Newsgroups: talk.politics.drugs,alt.society.civil-liberty From: [d p letche] at [netcom.com] (David Pletcher) Subject: Solomon draws conservative fire! Date: Fri, 12 May 1995 00:30:08 GMT [This is intended as a fair use excerpt in relation to an ongoing discussion about loony Rep. Gerald Solomon's attempt to quash free expression and political discourse. No copyright infringement is intended.] From the May 15, 1995 National Review, page 16: Gerald B.H. Solomon (R., N.Y.), chairman of the House Rules Committee, is not worried about critics of the war on drugs: "Legalization was jettisoned with Jocelyn [Elders] and is not coming back." Just in case, though, Solomon has introduced a bill that would deny tax-exempt status to nonprofit organizations "which promote the legalization of certain drugs." Solomon cited the Cato Institute, the Drug Policy Foundation, and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. His bill would presumably also target the Reason Foundation, the Ludwig von Mises Institute, the Lindesmith Center, the Religious Coalition for a Moral Drug Policy, and any other educational, scientific, literary or religious organization that disagrees with Mr. Solomon about drug prohibition. "Seedy" people involved with such "sinister" groups, he said, seek not only to "justify their self- centered and self-indulgent lifestyles" but also "to influence young people to try and use drugs." Hence, the wisdom of Solomon: "Our tax law needs to more accurately reflect the American people's tolerance level for this type of activity." And if the punitive taxation of unpopular ideas catches on, we can dispense with arguments and evidence entirely. That should make politicians like Mr. Solomon more comfortable.