Our June 3rd discussion about the recent primary election and upcoming general election focused on the gubernatorial race before moving on to a couple of issues. Many present were gratified that Anne Northup lost the Republican primary to Ernie Fletcher. Even the one person present who expressed disappointment noted that she had voted against Northup because - though she's a Republican - she felt it was time for a Democrat to be governor. Most agreed with her that Fletcher would be an easier candidate to beat than Northup in the fall. Only one person predicted that Fletcher would win re-election, though no one denied that this was still a distant possibility.
There were mixed feelings about Beshear's plans for gambling in Kentucky - both about whether he would succeed in implementing gambling and about whether it was a good idea. It was noted that no one seems to be saying much about the costs this would bring the state, as compared with the potential benefits. There was some support for Gatewood Galbraith's idea of state-owned casinos, but it was felt that this would be even less likely to become a reality; if the "religious right" and others opposed gambling on moral grounds, then the opposition to state-run gambling would be even more intense.
Gatewood's name, of course - whether fairly or not - is associated with nothing more than with support for legalizing marijuana. We discussed the possibility of legalizing and/or decriminalizing industrial hemp, marijuana, and other drugs. No one spoke out against legalizing the growing of non-hallucinogenic hemp for the production of fuel and a multitude of consumer goods... but no one thought it was likely to happen anytime soon, either. The prospect of decriminalizing and/or legalizing marijuana and potentially other drugs seemed even less likely, and was also more controversial among the group. One member was adamant that legalizing marijuana would make the roads less safe, while others were less certain that this would be the case. It was noted that reforming our "automobile culture" would make this less of an issue. Ideas such as introducing a revocable license to purchase non-addictive drugs - including alcohol - and/or limiting legal drug use to supervised environments were brought up, to a measured and mixed response.
As we wrapped up, we felt it was time to revisit the topic of our educational system, join us Sunday the 17th for an engaging discussion on this topic.
