Thoughts on Dean.Ruth Conniff does an excellent job of highlighting some of Howard Dean's more conservative attributes ("An Old-Style Centrist," May issue). However, she completely avoided writing about Dean's more progressive characteristics, such as his strong support for gay rights and civil unions. As governor of Vermont The Governor of Vermont is the executive magistrate of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected biennialy in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years. Vermont is one of only two U.S. , Dean signed the bill to legalize le·gal·ize tr.v. le·gal·ized, le·gal·iz·ing, le·gal·iz·es To make legal or lawful; authorize or sanction by law. le gay civil unions, despite protests from Republicans and some Democratic colleagues. Since that time, he has met regularly with gay rights groups and has came out in support of ENDA ENDA Employment Non-Discrimination Act (civil rights legislation; US Congress) ENDA Environmental Development Action ENDA Encontro Nacional de Dirigentes Associativos (Portugal) (Employment Non-Discrimination Act This article documents a proposed statute that is being considered. Information may change rapidly as the bill progresses. ) and the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military. And while other Democratic Presidential candidates may have voiced support for civil unions, Dean is the only candidate that has shown he can take action on this issue. Dean has made gay rights one of the biggest issues in his campaign, and, in completely avoiding the topic, Ruth Conniff's article was truly incomplete. Matt Denney Boise, Idaho The only thing I do not like about Howard Dean is that he is a drug warrior. If he were for legalization LEGALIZATION. The act of making lawful. 2. By legalization, is also understood the act by which a judge or competent officer authenticates a record, or other matter, in order that the same may be lawfully read in evidence. Vide Authentication. , he would probably obtain the Green and Libertarian vote. I am surprised that a doctor does not treat drug addiction as a medical problem. As a doctor myself, I see daily the victims of drug turf wars, dirty needles, and the mass incarceration Confinement in a jail or prison; imprisonment. Police officers and other law enforcement officers are authorized by federal, state, and local lawmakers to arrest and confine persons suspected of crimes. The judicial system is authorized to confine persons convicted of crimes. of poor blacks and Hispanics in expensive taxpayer-funded schools of crime. Since the drug war is being used as a tool for repression of minorities, I cannot in good conscience, nor can many other progressives and libertarians, vote for a drug warrior. At least with Bush, things are going to hell so quickly that people may wake up and revolt. More benign authoritarians, drug warriors all, would leave the drug war victims twisting in the wind. Dr. John Crow via e-mail |
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