Ricky Williams rejects NFL's offer of reinstatement

Well, I for one wish him well and hope he solves whatever problems he has.

Not that smoking pot is a problem - the moral outrage over that is a bit over-the-top. I guess no one calling him a "pot-head" drinks alchohol or smokes cigarettes, right? :wink:

What I mean are the problems he has been documented as having with anxiety disorder. Rather than joke about someone with mental problems, I prefer to hope that they get whatever help they need.

 

Pot smoking was a big problem up here in Dallas this week. A guy who was high on marijauna caused an accident on I-35 Wednesday afternoon. A young single mother was left dead, leaving her 18-month-old daughter (who was also in the car) an orphan.

If it's illegal, it's a problem.

 

Well....not wanting to start a political debate here, and I don't condone anyone driving under the influence of any substance, but....

If I sit at home and if I choose to smoke pot, it is illegal, but to whom is it a problem?

If Ricky Williams wants to toke it up and watch all the millions of dollars he could have made literally go up in smoke, by all means, if he isn't hurting anyone, it's 4:20, dude! Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

 

I'm still waiting for him to "come out". He may have kids by a woman, but I think he has other issues that he's in denial about(not that there's anything wrong with that). JMO.

Marc

 

I agree with Sphincter Boy. If there is no victim, there should be and there is in fact (IMO), no crime. The crime in Dallas was not (or, should not have been) the smoking of the pot, but, rather, the driving of a vehicle while under its influence. I do not agree with Stacey's statement that if it's illegal, it's a problem. Furthermore, alcohol is legal, and I will submit that it (or, more specifically, its irresponsible use) is a much bigger problem than pot. I addressed this issue in another thread in response to the notion that, in the wake of the brawl at the Detroit Pistons basketball game, alcohol should not be served at sports events.

Guns are used illegally every day in this country. Does that mean that they should be outlawed, and those wishing to responsibly own and/or use guns for hunting, defense, or the simple enjoyment of a hobby should not be allowed to??? Granted, this discussion belongs in Free Speech Alley, but I wanted to respond primarily because of what Stacey said, as this issue and the growing erosion of our freedoms really, really, bugs me! I will post more about this in Free Seech Alley for the education of the liberals and other narrow minded individuals visiting this forum.

 

I tried to post in Free Speech Alley, only to learn that I cannot because I haven't gotten around to donating money to TF. My position, incidentally, is that I do not wish to financially support a forum that I believe should be a family oriented forum but allows borderline pornography - to the extent that I have to ban my Tiger fan children from the site.

Here are my thoughts for FSA:

If it were up to me:

· Alcohol and tobacco would not be the only legal recreational drugs – in fact, all drugs would be legal – it makes no sense that these two are legal but others, such as marijuana are illegal.
· The Federal government would tax all recreational drugs, as it currently does alcohol and tobacco.
· Anyone convicted of supplying a minor with drugs would be severely punished.
· A person who injures or kills another person while driving under the influence of a mind-altering drug would be punished very severely.
· With all of the drug users and drug peddlers out of the prison system, there would be more room to imprison those who perpetrate real crimes - those for which there is a victim - for a long time.
· All murder, including that of an unborn child, would be illegal and punished severely.
· There would be no victimless crimes – no victim, no crime to prosecute!
· Those who do perpetrate crimes (in which there is a victim) would be punished severely.
· There would be a flat tax, based on consumption.
· There would be NO minimum wage! Market forces would determine wages, just as occurs for all other factors of production!
· Prisoners would have little or no rights.
· Prison would not be a picnic in any way – prisoners would do hard labor.
· Anyone who does not wish to participate in Social Security/Medicare could opt out.
· Federal government giveaway programs, both domestic and international, would be severely curtailed – no more “Robin Hood” socialistic programs!
· There would be no government barriers to international free trade
· All parents would be required to contribute adequately to their children’s financial welfare. Those who do not would be dealt with seriously and stringently.
· All government forms would be printed in English, and only in English. Especially, items such as voter registration forms and ballots. If you want to live here and participate in our democratic process, learn the friggin’ language!
· President George W. Bush said: “The most basic duty of government is to defend the life of the innocent.” I have to agree.

 

Well, I agree with all of that except the English thing. After all, the US is only one of 3 nations with no nationwide official language (UK & Iceland are the other 2), and I think that's one of the things that makes the US so unique. Oh, and Louisiana is one of the few states with an official language (well, two - English and French).

Oh, and abortion - while I agree with the sentiment behind Bush's quote, I'm guessing he's talking about abortion. While I certainly disagree with abortion as a practise, I think the government should stay out of it altogether (keep it legal, but no funding for it). We should use educatin to prevent unwanted pregnancies in the first place.

Like SpringTiger, sorry to hijack, but I just wanted to respond to his (her?) post.

So, yeah, uh - Ricky Williams. I feel sorry for him, but not because of his pot smoking. Hope he gets better and faces his responsibilities to his children.

 

Come on and let's not kid ourselves. Do you really think that the 4 game suspension is what Williams objected too.

I live in the real world and there is alot about this that has not come out.

There had to be other things about this deal that were not made public and you guys can believe that 4 game suspension is what he objected too if you want but my nose is telling me something different.

There had to be daily testing and drug treatment and that type thing as part of his coming back that is why he is not.

In 10 years he will be on the street as a beggar and ESPN will do a piece on him and ask every one to feel sorry for him.

Not me. I believe it is time that people start taking responsibility for their own lives again.

Oh and Ricky if you dont want to support those children you brought into this world then you should be treated like every other delinquent dad.



Ricky Williams is a complete moron. End of Story.



Geaux LSU TIGERS

 

SpringTiger, not wanting political debate in this forum, but I am in the same boat as you...so I'm going to try to analyze and respond...:wink:

sounds like you've joined the Libertarian Party! Good. We need more than 2 parties in this political system. The 2 major ones have become corrupted and blinded by big corporate sponsorship(lobbyists) and greed.:cuss:

Perfectly logical and makes sense to take tax dollars out of the prison system and invest them in education....transcends party lines. Should be a big political issue, but both sides too afraid to tackle this....because it means taking money AWAY from "law enforcement". Would be a political killer.

Took a hard right there, bud. What about state sponsored capital punishment? This is a hot button issue that confounds me...usually people who preach "pro life" are also anti gun control (notice it says gun CONTROL, and not to be confused with a BAN) and pro death penalty, so, in effect, they're actually NOT pro "life", they just want control over who dies and when. Also, I am assuming that a crime where there IS a victim includes product liability(pharmaceutical/insurance industry), corporate fraud (Enron), and medical malpractice?

If you're going to institute a flat tax, it should be a flat percentage and not a flat dollar amount. This is fair to everyone from the richest of rich to the poorest of poor. Now, having no minimum wage is one reason that labor unions became so powerful in the first place. Market forces determining the wage works if, and only if, there is no outside influence like "corporate greed".

Archaic, but effective. Also, don't forget to let the punishment fit the crime.

I can live with being able to opt out of SS/Medicare. I do have a problem with what you are calling "giveaway programs". Does this include unemployment insurance? SSI? Benefits for disabled Veterans? No government barriers to international free trade is a great idea, but would only work if all other countries dropped their barriers, too. NAFTA was a great idea in principle, but as of yet I wouldn't count it as a raging success.

All parents should not only WANT to take care of their children, they should HAVE to, but again, this is a moral issue. Taking care of your children means more than just sending your baby's momma a check every month....but yes, it is the very least that should be done, and yes, it should be dealt with very seriously.
The thing with the only printing government forms in English reminds me of the old "Poll Tax". What's next? Only allowing property owners the right to vote? I agree that it is frustrating not being able to communicate effectively with all segments of the population, but it is also a slippery slope no one wants to step on.
To me, the most basic duty of government is to represent the people who elected you and insure our rights to life, liberty, and the persuit of happiness.

What this all has to do with Ricky Williams? I haven't got the foggiest clue, except that if Ricky is happy not playing football and making millions of dollars; if the media frustrated him to the point where he felt like a prisoner in his own skin...and if he enjoys smokin' a little doobage every now and again, (or every minute of every day for that matter), and isn't hurting anyone else, it is HIS life and no one should be able to tell him how to live it.