I'm Mad at MADD

I've been irritated at MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) due to their pro-criminalization stance on marijuana. The criminalization of it merely helps prison industry growth, diverts resources from true crimes (incl. corporate ones), ruins lives and helps no one.

I had previously given them money, but I regret it now. Ironic, too, since some recent cursory forensic auditing of them has revealed that less than $0.20 of every dollar collected by them actually went to the cause. The rest went to telemarketer firms and administration.

I've told them several times on the phone and once on e-mail that I no longer support them. Hence, today's MADD e-mail, mentioning Stephen Harper with their faint cooing in the background, was the last straw. I sent this response...

===================================
Dear Karen,

For the record, I am firmly opposed to this new agenda of MADD and Stephen Harper.

I believe the new initiatives are a huge step backwards in civil rights and a step towards a fascist state. Tests for marijuana usage result in detection days after the effects have long since ceased. And yet, your efforts have now instituted a system where a random spot-check of such an UNIMPAIRED driver can now result in harsh prison sentences and the loss of someone's livelihood. All because that citizen does not hold with illogical neo-conservative views and may partake of a corporate-condemned substance.

The "problem of ... drug-impaired driving" is, frankly, statistically insignificant in view of the numbers for alcohol-related accidents. And despite the attention paid to drunken driving, fatigue has always been the primary cause of driving impairment.

In addition, it is a misleading claim that the "Government’s focus" is on drug-impaired driving. More dangerous driving behaviour is caused by legal drugs than by marijuana usage and yet the legal drugs are not the targets of this campaign. This is simply more of the same neo-conservative agenda to obstruct drug legalization.

Shame on you and your entire organization. Shame on Stephen Harper and his party of ignorant reactionaries.

Take me off all contact lists maintained by your disgraceful group, immediately.

Yours, with alarm and hostility,

Chris Murphy
Toronto, ON


>From:
>To:
>Subject: What’s new at MADD Canada - Winter 2006
>Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:37:02 -0500
>
>2010 Winston Park Drive, Suite 500, Oakville, ON L6H 5R7
>Victim Support Hotline 1 800 665-MADD
>www.madd.ca
>
>Dear Mr. Murphy,
>
>Your commitment to MADD Canada is making a difference!
>Read all about the latest MADD Canada news in our MADD
>Canada Winter 2006 newsletter.
>
>Highlights of this issue include:
>
>Prime Minister Supports Project Red Ribbon
>
>Prime Minister Stephen Harper tied a MADD Canada red
>ribbon to a vehicle at a media conference in Kitchener
>on Friday, November 10 to raise awareness for sober
>and safe driving through the holiday season. The Prime
>Minister spoke to MADD Canada representatives, police
>officers and community leaders about the Government’s
>focus on tackling the problem of alcohol- and drug-
>impaired driving. Read More…