Youth Policy Action Center Blog

Dan's Message about Heathcare Reform

Brigette — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:13:00 +0000

"Dear Representative Anthony Adams,

We need less government interference into healthcare, not more, so please hang tough and do not let the socialists take over the state. Six million Californians choose not to buy healthcare insurance - that's called freedom. The governor thinks they are victims, and they will be if they are forced to fund his healthcare scheme. That 4% payroll tax is a sham because you should know it will come entirely out of worker pay, not employer profits. Our governor ran for office touting individual choice; now he wants to double-cross the voters by imposing his own choices on everyone!"

--Dan Fernandes

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Rafael's Message about Homeless Teens

Brigette — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:37:00 +0000

"Dear Rep. Alcee Hastings,

My name is Rafael Ramos and I am a student. As a young teen, I have seen many of my fellows struggle. Yet many youth in our nation are struggling, as many as three million youth runaway or end up in a homeless situation each year. These numbers are shocking to me as I am sure they are shocking to you. As a citizen of this great nation I am shocked every time I turn on the television to find our nation is helping thousands of people every where else on this planet yet they fail to put our own first. Are we a nation that puts our citizens second? Please, I urge you to co-sponsor the Place to Call Home Act, H.R. 3409 which will finally end youth homelessness. Think of the brighter future and how this can be the new foundation for helping all people in homeless situations. Several Members of Congress have already joined H.R. 3409 to show their support for our nation's homeless youth. I hope you will join them as a co-sponsor in order to express that homelessness among our nation's youth is simply unacceptable."

--Rafael Ramos

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Colleen's heartfelt plea to stop the Drug War draft

Brigette — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:24:00 +0000

"Dear Representative John Carter,

As your constituent, I'm writing to urge you to make sure that the penalty that strips financial aid from college students with drug convictions is repealed through the Higher Education Act reauthorization.

I have a child who is a student at Baylor. A drug conviction hurts those students most in need and it is adding insult to injury to take away student aid for a safer choice, cannabis. Drug abuse is a medical problem not a criminal activity. If we allow 18 year olds to join the military and possibly die protecting freedom then they should be free to have a drink in peace, legally.

I taught my children that their bodies are the temples of their souls. However, when my children became young adults I told them the truth about drugs. Including that marijuana or cannabis is a safer health choice in a recreational drug but the collateral damage from arrest can be devastating and life long.

Truth, trust and reason encourage open communications between youth, parents and faculties. Over a thousand people die each day due to tobacco use! Close to 300 a day die from prescribed pharmaceuticals. The tobacco, alcohol and pharmaceuticals gangs deal drugs that kill many more annually than all illicit drugs. We tolerate their salesmen! Alcohol makes domestic violence 8xs more likely; marijuana does not according to a 2003 study. There is a link between pharmaceutical psychotropic drugs and violence including school violence!

Since the Aid Elimination Penalty was added as an amendment to HEA in 1998, more than 200,000 aspiring students have been blocked access to educational assistance, often for relatively minor offenses such as possession of small amounts of marijuana. While the penalty is supposed to keep young people away from drugs, it actually does the opposite by kicking at-risk students out of school. But blocking access to education doesn't just hurt the students directly impacted; it has harmful implications for society as a whole.

College graduates are much more likely to become successful taxpaying citizens, while those who are kicked out of school are more likely to abuse drugs, become costly drains on the criminal justice system, and rely on expensive government assistance programs. Furthermore, since students already have to make good academic progress to receive financial aid, the penalty only affects hardworking students who are doing well in their classes. As for students who are causing problems and disrupting the learning process for others, college administrators already have the authority to expel them, and judges have long had the ability to revoke student aid from people with drug convictions on a case-by-case basis.

Numerous addiction recovery, criminal justice, religious, and other leaders have insisted that education is one of the best means to reduce crime and drug abuse, and Congress's own Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance recommended removing the drug conviction question from the aid application, calling it "irrelevant" to eligibility.

Fortunately, this year's HEA reauthorization process presents a great opportunity to get rid of the harmful and unfair penalty once and for all. Please help tens of thousands of hardworking and determined individuals get back into school and on the path to success by making sure that the HEA bill includes language repealing the aid elimination penalty. Thanks for your attention to this important issue. "

--Colleen McCool Minter

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Peter's Message to Stop the Drug War Draft

Brigette — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:04:00 +0000

"Dear Rep. Lynn Woolsey,

As your constituent, and SSU graduate, I'm appalled to hear that students can be denied financial aid, but continue on to carry weapons and wage war. This sends the opposite message that STAYING in school will help make the world a safer, better, place to live.

Therefore, I'm urging you to make sure that the penalty that strips financial aid from college students with drug convictions is repealed through the Higher Education Act reauthorization. Since the Aid Elimination Penalty was added as an amendment to HEA in 1998, more than 200,000 aspiring students have been blocked access to educational assistance, often for relatively minor offenses such as possession of small amounts of marijuana.

While the penalty is supposed to keep young people away from drugs, it actually does the opposite by kicking at-risk students out of school.

But blocking access to education doesn't just hurt the students directly impacted; it has harmful implications for society as a whole. College graduates are much more likely to become successful taxpaying citizens, while those who are kicked out of school are more likely to abuse drugs, become costly drains on the criminal justice system, and rely on expensive government assistance programs.

Furthermore, since students already have to make good academic progress to receive financial aid, the penalty only affects hardworking students who are doing well in their classes.

As for students who are causing problems and disrupting the learning process for others, college administrators already have the authority to expel them, and judges have long had the ability to revoke student aid from people with drug convictions on a case-by-case basis. The one-size-fits-all penalty strips discretion from decision-makers who know students best.

Numerous addiction recovery, criminal justice, religious, and other leaders have insisted that education is one of the best means to reduce crime and drug abuse, and Congress's own Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance recommended removing the drug conviction question from the aid application, calling it "irrelevant" to eligibility. Even the the Undersecretary of Education recently testified to a House subcommittee that the drug question is "not anything that we need at the department."

Fortunately, this year's HEA reauthorization process presents a great opportunity to get rid of the harmful and unfair penalty once and for all. Please help tens of thousands of hardworking and determined individuals get back into school and on the path to success by making sure that the HEA bill includes language repealing the aid elimination penalty.

Thanks for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as soon as you have a chance to share them."

--Peter van Gorder

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Message to Congress about the Financial Aid Penalty

Brigette — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:31:00 +0000

"Dear Rick Boucher,

As your constituent, I'm writing to urge you to make sure that the penalty that strips financial aid from college students with drug convictions is repealed through the Higher Education Act reauthorization. Since the aid elimination penalty was added as an amendment to HEA in 1998, nearly 200,000 aspiring students have been blocked access to educational assistance, often for relatively minor offenses such as possession of small amounts of marijuana.

While the penalty is supposed to keep young people away from drugs, it actually does the opposite by kicking at-risk students out of school. But blocking access to education doesn't just hurt the students directly impacted it has harmful implications for society as a whole. College graduates are much more likely to become successful taxpaying citizens, while those who are kicked out of school are more likely to abuse drugs, become costly drains on the criminal justice system, and rely on expensive government assistance programs.

Furthermore, since students already have to make good academic progress to receive financial aid, the penalty only affects hardworking students who are doing well in their classes. As for students who are causing problems and disrupting the learning process for others, college administrators already have the authority to expel them, and judges have long had the ability to revoke student aid from people with drug convictions on a case-by-case basis. The one-size-fits-all penalty strips discretion from decision-makers who know students best. Numerous addiction recovery, criminal justice, religious, and other leaders have insisted that education is one of the best means to reduce crime and drug abuse, and Congress's own Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance recommended removing the drug conviction question from the aid application, calling it "irrelevant" to eligibility.

Even the Bush administration doesn't like the penalty; the Undersecretary of Education recently testified to a House subcommittee that the drug question is "not anything that we need at the department." Fortunately, this year's HEA reauthorization process presents a great opportunity to get rid of the harmful and unfair penalty once and for all. Please help tens of thousands of hardworking and determined individuals get back into school and on the path to success by making sure that the HEA bill includes language repealing the aid elimination penalty. Thanks for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as soon as you have a chance to share them."

Tell Congress to help on this issue: http://capwiz.com/mobilize//issues/alert/?alertid=10094061

Tom's Message to Congress About the Drug Czar

Brigette — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:32:00 +0000

"Dear Director John P. Walters,

As a taxpaying American citizen, I'm outraged to learn that under your leadership, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) used my hard-earned dollars to travel across the country campaigning for embattled Republican Congressional candidates in 2006. Your office is charged with addressing the serious issue of substance abuse in a sensible way, but you've instead abused your power for partisan political purposes, wholly neglecting the responsibilities that have been entrusted to you.

That's why the Senate Appropriations Committee moved last year to cut ONDCP's salaries in half, citing your office's "lethargy," "unresponsiveness" to Congressional appropriators, and "unnecessary waste of time and energy." The new evidence of your potentially illegal campaigning is just the latest in a long line of embarrassing and outrageous activities ONDCP has engaged in under your watch:

* You've spent taxpayer money to campaign and lobby against citizen ballot initiatives and state legislation that would reform aspects of the ineffective War on Drugs.

* You've attempted to prevent Congress and the public from gaining access to a scientific evaluation of your "anti-drug" advertising campaign because you didn't like the results showing that the ads actually cause more, not less, teen drug use. Despite these alarming results, you've kept the dangerous ads on the air.

* You've spent millions of dollars a year spraying poisonous chemicals on the jungles and fields of Colombia in a failed effort to eradicate coca crops and prevent cocaine from entering or country. Yet while continuing to publicly advocate this eradication program, you admitted in a private letter to Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) that cocaine prices on America's streets are dropping and its purity is increasing.

* You've actively pushed for the continued federal criminalization of seriously ill Americans suffering from cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis who use medical marijuana with their doctors' recommendations, even where it is legal under state law. In an affront to federalism and states' rights, ONDCP and the Food and Drug Administration released a politicized statement last year criticizing states with medical marijuana laws.

The problems associated with drug abuse and drug prohibition are too important to take a back seat to your ideological agenda and partisan politics. I therefore call on you to immediately resign your position as director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy."

--Tom Angell

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Message to Congress about Youth Anti-Drug Propaganda Ads

Brigette — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:27:00 +0000

"Dear Senator Barbara Boxer,

The federal government has already wasted more than $1.5 billion on the harmful and offensive ad campaign since 1998. Please follow the recommendations of the National Taxpayers Union, the 100-member House Republican Study Committee, and Citizens Against Government Waste and eliminate the ads so that no more taxpayer money is wasted on this expensive boondoggle. Even the White House Office of Management and Budget said the program is "not performing," giving it a score of just 6 percent out of 100 for results and accountability. Nonetheless, the president has requested that another $130 million of taxpayers' money be thrown at the ads next year. Please don't allow this harmful waste to go on any longer.

A few weeks ago the bipartisan committee that audited the books for the War on Drugs budget wanted to know where the money was that was raised. I 'd like to know as well. And having been a drug researcher for a Federal program during the Nixon era, after our $33Million study was done, and shelved (Nix didn't like the conclusion) I know the government lies about the drugs. Horrible mistake. The Freedom of Information act published the study in the Nation a few months ago - 30 years after the fact! The stupid propaganda needs to stop because now even half the medical community believes it. That spells disaster. Tell the TRUTH or shut up."

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Oscar's Message to Congress about Anti-Drug Propaganda Ads

Brigette — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:38:00 +0000

"Dear Representative Tom Feeney,

As your constituent, I'm writing to urge you to eliminate funding for the ineffective, expensive, and harmful National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign when you consider the Financial Services appropriations bill. Government-funded studies have repeatedly shown that these expensive "anti-drug" ads actually cause more - not less - teen drug use! Why would you keep wasting my precious tax dollars on ineffective methods that have been consistently shown not to work... More than $1.5 billion have been already wasted, lets tighten up that hemorrhaging now while we still have the chance.

No more money should be wasted; why not spend the money on something useful like the public school systems that are educating our future generations. Even better, let's pump that money into the health care system so that or older generations don't have to choose between paying for their medicine or eating. Look, when the even the White House's own Office of Management and budget says that this program is "not performing," you know that there is a problem. This program only received a score of 6/100 %; that is crazy in any real business, any investment with only a 6% success rate would be cut out like a cancer.

Nonetheless, the president has requested that another $130 million of taxpayers' money be thrown at the ads next year. Please don't allow this harmful waste to go on any longer. I am really looking forward to hearing your thoughts on whether or not the government should keep spending taxpayers' money on a program that gets failing evaluations year after year. I would also love to hear why you keep wasting money on a "war" with no end instead of spending that money on our public school system and help out people like my mother, a public school kindergarten teacher, working to further our country's youth education."

--Oscar Ramirez

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Becky's Message to Congress about Anti-Drug Propaganda Ads

Brigette — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 15:00:00 +0000

"Dear Senator Ron Wyden,

Please help stop the ridiculous lies that the government is paying to broadcast to our people about marijuana use. In stead of trying to convince the population that marijuana use will cause insanity and illegal behavior, it would be much more helpful to point out that it is less harmful than the way that many Americans use alcohol, but that responsible users should watch what they eat when using marijuana. Convincing teenagers that marijuana has a stronger psychotropic effect than euphoric laziness and increased appetite is simply going to make them want to try it more. I know I did. I understand that it's too early to convince our lawmakers to legalize this substance since most of the supporters are still too young to be a majority of the voters, but please help stop the spreading of lies about it. I hope that one day an average wild college party can consist of marijuana, Doritos, and video games, rather than a bottle of booze, a brawl, and the rape of a passed-out-drunk girl. Please help us make the first steps toward this future.

As your constituent, I'm writing to urge you to eliminate funding for the ineffective, expensive, and harmful National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign when you consider the Financial Services appropriations bill. Government-funded studies have repeatedly shown that these expensive "anti-drug" ads actually cause more - not less - teen drug use! It's no surprise that teens react negatively to the ads, which ridiculously claim that using marijuana causes people to shoot their friends in the face, get their fist stuck in their mouth, get pregnant, and even support terrorism. The federal government has already wasted more than $1.5 billion on the harmful and offensive ad campaign since 1998. Please follow the recommendations of the National Taxpayers Union, the 100-member House Republican Study Committee, and Citizens Against Government Waste and eliminate the ads so that no more taxpayer money is wasted on this expensive boondoggle.

Even the White House Office of Management and Budget said the program is "not performing," giving it a score of just 6 percent out of 100 for results and accountability. Nonetheless, the president has requested that another $130 million of taxpayers' money be thrown at the ads next year. Please don't allow this harmful waste to go on any longer. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on whether or not the government should keep spending taxpayers' money on a program that gets failing evaluations year after year."

--Becky Gray

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Kara's Message to Congress about the IMPACT Act

Brigette — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:42:00 +0000

Dear Representative Marshall,

Our nation is on of the most, if not the most, developed country in the world. Yet, we have the highest obesity rate? We have the resources. Eating disorders are also becoming a far too common problem. Why is that? People can get food. No one has to starve. America also has the highest depression rate of any other country, I believe. People can get therapy and medicine if they need it. Why can't we keep our citizens healthy?

It could have something to do with schools and after school programs not having enough P.E. and resces time. That the surgeon general recommends forty-five minutes of excersise a day, and most children don't get that in a week. If could be that fast food is far too accessable and a lot easier than cooking healthy meals. It could be that celebrities feel pressure to be stick thin, and today's youth feels pressure to look like celebrities. All of those things combine to lead to depression and other mental disorders. This great country of ours needs to take steps to promote health in youth.

We need to show the youth how to eat properly and get the recommended physical activity in a way that children and teens will want to do. We need to promote a healthy body image and higher self-esteem. The IMPACT Act would establish grants encouraging these groups to collectively develop solutions and would also provide much needed training for health professionals. I urge you to co-sponsor the IMPACT Act, HR 2677. With your leadership and vision, we can make sure that our youth lead healthy, fulfilling lives. The youth of today are the movers and shakers of tomorrow. They should be healthy, don't you think?

--Kara Thomas

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Kara's Message to Congress about Abstinence-Only Programs

Brigette — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:33:00 +0000

Dear Representative Marshall,

Our society is one of information; the TV and internet being the two most popular sources of that information. With children and teens, their friends also play a large role in where they get information. What they learn from TV, the internet, and their friends is often, understandably skewed or just completely wrong. Schools are supposed to then be a place where kids can get balanced and accurate information. What happens when its not? On the topic of sex education most schools don't offer balanced, accurate, and complete information because teachers are told to teach abstinence-only-until-marriage as a sex EDUCATION course. Abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education teaches that abstinence is the only way to prevent pregnancy and STDs. Courses like this are prohibited from supporting the use of contraceptives. The teachers either don't mention contraceptives or simply focus on their (often exaggerated) failure rates. The most common way that these programs try to convince teens not to have sex until marriage is by using fear, shame, and religious beliefs to tell these kids that sex outside of marriage is wrong.

Also these classes regularly fail to address commonly held myths; such as you can't get pregnant if you have sex standing up. You would think that any person with common sense would know that you can get pregnant no matter what position, but these children don't and we're not teaching them any differently. As of 2003 over 80% of the abstinence-only curricula contained false, misleading, or distorted information. Four in ten sex ed teachers either don't teach about contraceptives, including condoms, or teach that they are ineffective in preventing pregnancy or STDs, as complying with the guidelines set forth for an abstinence-only program. Numerous studies have shown that abstinence-only courses have little impact on the attitudes teens have about sex or what age they begin having sex.

Actually, its been shown that abstinence-only courses have a negative impact on a teen's willingness to use contraceptives, such as condoms, to prevent pregnancy or STDs because these teens have been taught that they don't work. Sex education that includes information about abstinence and contraception does not send a mixed message, but those students are more likely to delay sex and use protection when they do begin having sex than those students who receive abstinence-only courses.

Four in ten girls get pregnant at least once before age twenty. One out of every four, about three million, sexually active teen gets infected with an STD every year. Half of the forty thousand new HIV infections each year are to people under the age of twenty-five. On average, two young people get HIV every hour of every day. By their late teens at least ¾ of teens have had sex, and more than 2/3 of those have had two or more partners. About 40% of males don't receive any education about birth control or STDs before they begin having sex. Almost 50% of 7th-12th grade students want more facts about birth control, STDs, pressure to have sex, how to talk to a partner about protection, and what to do in the event of sexual assault. Our children want the information. Isn't it our job, as an informed society, to educate these kids? I think it is.

Over $170 million are spent on these abstinence-only courses each year; almost $1 billion to date, with little to show for it. American teens still get pregnant more than teens in any other developed country. Teens still account for almost half of the about 19 million new cases of STDs each year. What we're doing isn't working. If we want to protect our teens and future generations than we've got to change something. Sex is a sensitive subject in our society. People's reluctant ness and even unwillingness to discuss this sensitive, complicated, and often just plain awkward subject is completely understandable. Our children and teens need to know the facts, though. We should be able to put aside our embarrassment and pride and accept the fact that most teens are going to have sex and it's our job to prepare them for the risks. We need to stop funding programs that do more harm then good and start funding programs that promote safety and knowledge. As a teen, I'm asking you to think about me and my safety. I believe I deserve that.

--Kara Thomas

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David's Message about Youth Anti-Drug Propaganda

Brigette — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 08:37:00 +0000

Dear Senator Dianne Feinstein,

As your constituent, I'm writing to urge you to eliminate funding for the ineffective, expensive, and harmful National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign when you consider the Financial Services appropriations bill. Government-funded studies have repeatedly shown that these expensive "anti-drug" ads actually cause more - not less - teen drug use! It's no surprise that teens react negatively to the ads, which ridiculously claim that using marijuana causes people to shoot their friends in the face, get their fist stuck in their mouth, get pregnant, and even support terrorism. The federal government has already wasted more than $1.5 billion on the harmful and offensive ad campaign since 1998. Please follow the recommendations of the National Taxpayers Union, the 100-member House Republican Study Committee, and Citizens Against Government Waste and eliminate the ads so that no more taxpayer money is wasted on this expensive boondoggle. Even the White House Office of Management and Budget said the program is "not performing," giving it a score of just 6 percent out of 100 for results and accountability. Nonetheless, the president has requested that another $130 million of taxpayers' money be thrown at the ads next year. Please don't allow this harmful waste to go on any longer.

A few weeks ago the bipartisan committee that audited the books for the War on Drugs budget wanted to know where the money was that was raised. I 'd like to know as well. And having been a drug researcher for a Federal program during the Nixon era, after our $33 million study was done, and shelved (Nixon didn't like the conclusion) I know the government lies about the drugs. Horrible mistake. The Freedom of Information Act published the study in the Nation a few months ago - 30 years after the fact! The stupid propaganda needs to stop because now even half the medical community believes it. That spells disaster. Tell the TRUTH or shut up. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on whether or not the government should keep spending taxpayers' money on a program that gets failing evaluations year after year.

--David Bergman

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Jessica's Message to Congress about the Youth Coordination Act

Brigette — Thu, 31 May 2007 12:44:00 +0000

"Dear Senator Carl Levin,

I am the Co-Executive Director of the Detroit chapter of StandUp for Kids, a non-profit all volunteer organization whose mission is to help homeless and street youth. I am writing to urge you to support a $1 million appropriation for the Federal Youth Coordination Act. The Federal Youth Coordination Act creates the Federal Youth Development Council, and requires only a modest $1 million appropriation to implement one of the only pieces of legislation ever passed that will potentially impact millions of youth in the United States. I feel that this is such a necessary appropriation especially when speaking on behalf of homeless youth in our country. According to National Runaway Switchboard, there are over 1.3 million homeless youth living in the US. Homeless youth, without intervention from trusted adults who provide guideance/mentoring programs and services, are at high risk for turning to often illegal means of survival, such as drugs or prostitution.

Youth, particularly at-risk youth and their families, need effective, coordinated, and meaningful services. Youth policies and programs are found in almost every federal department, often working with little coordination or collaboration with others. It is important for you to understand that support services, as well as homelessness education and deterrent programs such that StandUp for Kids provices are highly effective when we reach at risk youth who are struggling in Detroit. The Federal Youth Development Council would bring together those Department and Agency members along with members from the private and youth-serving non-profit sectors, and youth themselves, to increase communication among federal agencies; develop a comprehensive plan to more strategically implement federal youth policy; recommend objectives and goals for federal youth programs; facilitate collaboration on interagency demonstration projects; and provide technical assistance to state-funded youth coordinating councils. Help us finish the job left by the 109th Congress -- please provide $1 million for the Federal Youth Coordination Act!"

--Jessica Newman

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Diane's Message to Congress about the Youth Coordination Act

Brigette — Thu, 31 May 2007 09:41:00 +0000

"Dear Senator Richard Durbin,

I am the Founder/President of Kids Off The Block (KOB) in the Roseland Community. I founded KOB to give youth positive alternatives to the streets. I was tired of seeing our young people killed because of violence, dropping out of school at alarming rates, and not having the resources to persue their dreams. Since the closing of our local YMCA, quality youth programs are either out of the area or parents cannot afford the services. Our programs need this bill passed because youth, particularly at-risk youth and their families, need effective, coordinated, and meaningful services. Youth policies and programs are found in almost every federal department, often working with little coordination or collaboration with others.

I am writing to ask you to support a $1 million appropriation for the Federal Youth Coordination Act. The Federal Youth Coordination Act creates the Federal Youth Development Council, and requires only a modest $1 million appropriation to implement one of the only pieces of legislation ever passed that will potentially impact millions of youth in the United States. The Federal Youth Development Council would bring together those Department and Agency members along with members from the private and youth-serving non-profit sectors, and youth themselves, to increase communication among federal agencies; develop a comprehensive plan to more strategically implement federal youth policy; recommend objectives and goals for federal youth programs; facilitate collaboration on interagency demonstration projects; and provide technical assistance to state-funded youth coordinating councils. Help us finish the job left by the 109th Congress -- please provide $1 million for the Federal Youth Coordination Act!"

--Diane Latiker

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Karen's Message to Congress about the Drug War Roadblock

Brigette — Fri, 25 May 2007 11:10:00 +0000

Dear Senators Mike Crapo and Larry Craig,

"As your constituent, I'm writing to urge you to make sure that the penalty that strips financial aid from college students with drug convictions is passed Students have to learn that breaking the law is a crime, regardless of whether or not they like the law or not. If they don't want to have their student aid taken away, they they should not commit a crime. Students have to learn that student aid is not an entitlement or a right, but that rather it is a priviledge that can be revoked when they break a crime. As a law-abinding taxpayer I do not want to fund school for someone who claims not to have enough money for tuition but has enough money to buy a joint. As for students who are causing problems and disrupting the learning process for others, college administrators already have the authority to expel them, and judges have long had the ability to revoke student aid from people with drug convictions on a case-by-case basis. This is appropriate and should be done more.

Numerous addiction recovery, criminal justice, religious, and other leaders have insisted that education is one of the best means to reduce crime and drug abuse. If easy access to studnet aid and thereby education comes with the responsibility of being law-abiding perhaps it will be more highly valued. Please help tens of thousands of hardworking and determined individuals get back into school and on the path to success by making sure that this clause is enforced and limited funds are spent on them and not on stoners. Thanks for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as soon as you have a chance to share them."

--Karen Miller

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Cougar's Message to Congress about Anti-Drug Propaganda

Brigette — Fri, 25 May 2007 10:48:00 +0000

Dear Representative Nancy Pelosi,

"I have a personal reason for opposing the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. I am a medical marijuana user with multiple sclerosis. I have been researching the use of medical marijuana for multiple sclerosis, and several years ago, I had a list of over sixty scientific journal articles that discuss the use of marijuana to protect the nerves of a multiple sclerosis patient from damage. This is scientific fact. For years, I used marijuana before my diagnosis. Then, I went through a period of not using marijuana, and I promptly developed multiple sclerosis. I now believe that I intuitively knew that I was protecting myself, and that when I was finally convinced to quit pot, I did myself irreparable damage. Before I had MS, my use of pot was prophylactic, but I didn't know it. I only know now, because I quit pot and developed MS, and furthermore, I've done the research to evaluate this belief.

The scientific research I've found supports my belief. The ads that the government is running are doing irreparable damage to future MS patients by causing them to give up the one thing that is keeping them healthy. The anti-drug ads are therefore evil. They are doing more harm than any amount of benefit could counterbalance. Telling kids to give up pot is as harmful as trying to sell tobacco to them, because a percentage of them will develop MS because of quitting pot--just like I did. The damage done to the group of people who give up pot is greater than the damage done by promoting tobacco. MS is a horrible disease, and promoting a policy that causes MS to become more widespread is wrong. End the evil. End the evil campaign of misinformation. In the end, this ad campaign will only create a generation of cynics who understand that the government tells lies for political purposes. The government cannot lie to the people without losing its credibility."

--Cougar Brenneman

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Jonathan's Message to Congress About Anti-Drug Advertisements

Brigette — Wed, 23 May 2007 12:40:00 +0000

Dear Senator George Voinovich,

As my representative I request that you take the stance of science and not politics. Anti-drug ads produced by our government are not effective and as I am sure you have heard actually increase drug use. This is a waste of millions of dollars and really needs to stop. Also having cannibus scheduled as a #1 illlegal narcotic is also an old policy based on racism and favors our harmful multinational corporations. Please reconsider these things when you have time. Democracy does not work when our government favors corporations (who have $) as opposed to your citizens who comprise this nation. Make decisions based on science and not politics. Be a leader and start making the correct changes before the entire world collapses under American hegemony. The government lost the support of a majority of the world a while ago, don't lose the rest of the citizens who still care.

--Jonathan Cachat

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Rosalie's Message about the Virginia Tech Shootings

Beatrice — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 11:44:00 +0000

"Dear KARE (NBC-11) , KSTP (ABC-5), KMSP (FOX 9), KSTP 1500 AM, KFAI 90.3 FM/106.7 FM,

As the hours passed and the news media repeatedly said "The worst campus shooting in history" I knew in my gut that it would be only a matter of days before someone else would try to stake THEIR claim as the "worst campus shooter." And just as I expected, in the coming days bomb threats, shooting threats, gun smugglings, etc. happened on campuses across country from Seattle WA to the suburban metro-area schools near Minneapolis. And of course, a few days later we had the shooting at NASA in Texas.

We must demand that our media limit themselves when it comes to news coverage of these horrible events. These disturbed people are seeking attention ... even if it must be posthumous notariety, such as Cho gave to the Columbine murderers. Once the basic news is reported, stop! NO ONE needs to know how frightened the students were, or how horrified their families were when they saw the news media on the VA Tech campus. Glorifying violence, even under the guise of providing the people with the facts, causes further violence. Enough is enough!"

-- Rosalie Sundin

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Margaret's Message about the Virginia Tech Shootings

Beatrice — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:59:00 +0000

"Dear [recipient name was inserted here],

It was a very sad day for our society - not only for the victims and their families, but for the shooter who was a victim of bullying, neglect by family members, and society. Had the bullying been stopped in grade school and he had been treated as a useful, important member of society like others were this problem most likely would not have escalated to the point of revenge. This young man had to feel extremely dejected and alone. His pain turned to revenge. How very sad that those around him could not love him enough to help him when this began. Had he been put
in a program like Victory Ranch for Children the outcome would most likely have been a much happier one. They don't use drugs - they use love to help overcome the hurt that destroys self confidence and esteem. I would hope the media and our local, state, and federal governments officials would focus on how to aid young people in receiving help before it is too late."

-- Margaret Paddock

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Donna's Message about the Virginia Tech Shootings

Beatrice — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:33:00 +0000

"I feel saddened for the victims and their families. I also feel sad for Cho. I can only wonder how alienated this young man might have felt coming to the US at the age of 8. Was he teased by schoolmates through elementary through high school? or simply alienated? I feel this case makes it clear that troubled children need to get counseling and psycological help in elementary, high school and from college counseling centers. I believe this case also makes it clear why gun registration, background checks and at least a short waiting period for gun purchases might be a prudent measure."

-- Donna Bonetti

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Brandi's Message about the Drug War on Education

Beatrice — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:16:00 +0000

“Dear Senators Martinez and Nelson,

My name is Brandi Stanley, and I'm currently a student at the Osceola County School for the Arts. I am a vocal major that takes pride in my hard work and dedication to my education. I am looking forward to attending college next year, but, I'm not so sure if I'm going to be able to afford it financially. There is a penalty that strips financial aid from college students with drug convictions, and unless it is repealed through the Higher Education Act reauthorization. I will admit I did make a mistake, and I was arrested with a less than five grams of pot, which will stay on my record for the rest of my life. One mistake, only one, can have the ability to take the rest of my future away. I am not a bad person, and I am an A student, just like 200,000 other aspiring students who were blocked access to aid, most often for relatively minor offenses such as possession of a small amount of marijuana, like myself, since the aid elimination penalty was added as an amendment to HEA in 1998.

While this penalty is supposed to keep young people away from drugs, it actually does the opposite by kicking at-risk students out of school.

But blocking access to education doesn't just hurt students such as myself, but it has harmful implications for society as a whole. College graduates are much more likely to become successful taxpaying citizens, while those who are kicked out of school are more likely to abuse drugs, become costly drains on the criminal justice system, and rely on expensive government assistance programs.

There are already minimum GPA requirements to recieve financial aid, so in essence, the penalty is only affecting hardworking students who are doing well in their classes.

As for students who are causing problems and disrupting the learning process for others, college administrators already have the authority to expel them, and judges have long had the ability to revoke student aid from people with drug convictions on a case-by-case basis. The one-size-fits-all penalty strips discretion from decision-makers who know students best.

Numerous addiction recovery, criminal justice, religious, and other leaders have insisted that education is one of the best means to reduce crime and drug abuse, and Congress's own Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance recommended removing the drug conviction question from the aid application, calling it "irrelevant" to eligibility. Even the Bush administration doesn't like the penalty; the Undersecretary of Education recently testified to a House subcommittee that the drug question is "not anything that we need at the department."

Fortunately, this year's HEA reauthorization process presents a great opportunity to get rid of the harmful and unfair penalty once and for all. Please help tens of thousands of hardworking and determined individuals like myself stay in school andon the path to success by making sure that the HEA bill includes language repealing the aid elimination penalty.

Thank you so much for you attention on this detrimental issue. You are the only ones that can help me save my education that I hold so dear. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as soon as you have a chance to share them.”

-- Brandi Stanley

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Carrie's Message about the Drug War on Education

Beatrice — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:09:00 +0000

"Dear Senator Brownback,

As your constituent, I'm writing to urge you to make sure that the penalty that strips financial aid from college students with drug convictions is repealed through the Higher Education Act reauthorization. Since the aid elimination penalty was added as an amendment to HEA in 1998, nearly 200,000 aspiring students have been blocked access to aid, often for relatively minor offenses such as possession of small amounts of marijuana.

While the penalty is supposed to keep young people away from drugs, it actually does the opposite by kicking at-risk students out of school.

But blocking access to education doesn't just hurt the students directly impacted; it has harmful implications for society as a whole. College graduates are much more likely to become successful taxpaying citizens, while those who are kicked out of school are more likely to abuse drugs, become costly drains on the criminal justice system, and rely on expensive government assistance programs.

Furthermore, since there are already minimum GPA requirements to receive financial aid, the penalty only affects hardworking students who are doing well in their classes.

As for students who are causing problems and disrupting the learning process for others, college administrators already have the authority to expel them, and judges have long had the ability to revoke student aid from people with drug convictions on a case-by-case basis. The one-size-fits-all penalty strips discretion from decision-makers who know students best.

Numerous addiction recovery, criminal justice, religious, and other leaders have insisted that education is one of the best means to reduce crime and drug abuse, and Congress's own Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance recommended removing the drug conviction question from the aid application, calling it "irrelevant" to eligibility. Even the Bush administration doesn’t like the penalty; the Undersecretary of Education recently testified to a House subcommittee that the drug question is “not anything that we need at the department.”

Fortunately, this year’s HEA reauthorization process presents a great opportunity to get rid of the harmful and unfair penalty once and for all. Please help tens of thousands of hardworking and determined individuals get back into school and on the path to success by making sure that the HEA bill includes language repealing the aid elimination penalty.

Thanks for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as soon as you have a chance to share them."

-- Carrie Wallace

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Michael's Message about the Drug War on Education

Beatrice — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 10:44:00 +0000

"As your constituent, I'm writing to ask you to take action on an important issue that will be in front of the HELP Committee very soon.

Since 1998, nearly 200,000 aspiring college students have been stripped of their financial aid because they have drug convictions, usually for relatively minor offenses such as possession of small amounts of marijuana. I respectfully urge you to make sure that this aid elimination penalty, which was added to the Higher Education Act in 1998, is repealed through this year's HEA reauthorization.

While the penalty is supposed to keep young people away from drugs, it actually does the opposite by kicking at-risk students out of school.

But blocking access to education doesn't just hurt the students directly impacted; it has harmful implications for society as a whole. College graduates are much more likely to become successful taxpaying citizens, while those who are kicked out of school are more likely to abuse drugs, become costly drains on the criminal justice system, and rely on expensive government assistance programs.

Furthermore, since there are already minimum GPA requirements to receive financial aid, the penalty only affects hardworking students who are doing well in their classes.

As for students who are causing problems and disrupting the learning process for others, college administrators already have the authority to expel them, and judges have long had the ability to revoke student aid from people with drug convictions on a case-by-case basis. The one-size-fits-all penalty strips discretion from decision-makers who know students best.

Numerous addiction recovery, criminal justice, religious, and other leaders have insisted that education is one of the best means to reduce crime and drug abuse, and Congress's own Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance recommended removing the drug conviction question from the aid application, calling it "irrelevant" to eligibility. Even the Bush administration doesn’t like the penalty; the Undersecretary of Education recently testified to a House subcommittee that the drug question is “not anything that we need at the department.”

Fortunately, this year’s HEA reauthorization process presents a great opportunity to get rid of the harmful and unfair penalty once and for all. As a member of the HELP Committee, please help tens of thousands of hardworking and determined individuals get back into school and on the path to success by making sure that the HEA bill includes language repealing the aid elimination penalty.

Thanks for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as soon as you have a chance to share them."

-- Michael Lakota

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Daniel's Message about the Drug War on Education

Beatrice — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:34:00 +0000

"As your constituent, I'm writing to urge you to make sure that the penalty that strips financial aid from college students with drug convictions is repealed through the Higher Education Act reauthorization. Since the aid elimination penalty was added as an amendment to HEA in 1998, nearly 200,000 aspiring students have been blocked access to aid, often for relatively minor offenses such as possession of small amounts of marijuana.

On a personal note, I am one of those students who have prior marijuana possession charges. Sorry I am not perfect. My charges occrred in 2003 prior to my enrollment in college and the court sentenced me to a rehab/drug education program. My drug charge did not affect my eligibility because I had completed the drug education program. I can not imagine where I would be now if I did not have the opportunity to go to college. I have completed internships in former congressman Rob Simmons district office, Gov. Rell's constituent services ofice, and an internship in the General Assembly in 2005 under Rep. Adinolfi. I believe that I am a perfect example of what a person is able to accompish once given a second chance.

But blocking access to education doesn't just hurt the students directly impacted - it has harmful implications for society as a whole. College graduates are much more likely to become successful taxpaying citizens, while those who are kicked out of school are more likely to abuse drugs, become costly drains on the criminal justice system, and rely on expensive government assistance programs.

As for students who are causing problems and disrupting the learning process for others, college administrators already have the authority to expel them, and judges have long had the ability to revoke student aid from people with drug convictions on a case-by-case basis. The one-size-fits-all penalty strips discretion from decision-makers who know students best.

Numerous addiction recovery, criminal justice, religious, and other leaders have insisted that education is one of the best means to reduce crime and drug abuse, and Congress's own Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance recommended removing the drug conviction question from the aid application, calling it "irrelevant" to eligibility. Even the Bush administration doesn't like the penalty; the Undersecretary of Education recently testified to a House subcommittee that the drug question is "not anything that we need at the department."

Fortunately, this year's HEA reauthorization process presents a great opportunity to get rid of the harmful and unfair penalty once and for all. Please help tens of thousands of hardworking and determined individuals get back into school and on the path to success by making sure that the HEA bill includes language repealing the aid elimination penalty.

Thanks for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to hearing your thoughts as soon as you have a chance to share them."

--Daniel Cornelius

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David's Message about the Drug War on Education

Beatrice — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:17:00 +0000

"Dear Senator Barbara Boxer,

As your constituent, as a pagan, as a cannabis patient, as a college student receiveing financial aid, I'm writing to urge you to make sure that the penalty that strips financial aid from college students with drug convictions is repealed through the Higher Education Act reauthorization. Since the aid elimination penalty was added as an amendment to HEA in 1998, nearly 200,000 aspiring students have been blocked access to aid, often for relatively minor offenses such as possession of small amounts of healing Cannabis.

Remember, I am one of those people who believe that drug criminalization harms society. I come bearing facts and figures in my community, so I won't bore you with them. I will, however, tell you that cannabis itself is such a waste to smoke it, or even use it as a medicine.

When it is a alternative fuel, textile and chemical product that is the non-toxic alternative to Petroleum. Why even Henry Ford knew that, the first cars that ran off the first assembly line ran off "HEMP-O-LINE." In fact at least I beleive that cancer could go back to the lows before the 1980's if this free electron giving compound were expelled instead of the cancer causing petroleum.

While the penalty is supposed to keep young people away from drugs, it actually does the opposite by kicking at-risk students out of school. As the statistics have proven time and time again that people are more likely to be successful, commit less crimes and increase the tax base and be free of more criminalizing and deadly drugs.

Again College graduates are much more likely to become successful taxpaying citizens, while those who are kicked out of school are more likely to abuse drugs, become costly drains on the criminal justice system, and rely on expensive government assistance programs.

Furthermore, since there are already minimum GPA requirements to receive financial aid, the penalty only affects hardworking students who are doing well in their classes.

"Only affects hardworking students doing well in their classes."

That would be me, if I am caught. As I have a B average. I am a homeless student trying to pull myself out of the gutter, I think I deserve better. Don't you?

As for students who are causing problems and disrupting the learning process for others, college administrators already have the authority to expel them, and judges have long had the ability to revoke student aid from people with drug convictions on a case-by-case basis. The
one-size-fits-all penalty strips discretion from decision-makers who know students best.

Numerous addiction recovery, criminal justice, religious, and other leaders have insisted that education is one of the best means to reduce crime and drug abuse, and Congress's own Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance recommended removing the drug conviction question from the aid application, calling it "irrelevant" to eligibility. Even the Bush administration doesn't like the penalty; the Undersecretary of Education recently testified to a House subcommittee that the drug question is "not anything that we need at the department."

Fortunately, this year's HEA reauthorization process presents a great opportunity to get rid of the harmful and unfair penalty once and for all. Please help tens of thousands of hardworking and determined individuals get back into school and on the path to success by making sure that the HEA bill includes language repealing the aid elimination penalty.

So when you think of this bill, think of me. Your friend, constituent, and longtime freelance lobbier and envisioner of the California Student Supportive Housing Cooperative."

-- Rev. David Meyers

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