Before The Open Source Party. Before The Guns and Dope Party. Before The Revolution Party. In 1969, Timothy Leary ran for governor of California against Ronald Reagan. The motto was “Come together – join the party” and John Lennon originally wrote the song “Come Together” for Leary.
According to a letter from Leary published in Mondo 2000 # 6 in 1992, this was Leary’s platform:
1. The basic function of government is to protect individuals against organized gangs and groups.
2. Decentralization: California secedes from the USSA.
3. Another basic function of govt. is to entertain/educate.
4. The government makes a profit. Instead of paying taxes, the citizen received dividends.
5. The profits derived from licensing pleasures: Marijuana license like an auto license/registration, hard liquor, gambling; prostitutes were professionals like dentists or lawyers; LSD, etc., used in state parks or theme parks; Entry taxes – California would be like an amusement park – entrance fees and daily residence fees; Education – California specializes in education – non-Californians paid substantial fees.
The only other info I could find about the platform:
Revealing part of his guber-natorial platform for the first time, Leary pledged solutions to California’s 10 major political problems.
He leaked out only a few of those solutions, but what did emerge was unique — to say the least.
“I’m going to legalize marijuana and charge a $1,000 a year permit fee for those who want to make it,” he said.
“Given the size of California population, that will generate a huge amount of additional revenue each year.
“Then I’ll turn that money over to the police and the forces of the right wing to keep them happy and off people’s backs,” Leary explained.
Wouldn’t that be discriminating against the poor who can’t afford $1,000 a year for the privilege of turning on? he was asked.
“That’s not really a problem,” he explained, “because it’s only a short-term situation — in five years I’ll eliminate all money from Californian society and return to a barter system.”
(Source)
See also: Timothy Leary Dossier
December 5, 2007 at 2:16 pm
The Washington Post is reporting that the biggest pot settlement ever may be happening soon in Colorado. Cops will have to pay over $100K back to a couple of farmers. According to the constitution, police will now be required to have grow rooms in their stations. Is it too soon to declare “Mission Accomplished”?
December 5, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I like the points in #5. The government should look at ways to make a profit in order to ease tax on its people. Taxing weed and prostitution and liquor seems to make sense. Tax hedonism, and as a balance, pump that coin into education.
December 5, 2007 at 5:17 pm
A few issues:
1) Our government has turned into organized groups of gangs. We need a practical solution for that.
3) I don’t want or need my government ‘entertaining’ me. I want them finding solutions for problems and implementing them. Educate? Who would trust the info?
4) I like the basic idea behind this. Although, I can see massive corruption coming from it too.
December 5, 2007 at 6:34 pm
“Has turned into”?
December 5, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Okay, ya got me Brendon…lol;)
December 5, 2007 at 9:09 pm
William Irwin Thompson has some interesting ideas in his essay called “Catastrophist Governance and the Need for a Tricameral Legislature”.
http://www.williamirwinthompson.org/essays.html