It's been a fact that our justice system isn't fair. 

Federal mandated sentences (5 years) for having crack cocaine hit at much lower levels (5 grams) than powder cocaine (500 grams).

It seems, to the disinterested observer, that a particular class of users are being targeted.  I don't know that for a fact, but it sure looks that way.

Essentially, crack cocaine is a black man's drug.  Powder cocaine is the white man's drug.

Our justice system absolutely has to be color-blind and mete out justice in a fair and balanced way.  There is a bill before Congress now to lessen the disparity - though it falls far short of making the two crimes equal.

I don't have much sympathy for anyone who takes cocaine.  They broke the law and put others at risk by their own bad choice.  But the onus is on each of us to ensure that everyone in society is treated equally.  That's the only way we have a clear, moral voice in the world.

sharptalk

...since the latest allied offensive to crack down on the surging violence there. Still, there are surely 6,000 more ready to take their place.

Anyone who says there is an easy answer to all of this is just wrong.  

Clinton was wrong to ignore the threats and that led to multiple terror attacks unanswered during his administration and, ultimately, September 11th.

Bush has not been successful in changing hearts and minds - which was one of his stated goals.  My liberal friends would argue that it's no suprise that you can't bomb people into liking you.

The reality seems to be that the terror threat is a problem with only very ugly and tenuous solutions, at best. 

If only the leaders of Islam would be as critical of those who kill innocents in the name of Islam as those who disagree with American policy are. 

That is enough for me to realize the world cannot allow Islam to gain significant political traction.  They are bent on domination and annihilation with no counterbalance.  At least we have elections every four years and can change directions when we're wrong.

sharptalk

Ok, it's time we parked the cars. Seriously.

We've got to start car-poooling and holding net-meetings. Before it kills our economy, we've got to do something about it.

This is where I wish Bush would lead. He could simply suggest that businesses move towards tele-commuting one day a week and show how much oil that would conserve. It wouldn't mean Americans give up anything, simply that they change behavior slightly.

He could suggest that Americans make their travel plans closer to home instead of long trips. There are plenty of good travel destinations in our own backyards.

He could suggest that we organize "lunch" trips at work. That we organize errands into fewer trips. That we consider more fuel-efficient cars for our next purchase.

He doesn't have to give a "malaise" speech like Carter did where he essentially said our best years were behind us. He just needs to focus attention on it and let the American people take it from there. But this is getting ridiculous.

And it's funding the terrorists who kill innocent people across the globe every day.

And we have the power to stop it.

sharptalk

If the price of oil fell from $75 to $35 a barrel, would that limit the ability of Iran to seed all these conflicts?

What if we just parked the cars and had virtual meetings through the internet? The technology is there. It just requires a high-speed connection at your house.

Could it be that simple to stop the funding of much of the world's terrorism?

sharptalk

Have Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran and Syria set a trap for Israel in Southern Lebanon? Spread them outvia Hamas attention - tie up the U.S. and Britain in Iraq - get Israel to bring ground troops into Southern Lebanon.

I wonder.

sharptalk