweet is setting the web ablaze.
However I will be sincere with you – I will strive my damnedest to keep away from turning this platform into yet one more Trump commentary channel. Lord is aware of we have got sufficient of these already. Between the mainstream media’s obsession with each presidential syllable and the circus surrounding Elon Musk and RFK Jr.’s alliance with Trump, we’re already drowning in political theater. I imply, simply have a look at the present media frenzy over “Did Elon Nazi Salute?” after Trump’s inauguration speech. If that is any indication, we’re in for 4 years of continuous sensationalism.
Here is the factor although – as somebody who prides himself on staying above the partisan fray (and consider me, that is getting more durable by the day), I really feel obligated to share some hard-earned knowledge about navigating the hashish panorama throughout these politically charged occasions. The final 4 years beneath Biden’s administration taught us some helpful classes about political guarantees and hashish reform, and people insights are extra related than ever as we enter this new chapter.
So seize your favourite pressure, settle into your comfortable spot, and let previous Reginald share some perspective on what we have discovered and the best way to maintain our heads straight throughout what’s positive to be an… fascinating 4 years forward.
If there’s one factor I’ve discovered from years of protecting hashish politics, it is that weed polls higher than politicians – and boy, do they comprehend it. It would sound like I am hitting the bong too laborious, however the numbers do not lie. Election after election, hashish legalization constantly polls greater than any candidate working for workplace. With pseudo-legalization spreading throughout the nation like wildfire, there are extra hashish supporters than ever earlier than, making us fairly the tempting voting bloc.
This actuality wasn’t misplaced on the Democrats throughout their four-year stint. They dangled hashish reform like a carrot on a stick, making grand guarantees about prioritizing legalization. Keep in mind Kamala Harris, all of a sudden changing into hashish’s greatest cheerleader? The identical Kamala who oversaw numerous marijuana prosecutions as California’s Lawyer Basic was now preaching about social justice and legalization. The irony was thicker than smoke in a hotboxed Volkswagen.
For the primary few years of the Biden administration, we obtained nothing however lip service. Then, as election season approached – would not you realize it – all of a sudden hashish reform turned pressing. Pot pardons! Rescheduling! It was like watching a supplier who ghosted you for months all of a sudden sliding into your DMs with “you up?”
And a few people ate it up. I noticed numerous posts from well-meaning stoners declaring their timeless loyalty to Biden-Harris primarily based solely on these eleventh-hour hashish guarantees. However let’s get actual – these pardons did not free a single soul from jail, and the rescheduling circus? Effectively, that is nonetheless caught in bureaucratic limbo, prone to face years of litigation if it ever materializes.
Here is the kicker although – regardless of all this pot pandering, Trump nonetheless gained. Why? As a result of whereas hashish reform is essential, People had been extra involved about placing meals on their tables, feeling protected of their communities, and managing the immigration disaster. The Democrats had been so busy advantage signaling about serving to marginalized communities that they forgot in regards to the broader inhabitants’s instant issues. That is like specializing in rising unique strains whereas your primary crops are dying – it’d sound cool, however it will not feed the plenty.
The outcome? Not solely did they lose the election, however they strung alongside tens of millions of hashish supporters for completely nothing. No legalization, no significant reform, simply empty guarantees and disillusioned voters. And therein lies our lesson, my pals. Politicians will at all times love pot pandering as a result of they know we’re enthusiastic about legalization. However when their guarantees go up in smoke, we are the ones left holding an empty bag.
Here is a draft in Reginald Reefer’s voice:
Let me inform you why I steer clear of political events like they’re contaminated bathwater. It isn’t as a result of I do not care about society or our collective rights – fairly the alternative. It is as a result of these events are like ill-fitting fits; they may look good on the rack, however when you strive them on, nothing fairly sits proper.
Take me, for instance. On some points, I am as “Republican” as they arrive. I consider in conserving authorities small (as a result of let’s face it, they have a tendency to mess up all the things they contact), rewarding advantage over handouts, reducing by means of pink tape, and defending particular person liberties. You realize, the entire “go away me alone to develop my crops in peace” mentality.
However flip the coin, and all of a sudden I am singing from the Democratic hymnal. I consider in drug reform (clearly), holding massive companies accountable for his or her shenanigans, defending Mom Earth, and letting folks love whoever they rattling properly please. Some may say this makes me a libertarian, however I favor to consider myself as an anarchist – not within the “chaos within the streets” sense, however within the “I do not want a grasp telling me what to do” sense.
Now, if I had been to play the political sport (which I am not, however let’s faux), here is how I might method it. Throughout marketing campaign season? Positive, I might battle like hell to get my candidate in workplace. Wave the indicators, unfold the phrase, do the entire tune and dance. However the second they win? That is when the actual work begins.
See, that is the place most individuals get it unsuitable. They deal with their political get together like a sports activities staff, blindly cheering even when their gamers are dropping the ball. However that is not how democracy ought to work. The minute your candidate takes workplace, you have to rework from their greatest cheerleader into their harshest critic.
Cease swooning over their tweets and begin scrutinizing their actions. Neglect what they promised on the marketing campaign path – what are they really doing now? Are they following by means of, or are they simply blowing smoke? If they don’t seem to be dwelling as much as their phrase, it is time to make some noise. Name your representatives, flood their places of work with emails, make your voice heard.
That is the factor about political guarantees – they’re like rolling papers within the wind except somebody holds these politicians accountable. And who higher to try this than the individuals who put them in workplace? Do not allow them to get snug. Do not allow them to overlook who they work for.
So over these subsequent 4 years, whether or not you are a Trump supporter or simply somebody attempting to navigate this political circus, keep in mind: Your job is not to defend your candidate’s each transfer. Your job is to maintain them sincere, maintain them working, and maintain them afraid of disappointing their constituents. As a result of on the finish of the day, politicians are like hashish crops – they want fixed consideration and occasional pruning to provide something worthwhile.
Let’s speak in regards to the orange elephant within the room. Love him or hate him, Trump is not your typical politician – primarily as a result of he is not one. He is extra like a chaos wizard who by some means obtained maintain of the nuclear codes. However here is the factor that makes protecting Trump so fascinating: not like most politicians who make guarantees they by no means intend to maintain, this man truly follows by means of on some wild stuff.
Take his first few weeks again in workplace. Whereas the media was having a meltdown about his newest tweet, Trump was busy declassifying JFK and MLK paperwork which were gathering mud for many years. However the actual head-turner? Pardoning Ross Ulbricht, aka the Dread Pirate Roberts. Here is a man who obtained two life sentences with out parole for… what precisely? Creating a web site? Positive, folks bought medicine on the Silk Highway, however by that logic, we should always throw Mark Zuckerberg in jail each time somebody sells weed by means of Fb Messenger.
And he is not executed. RFK Jr. – the black sheep of the Kennedy household who’s been elevating hell about pharmaceutical firms – is about to move Well being and Human Providers. In the meantime, Trump’s already making good on his immigration guarantees quicker than you may say “construct the wall.” It is clear this is not the identical Trump from 2016. He is obtained new allies, new methods, and seemingly fewer fucks to provide than ever earlier than.
However here is the place issues get murky, people. Whereas Trump’s making strikes which have libertarians and anti-establishment varieties cheering, he is additionally cozying as much as some critically sketchy characters. Take Larry Ellison, the Oracle overlord who’s obtained deeper CIA connections than my develop room has spider mites. For individuals who do not know, Oracle began as a CIA undertaking in 1977 with Ellison on the helm, although they’re going to swear up and down it is all historic historical past. Yeah, and I am simply rising tomatoes in my basement.
What’s significantly regarding is all this speak about utilizing AI to develop mRNA vaccines. I do not learn about you, however combining synthetic intelligence, experimental vaccines, and an organization with intelligence company roots sounds just like the plot of a dystopian novel I do not need to stay by means of.
So right here we’re, watching Trump do some genuinely constructive issues whereas concurrently establishing what might be the infrastructure for a technocratic surveillance state. It is like discovering out your supplier is providing you with nice costs but additionally putting in cameras in your home. Positive, the weed’s good, however at what value?
Because of this, my pals, we have to keep vigilant. Have fun the wins once they come, however maintain your eyes extensive open and your bullshit detectors finely tuned. As a result of in Trump’s America 2.0, the one factor we may be sure of is uncertainty itself.
TRUMP ON MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION, READ ON…
