Greetings From Iowa, “Where the Tall Buds Grow?”

by Mike from Iowa

Over the past decade, this nation has witnessed a growing acceptance towards the use of marijuana for medical use. Presently, 13 states allow the use of medical marijuana. Several states have legislation that is proposing its use in upcoming voter elections. As more time passes, there is a growing movement towards not just medicinal marijuana approval, but legalizing it and with current state budget deficits forcing drastic cuts in so many helpful programs, taxing marijuana is something that is being discussed more frequently. Could the time be near that we, as a nation, finally get past over 70+ years of unproven hype by our government that marijuana is such a horrible monster and “gateway” drug? “Reefer Madness” was a propaganda documentary that portrayed marijuana in such a way that it became banned nationwide almost instantly where before there had never been any issues. All this, ironically, at a time when prohibition was soon to be eradicated with alcohol becoming a new tax generator for Federal and State governments. Moreover, there are so many reports every day of drunken drivers taking out innocent victims by abusing that “legal” drug. I still, to this day, have yet to hear, “Man, (or woman) high on marijuana, kills family in auto accident,” or “Man, (or woman) high on marijuana, shoots family, then self.” Sadly, we see headlines like these almost daily. But they never involve marijuana. [Editor's note: not all studies agree with this point, though it's not disputed that alcohol seems to cause far more fatal accidents than marijuana. See article.]

As many know, 2009 marked the beginning of legalizing gay marriage in Iowa. We’re now one of just four states which allow this. I actually thought we would be one of the LAST states to legalize this, but it looks like we are just a little more progressive than I gave us credit for. Given simply this fact, along with our current major budget shortfalls, it seems to be a win-win, no-brainer to at least legalize marijuana, medicinally.

There could be tax revenue that could probably eliminate the budget shortfall in the 1^st year alone. There would be 1000’s of people who would benefit immediately by being able to legally medicate themselves organically, vs. popping pills hand over fist, keeping the big pharmaceutical companies fat and happy. The time for change and marijuana reform is NOW. We need to open our eyes and quit allowing misinformed, elderly legislators to dictate what they believe they know is in our best interests based on the lies they’ve been listening to for so many decades.

I see marijuana as an organic crop that could also benefit our farmers tremendously. Provided the large Ag-companies like Monsanto, Garst and Pioneer can stay out of the way and not instantly jump in with “OMG” (organically modified genetics) strains of marijuana and then take over the industry, in whole or in part. The reform movement for legalizing marijuana can not allow such corporate interests to take over. I’m also talking about pharmaceutical corporations as well. This must be as it is naturally designed. Why ‘fix it’ if it ain’t broke?

Stay tuned for my next article where I “light”-en up a bit and go explore some awesome wintertime trout fishing in Northeast Iowa!

Ban Executions, Save $$$, Asserts Duke Study

by Josh from North Carolina

In these economically trying times, when every penny counts, death penalty opponents in North Carolina are attempting a timely, and not unheard of, bit of marketing to make their point – quantify executions in dollars and cents. A new study, published in December in American Law and Economics Review, attempts to do just that, setting the annual savings amount of banning statewide executions at $11 million. The study is by Philip Cook, an economist at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.

As originally reported in Raleigh’s News & Observer, 2005-2006 saw 1,034 people charged with murder in the Tar Heel State, but only 11 sentenced to death for their crimes. Such a disproportionate outcome ratio, Cook argues, is hardly worth the effort, especially since the rarity of death penalty sentencing undermines any significant deterrence to violent crime, less than one percent by his own estimates. Capital trials can soar in cost to an average of $116,400 for the defendant versus the comparatively meager $18,600 for a non-capital murder trial.

Though opponents to capital punishment often make arguments on moral and ethical grounds, Cook sees his study as a viable third avenue. “The idea that the state could spend so much money on someone they think is completely undeserving is very interesting,” the article quotes Cook, “I have to believe that there are some people that would find this cost issue irritating.”

Cook’s findings will be presented to North Carolina lawmakers. Other states have successfully abolished their death penalties on primarily cost-benefit reasoning, including New Jersey in 2007 and New Mexico in 2009.

Do you drink the water in Nevada? Should you?

by Ray from Nevada

It is an unfortunate reality that Nevada winds up near the bottom on many so many lists and studies. State and city comparisons of foreclosure rates, unemployment, education, suicide, crime, alcohol abuse, political corruption and more wind up showing Nevada in a negative light. Many Nevadans dismiss these reports as using arbitrary standards or inaccurate information. Others consider them to be outright personal attacks, which makes it easier to ignore problems instead of solving them. A study on the quality of drinking water in American cities was recently released by the Environmental Working Group(EWG). Not surprisingly, Nevada cities again wound up near the bottom of the heap, and not surprisingly the results are controversial with many Nevadans.

Three Nevada cities were ranked on a list comparing the quality of drinking water in 100 cities. Las Vegas was ranked 3rd worst, Reno was ranked 5th worst, and North Las Vegas was ranked 8th worst. Of course smaller cities and towns in Nevada were not ranked or are considered a part of these water districts, but with so many of our smaller towns faced with little money for water treatment and so many centered around potential contaminators such as mining operations, it would not be shocking to hear similar or worse results from the rest of the state. The study itself can be viewed here: http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/rating-big-city-water

Water authorities from both Northern and Southern Nevada have suggested the study is misleading and note that water testing results are within legal limits. The EWG report suggests the Reno area had levels of arsenic, tetrachloroethylene, and manganese that exceeded legal limits in 2005, but were not found to exceed legal limits any other year. Vegas and North Las Vegas are not shown to have exceeded any legal limits during any testing periods of the study. The Truckee Meadows Water Authority, responsible for the drinking water in the Reno area, wasted no time responding. They have called into question not just the conclusions of the study, but the numbers used in the study as well. In front of television cameras, they disputed the report and drank a glass of water to prove Reno tape water is safe to consume. Of course no one suggested the water in the Reno area is so contaminated as to expect one to drop dead from a sip, but what do elevated levels of contaminates like arsenic do over long periods of time? Are Government standards adequate? Are they safe for children and pregnant women? Are they safe for anyone long term? What can be done to make our water cleaner and safer, and is it worth the cost? In a state that is mostly desert and where water rights battles continue to escalate as supplies dwindle, should we just be happy we still have any water at all?

Oklahoma City Gets Major Facelift

by Blake from Oklahoma

Earlier in this month of December 2009, Oklahoma City voters approved a 1 cent sales tax to start a new initiative that will make some dramatic changes to the city. The vote started a 7 year plan to give OKC a major facelift. The tax will pay for:

· A giant 70 acre public “Central Park” that will link downtown OKC with the Oklahoma River.

· A new public transportation system that will include the largest rail based streetcar system in the nation

· A new convention center

· Sidewalks will be added all around the city

· Over 50 miles of bike and walking trails will be added throughout the city

· Making the Oklahoma river best rowing race course in the world

· Whitewater Kayaking off the Oklahoma River

· Aquatic centers around the city for senior citizens

· Improvements to state fair grounds

The total cost will be over 700 million dollars and will be spaced out over the next decade.

New Funding Puts New Films in New Mexico

by Jess from New Mexico

Recently, moviegoers let out a collective sigh of satisfaction as December 6^th was the last day of the 10^th annual Santa Fe Film Festival. The festival lasted from December second until the sixth and in that space more than 130 filmmakers flocked from all over the country to New Mexico to see their movies and their audiences united at last. This artistic migration only scratches the surface in describing how New Mexico’s film industry is booming. Although the Santa Fe Film Festival isn’t as large as, say, the Sundance Film Festival, it still manages to attract between 5,000 and 7,000 patrons every year. These numbers are even more impressive knowing the event was “scaled down” due to financial restraints. But despite whatever limits there may be on the Festival’s budget, the film industry of New Mexico in general has seemingly endless funding.

Just recently the state of New Mexico offered $10 million dollars in order to build a new film and TV studio in Santa Fe. As of now about 300 film-specific businesses have been established in the last six years in New Mexico alone. Ever since 2003 Governor Bill Richardson has been putting his faith in the idea that movies can be the biggest attraction in New Mexico and the movie makers have relished the prospect. Because of the optimal climates, beautiful landscapes and welcoming citizens of New Mexico, filmmakers can’t wait to shoot scene after scene in the Land of Enchantment. In 2007 a star studded cast arrived in the small town of Madrid and filmed their hit movie “Wild Hogs”. 2008 produced the popular AMC series “Breaking Bad” which is produced and shot in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Along with these, new movies and television shows are popping up all around sunny New Mexico with high hopes and higher funding.

Welcome to The State Capitals blog!

Hello and welcome!

This blog was started to share experiences and thoughts across the nation. The blog will feature the writing of 50 authors representing each of the 50 state capitals of the US.

I hope you enjoy it and read posts from your state and others. Thanks for coming!

Jon