DEA Chief Chuck Rosenberg

Last week Acting DEA Administrator Chuck Rosenberg caused an uproar when he called medical marijuana a "A Joke."  This comment was a slap in the face to all medical marijuana patients, all who need and don't yet have access to medical marijuana, all who have worked for changes to drug laws, and to all those who have gone to jail for simply trying to "medicate." He went on to say of marijuana "It has never been shown to be safe or effective as a medicine!"  Not only is Mr. Rosenberg's thinking out of step with the majority of Americans -- but it's outright wrong!

In response to his false assertion that weed has no medicinal value, I offer up the classic book "Marihuana The Forbidden Medicine" by DR. Lester Grinspoon and DR. James Bakalar.  Not only does this piece of research discuss ailments that weed can be used to treat, IT'S ALSO WRITTEN BY DOCTORS!   There was also a meta-analysis of 79 medical marijuana studies involving over 6,000 patients published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) this year that found evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and other conditions.  Research from doctors versus the uneducated personal opinion of an out-of-step government bureaucrat!

It's ok for a person to be wrong, but for that person to hold a wrong-headed mindset while filling a powerful legal postion makes that person dangerous!  His false ideas on marijuana could cost people their lives in the penal system!  Also, people have died because of the government's war on weed!  Send a clear message by signing this petition to see Chuck Rosenberg go.

 To Stay Updated FOLLOW The Whitehurst Blog.  VISIT THIS LINK then CLICK THE FOLLOW BUTTON

The main reason I voted for Barack Obama in 2008 was the fact that he promised to make health care available to the millions of Americans who were uninsured.  I have significant medical problems, and was precluded from getting health care due to pre-existing conditions.  Under Health Care "Reform" I was able to get coverage.  The main PRO of Obamacare was getting care to millions of suffering citizens.  This was a good thing, but now let's look at the Cons.

Many of the people taking advantage of Obamacare are poor and middle class -- thus cost is an issue.  Obamacare offers 3 levels of care:  Bronze, Silver and Gold.  The Bronze plans are relatively cheap, but offer garbage benefits and high out of pocket costs for the benefits to kick in.  The Gold level plans have the best benefits, but you basically have to be well off in order to afford them.  That leaves the poor and working class with the Silver plans.  The Silver plans have decent benefits, but they can be expensive too!  Then come the yearly increases!  I'm going into my third year on Obamacare.  After the first year there was an increase of over $100 per month to stay on the plan.  I chose a different plan for my second year -- after that year there was another monthly increase of over $100.  I'm going into my third year of Obamacare and I'm changing plans for the 3rd time!

When Obamacare was passed the President said that patients would be able to keep their doctors.  This isn't exactly true!  As I've explained, costs go up every year.  Consequently many of the sick are forced to choose new plans -- and this leads to changing doctors.  I'm lookiing for a different doctor right now for that very reason!

Yes Obamacare gives care to the sick, but how long will the sickly be able to afford it?  Obamacare made millions of Americans slaves to the greedy insurance companies.  If someone was really looking out for "The People," there would have price controls included in the law to prevent the financial rape of the poor and middle class by insurance companies.  This wasn't done!  Single-Payer was an option that wasn't passed.  The way Obamacare is now, the poor and middle class are eventually going to be priced out of having health care.  The only protections in the plan are for the health insurance companies -- people who don't sign up have to pay a $2000 fine.  This gives the greedy corporations a captive customer base -- a base that they can raise costs on year after year. 

I'm on a fixed income.  I get a very small cost of living increase every year.  This cost of living increase is eaten up every year by an increase in rent.  Where is the extra money to afford yearly raises in health care costs supposed to come from?  It would have been nice if the President and the Democratic Congressional majority at the time had written Obamacare to look out for the people first, but they didn't! Once again the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.  Isn't that the key to capitalism...

 To Stay Updated FOLLOW The Whitehurst Blog.  VISIT THIS LINK then CLICK THE FOLLOW BUTTON

Harvey, Illinois is a primarily African-American south suburb of Chicago.  In the 1800's it housed an orphanage for African-American children.  In the past it was known for having some of the best places to eat in the Chicagoland area.  Places like Anello's Pizza, City BBQ, George's BBQ, Gino's Steakhouse  and Jean's Bakery.  Sadly, today it is known mostly for crime and poverty; but there is something else -- if you look deeper.

This small city of roughly 25,000 has provided gems for the rest of the world to share in for decades.  A bounty of sport, movies, music and culture!  Harvey gave the world the R&B greats:  The Dells (I was married to the daughter of a Dells member).  Harvey also produced baseball hall of famer Lou Boudreau and comic legend Tom Dreesen; as well as actors Michael Boatman and Danitra Vance.  In the arena of politics Harvey elected its first Black Mayor in the 1980's, David N. Johnson, who went on to work for African-American empowerment in the region.  The city's high school, Thornton Township High School, is known -- with good reason -- as NFL High!  Napoleon Harris (NFL), Barry Gardner (NFL), Antwaan Randle El (NFL), Melvin Ely (NBA), Rod Higgins (NBA) and many more notables.

Just on one block -- 155th & Vine -- we had Grammy Award Winning Music Producer Maurice Joshua, Comedian & Actor Aubrey Fourte, Actor & Producer Mark Fourte, Ph.D & Lt. Col. U.S. Air Force Officer Anthony Thompson, at least three others who went on to get Doctorates, and myself all growing up together.  Oh, and just around the corner was Lamar McGriggs, NFL defensive back; while Grammy Award Winning Music Producer Hula Mahone was in walking distance.

Yes there is crime and poverty in Harvey, but there is also a drive to achieve and overcome!

I'd like to first congratulate the Chicago Cubs on a great season!  A great regular season with awesome young talent for the future, two of the better pitchers in game to build a pitching staff with, the perfect manager and a proven front office.

Now let's move on to the Chicago white sox.  Their fans have shown jubilation at the Cubs losing in the NLCS...but I didn't see the sox in the ALCS.  They weren't in the ALDS, or the wildcard game -- and didn't come close to sniffing the playoffs.  sox fans often point to 2005, when they won a World Series.  Let's deal with this for a moment:

Firstly, it's not as if the Cubs have never won.  Yes it's been a long time -- Cubs won it over a hundred years ago and the sox did it 10 ago --  but the Cubs have won! It's all a matter of time and perspective, but the deed has been done.  Secondly, even when the sox won the World Series in 2005, they couldn't outdraw the Chicago Cubs in attendance.  The Cubs beat the sox attendance figures by an average of roughly 10,000 fans per game.  That says a lot!  Even when the sox come in first -- they still come in second in Chicago.  When the sox won, Chicagoans still weren't racing to see them! A losing Cubs' team still outdraws a winning sox team -- point made!

The sox have always been the second team in Chicago, and will continue to fill that space.  Looking at the current team makeup, the sox don't compare with the Cubs (who still haven't brought all of their talent up from the minors).  The sox have a penny-pinching owner, while the Cubs have a spender.  The white sox front office seems to be confused on how to better the team, while the Cubs' front office has a clear - WORKING -- plan.  The white sox U.S. Cellular field has no character, and doesn't come close to comparing to old Wrigley Field -- which is one of the best parks in MLB.  Finally, the Cubs are poised for a bright future full of playoff appearances, while the sox would be better off with a demotion to minor league baseball.  And, if they were demoted, Chicago wouldn't miss them! 

sox fans shout loudly while signifying nothing. It's sorta like telling yourself "I'm the greatest" in a mirror, when in reality you're nowhere near that status.  Pumping yourself up with fantasy, just to be deflated by reality.  Get as loud as you want southside minor leaguers, but Chicago's team is still the Chicago Cubs!  GO CUBS!

 To Stay Updated FOLLOW The Whitehurst Blog.  VISIT THIS LINK then CLICK THE FOLLOW BUTTON

Soldiers deal with a lot in combat.  Besides dodging bullets soldiers routinely carry packs weighing upwards of 80 pounds on missions.  The U.S. military is working to change all of that.  The answer:  TALOS!

TALOS -- Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit -- is expected to be a game-changer for the soldier on the battlefield.  If you've seen the movies "Iron Man" or "T2: Terminator 2" you might have an idea of what the future holds.  TALOS won't provide flight, but it will create near super soldiers!  The battery powered exoskeleton will provide strength and endurance for load carrying; while using liquid metal to give superior ballistic protection.  The suit will also monitor vitals, and will aid soldiers with their situational awareness through in-helmet technologies.  The program is on track to deliver a first-generation suit by August 2018.

 To Stay Updated FOLLOW The Whitehurst Blog.  VISIT THIS LINK then CLICK THE FOLLOW BUTTON