Potholes Mean Defiance

In November, the people of California are going to vote on Proposition 19 – the legalization of marijuana. This article isn't about how the stoners are going to get their act together and get this legalized. This isn't about whether or not this is the slippery slope down to depravity (although one could make that case). This is going to show us just how much power the federal government has garnered and how little they regard individual states.

Let's say – by some miracle – Prop 19 goes through. It's legal, so toke up and have fun. Wait… before you light up that fattie, you hear the pounds of footsteps in boots… and DEA decides to drop by for cookies and handcuffs. That's right – the federal government has stated that whether or not the proposition goes through, they are going to enforce the federal statutes. In other words, if Proposition 19 becomes legal, the federal government will act as business as usual. So toking up in Cali will still be a crime. What? Did you think that when Prop 19 (or Prop 8, or anything that pretty much indicates that a state is acting independent of the federal government) was passed the federal government was going to say "Sure, go on ahead! Don't let me stop you guys"? Good Lord, no!

As far as the federal government is concerned, this is not about money. They'll be more than happy to print more money if it means that they can keep their control. This is about federal power. This is about the cascade of propositions and lawsuits that will pop up if Prop 19 goes through. Don't believe me? Let me ask you this: who takes care of the road where you live and work?

If you answered "Department of Transportation" you're going to get partial credit. It's Uncle Sam that shovels the asphalt and takes care of the roads… except for the ones where I drive, apparently. The federal government gives the states enough money to maintain the roads. Like any good John, it expects to get something for the time and tasteful portraits of dead presidents. In this case, it's obedience. Still don't believe me? What's the legal drinking age where you're at right now? Is it 18? No – 21. If you're of a certain age, you'll remember when this was a big deal. There was talk of Constitutional amendments and the rights of states versus the rights of the federal government. Then – a miracle occurred: road money. The federal government dangled the cash over the heads of various state governments and said "you'll get this when you raise your drinking age to 21." Some states held out for as long as they could, but eventually caved in.

What does this mean for California?

If Prop 19 comes through, the federal government would have lost a powerful weapon: federal money. Between $455 million and $1 billion dollars would be generated. I'm no construction expert, but I think that filling one pothole is a little less than $455 million. If Prop 19 goes through, this will be a signal to the federal government that they can no longer rely on the Almighty Dollar to keep the kids in line. What they will rely on next will be telling.

Health Care, anyone?