Non-representative Democracy

One of the reasons the United States is the greatest country in the world is our governing system of representative democracy.  Too bad it doesn't always work that way.

When is a representative democracy not a representative democracy?  In Iowa, the answer is when it comes to legalizing medicinal marijuana.

This week, a Des Moines Register Iowa Poll found that 70% of adult Iowans favor the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes.  This is up from just 59% last year, and 58% the year before that.

It's over.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this issue has been decided, and Iowans are ready to follow the rest of the country into making this rational, albeit long overdue choice.

Unfortunately, Iowa's elected state legislators don't seem to be any closer to legalizing marijuana for medical uses.  Basically, we've elected a bunch of old, white, close-minded, and mostly Republican males (including the governor) who will always believe pot is evil, regardless of its proven therapeutic uses or the desire of their constituents.  They continue to use the intellectually dishonest argument that the 'unintended consequences' of legalization will lead to serious drug abuse in Iowa.  Simultaneously, they attend numerous political receptions where they, along with many others, can legally drink non-medicinal booze without a thought of the 'unintended consequences' of alcohol abuse.

Some Iowans seem to be buying that 'unintended consequences' argument, because the same Iowa Poll reports that only 30% of adults approve legalizing marijuana for recreational use, a number unchanged over the past two years.  We are still years away, or more likely, one big fiscal deficit away, from joining the few other states that have done this.

Oh well.  One thing we know about representative democracy it that it works, it's just a matter of time.  So it will be with legalizing marijuana use in Iowa and in the U.S.