=> While poring over Topic, Bill Barrett said to D'm0E:
 BB> Norml's main head quarters is located in Washington D.C. With a
 BB> location like that don't you think this organization would be doing
 BB> more?
 Don't you read the newspapers?  "With a location like that" one might think
 they had access to tax money, but, Washington, D. C. is NOT represented in
 Congress (!).  Soooo... you can think all you want, from out there in
 Anywhere, USA, but life in the nation's capitol isn't a piece of cake.
 Congress taxes their citizens, but, doesn't give the money back!  Crime
 is rampant, murders among the highest in the country.  And, one would
 think, from your inferences, that merely being located in DC guarantees
 operating funds.  WRONG.  NORML's money comes from INDIVIDUALS.  Free
 speech and individual freedoms being what they are, today, nowhere
 enough people have the gumption to contribute towards the restoration
 of their OWN freedoms.
 I've been to Washington to meet with Dick Cohan and from what I
 BB> seen, there is nothing going on as far as making anything happen.
  How much money did you give him, for the organization?  
 Or, having collected it, from others, did you deliver to Dick?
 Might we use this number as a measure of YOUR committment to change?
  Now
 BB> that Dick Cohan has left the organization, what's the new person going
 BB> to do???
 Allen St. Pierre does quite nicely, something YOU'D know if you offered
 support to them.  Your unfamiliarity with our status/systems/abilities
 makes me wonder what you thought you travelled to the east coast to
 discuss.  It apparently wasn't what YOU could do to help.
 When someone allows there case to go on for 20 years without
 BB> forcing the issue to the courts, there's something wrong.  I'm not
 BB> saying that Dick Cohan did a bad job but I think he could of done
 BB> more.
 What have YOU done?  Why do you expect nameless others to be motivated to
 improve YOUR lot, if you don't lift your hand to do so?
 Allan St. Pierre meets with legislators.  He responds to the many
 opportunities to explain NORML's positions in the press (a time consumer!);
 he helps draft, edit, and publish the newsletters we disseminate; are you
 familiar with them?  If you supported the movement, you would be.
 It's not my place to defend Allan's job description, and in all fairness
 to him I'll merely suggest that you ask HIM what he does, and how YOU
 can help.  His telephone number  is  202-483-5500.  Or, contact the
 nearest chapter.
 Some have wondered if NORML is part of the government and just
 BB> wasting our time with the bunk they deliever.  Time will tell that is
 BB> if you  keep sending your money. 
 I don't understand if your message is to continue our support, or not
 to be surprised if our money is wasted.  Judging from the salaries they
 pay in the NORML headquarters, it would seem that working there is
 an act of charity.  All the money goes to advertising, printing, rent.
 Perhaps YOU know something we should also know?
 Here in Baltimore, we live in an enigma.  Hard drug use is rampant;
 the addict population is estimated at between 50,000 and 60,000.
 Many of these people work, as the officials are finally discerning.
 We can't begin to incarcerate this many people: the jails are full,
 and we found ourselves releasing violent criminals to make room for
 street corner drug dealers.  Realizing the folly, we increased the
 number of bags of heroin or cocaine an arrestee must possess before
 we charge them with "intent to distribute" from 15 to 30.  It works
 to reduce jail populations, but also raises a false sense of security
 within those whose civil rights are also trampled.  It's difficult
 to gather together ten people for a NORML meeting here.
 Nothing is ever as simple as it seems.
 What have you done for the movement, recently?
 Howard Conaway
 Baltimore Metro NORML
 amapot@abs.net (E)
... If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.
--- Blue Wave/386 v2.30
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