Should marijuana be legalized?

Proponents ( including former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders ) for legalization argue that it is no more dangerous than alcohol (and indeed, probably less), that keeping it illegal fuels violent drug cartels, and that regulating and taxing its sales would bring in much needed revenue for local governments.

Opponents argue it is a dangerous, mind-altering substance that may act as a "gateway drug" to harder ones (such as cocaine), and that legitimizing its use would only... READ MORE

"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers." - William Shakespeare, Henry VI , Act IV, Scene II.

Lawyers are easy to hate. Defence lawyers in particular. Often stereotyped as misconstruing the truth in order to get their clients off on a technicality or loophole, they have a tough job.

But in reality they play a crucial role in the justice system. A constitutional democracy is founded upon several principles, but one of the most profound is that everyone is presumed innocent until proven... READ MORE

In India books on Hitler and the Third Reich are on the rise for all the wrong reasons. Many youth are falling for revisionist rather than accurate history. "I have idolised Hitler ever since I have had a sense of history. I admire his leadership qualities and his discipline," says one young Indian male; "The killing of Jews was not good, but everybody has a positive and negative side," says another. But the most disturbing: " [Hitler] mesmerised the whole nation with his leadership and iron discipline... READ MORE

At what point does a political party descend from mere tragic extremism into dangerous farce?

For the Texas GOP, it appears that point was reached this week, when the party released its official election platform.

Candidates for the party must now defend plans to reintroduce laws banning sodomy - defined as oral or anal sex. The platform also insists on legislation to make gay marriage a felony.

Nevermind that in 2003, the United States Supreme Court struck down a similar anti-sodomy law in the case... READ MORE

Only in Washington, D.C. could a law designed to increase voter awareness and access to information actually be labeled an affront to democracy.

And yet that is the ridiculously asinine spectacle currently unfolding in Congress.

But don't get too eager about taking sides - for while this story involves a toxic cocktail of selfishness and greed, it is a bi-partisan one.

Full disclosure: back in January, the US Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission that corporate... READ MORE

Nativism creeps up in US politics every generation in one form or another. Ironically, for a country built by immigrants, fears of large numbers of foreigners entering the country remain as palpable as ever.

But in Arizona, things have just taken an unprecedented turn for the worse.

There is no denying illegal immigration continues to occur in the United States in record numbers. Primarily the result of people crossing the border with Mexico, it is estimated that there were at least 11 million illegal... READ MORE

Perez Hilton thrives off the mistakes and misery of others. On his blog , he routinely mocks, slanders, and savagely trashes those whom he believes deserve it.

He is both acerbic and cruel. Whether accurate or not, whether fair or not, his commentary is almost always memorable.

He shows no mercy.

And he deserves none.

On Sunday June 13th, the self-declared "Queen of all Media" posted a link to an "upskirt" picture of Disney super-star Miley Cyrus sans underwear. Miley Cyrus is only 17 years old. The... READ MORE

I am not afraid to accept a theory or concept by relying primarily on the scientific consensus. I make this statement because a recent article by Ottawa Citizen journalist Dan Gardner outlined perfectly why I believe in climate change: too many scientists accept it; there's too much evidence. For me it's enough that 80-90 percent of the climatologists accept anthropogenic global warming (AGW) to believe that it's very likely real. I read a lot of scientific journals , magazines , articles and websites... READ MORE

To many, he is simply the personification of absurdity.

For years, Prince Charles has been a pathetic embarrassment to the English monarchy. In stark contrast to his stately mother, whom most greatly admire, "Chuckles" has been a relentless joke.

Let us not forget that the wise Prince took advice for years from noted fraudster Sir Laurens van der Post , even accepting his suggestion that talking to his plants would help them grow.

He recently declared war on the Enlightenment - you know, the idea... READ MORE

Today, 16 Afghan girls are recuperating in a hospital after they were poisoned and lost consciousness at their school.

This atrocity comes on the heels of similar incidents in April. 88 schoolgirls and teachers were poisoned in three separate incidents during that month as well.

The Taliban is the primary suspect for all these offences.

As the doctor treating the girls in one of the April incidents stated , these were "terrorist activities against education in the country."

To call these events... READ MORE