Post Election Reflections: A Burning Platform and Other Things

A post election interview with Michael Baldasaro. Comments welcome.

Thank you for another great opportunity to explain myself and campaign to the electorate of the Greater Hamilton/Hemp Area.My Reply to your very well posed questions are as follows:

1. You have been running for Mayor for quite some time now and have incrementally secured greater support. What do you attribute these gains to? Is it your message? Is it the competition? Is it something else entirely?
REPLY 1.

In every election since 1984, when I first took on Mayor Bob Morrow, in which I received 7,000 votes, instead of voting for something and/or somebody, the 40% or less who come out to vote, vote AGAINST, NOT FOR a Candidate. For instance, in 2006, the majority voted against Mayor Larry DiIanni by voting in Mayor Fred Eisenberger. In 2010 the majority voted AGAINST Larry and Fred, out of fear one of them might win, by voting FOR Mayor Bob Bratina. The message and performance means nothing, neither did the signs or advertising employed by Larry and Fred. 

Taking into consideration the above, the message that I took before the voters at that time has not changed.
I am still the only really Green, Grass Roots Candidate on any ballot so far. I attribute the gains I have made only as recognition of the veracity and integrity of my message “hemp can save the world”.

2. You have referenced marijuana as a theme in your campaign. For those who may not be clear as to what you are saying in this regard, which of the following statements or combination of statements, best characterizes your message in this regard: 

A) industrial message - marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes, to make clothes and other products. This message focuses on its utility in relation to a marketable product. 

REPLY 2.A: We are importing medicine, cloth paper and other products of the hemp, marijuana plant now.
My suggestion is we do it here in Hamilton to create jobs and industry for our own people.

B) Personal Use and Legalization-people should be open to using marijuana, in the same way that some people smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol. It should be legalized and an option. 

REPLY 2.B: Legislating hemp, marijuana, tree of life, is like legislating tomatoes, potatoes and radishes and perhaps hot peppers. My suggestion is that we take hemp, marijuana, tree of life off the law books completely.

C) Religious/Spiritual- People ought to recognize and consider The Church of the Universe as an option for spiritual growth, recognizing that marijuana factors into this form of belief/practice. 

REPLY 2.C: Since time immemorial the spiritual and medicinal benefits of hemp, marijuana, God’s Tree of Life, have been appreciated by the peoples with knowledge of their use. The objections that we are subject to are based upon ignorance and superstition.

Can you elaborate as to which of these or which mix of these best coincides with your message? Failing that, how would you describe your message?

REPLY 2. All of the above in some way say part of what I am saying.

I believe marijuana to be God’s Tree of Life, as described in the Bible. I believe it should be used for the benefit of all of us in every way that it can be beneficially used. I do not believe in government oppression of this wonderful herb simply to make jobs for police officers, lawyers, judges and jail guards. I don’t believe that the government has the right ot create an industry out of an honest effort by people to create for themselves, a healthier, more comfortable, more gentle environment. I believe as I said before that God’s Tree of Life can save the world.

As I said at the Convention Centre "FEAR OF MARIJUANA” (hemp, canvas, linen, Chanvre, God's Tree of Life) “IS UNFOUNDED". The Queen vs. Christopher Clay and others and the ruling of Justice McCart, August 14, 1997, at London, Ontario http://www.iamm.com/judge-mccart.htm

The Queen vs. Christopher Clay and others

Justice McCart: I wish to turn now to some statistical evidence which was introduced by various of the witnesses and which I accept as valid. I heard from a most impressive number of experts, among whom there was a general consensus about effects of the consumption of marijuana. From an analysis of their evidence I am able to reach the following conclusions: 

1. Consumption of marijuana is relatively harmless compared to the so-called hard drugs and including tobacco and alcohol;
2. There exists no hard evidence demonstrating any irreversible organic or mental damage from the consumption of marijuana;
3. That cannabis does cause alteration of mental functions and as such, it would not be prudent to drive a car while intoxicated;
4. There is no hard evidence that cannabis consumption induces psychoses;
5. Cannabis is not an addictive substance;
6. Marijuana is not criminogenic in that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between cannabis use and criminality;
7. That the consumption of marijuana probably does not lead to "hard drug" use for the vast majority of marijuana consumers, although there appears to be a statistical relationship between the use of marijuana and a variety of other psychoactive drugs;
8. Marijuana does not make people more aggressive or violent;
9. There have been no recorded deaths from the consumption of marijuana;
10. There is no evidence that marijuana causes amotivational syndrome;
11. Less than 1% of marijuana consumers are daily users;
12. Consumption in so-called "de-criminalized states" does not increase out of proportion to states where there is no de-criminalization.
13. Health related costs of cannabis use are negligible when compared to the costs attributable to tobacco and alcohol consumption.

3. How do you respond to those who argue that it is inappropriate for you to deliver a pro marijuana message to teens and young adults?

REPLY 3. At what age do we start telling our children there is no Santa Clause? When do we start telling them the truth?

The very lack of faith people put in our youth is more damaging than any drug ever will be. I watch CHCH TV 11 each morning and learn which alcoholic beverage is to be taken with which holiday. The most dangerous drug on the planet, because it’s acceptable, (candy is dandy but liquor is quicker), and more importantly, to the government, it’s taxable and easy to control, except for the aforesaid known harm alcohol causes.

As I said, “fear of Marijuana is unfounded”.

I only wish that as a young person marijuana was as available to me rather than booze which was so easy to acquire. Why don’t these caring adults worry about that problem? Is it because they are alcoholics themselves “a drink a day is good for you”, how stupid!

Throughout my childhood and teenage years, I choose not to be a drunk because of the stupidity I witnessed for myself on my father’s wine and from those who were drinking, of all ages. I expect that if alcohol were not encouraged by parents, (monkey see monkey do) we wouldn’t have the statistically 90% of Criminal Offenders in our Prisons and 90% of Young Offenders, according to Barton Street Jail Officials, 90% of whom are “fetal alcohol syndrome babies”, currently in custody and not because of marijuana.

Note: At Sir John A McDonald High School, I was asked about marijuana by a Student. The question had been pre-authorized by his Class Teacher. My answer was not about smoking marijuana. I learned afterwards via a student not in attendance at the Mayoral Debate, whose mother is a friend, that their class had a vote after the Debate and Marijuana was voted legal by the Student Body.

4. During the campaign, you and others lamented what you perceived as unbalanced election coverage from some media sources, in favour of the "big three". Moving beyond the lamenting phase, what is the solution?

REPLY 4. Well, in the first place I never called them the “big three”.I did refer to them as the “three amigos” throughout. I do not recall lamenting about media coverage. I have witnessed a lack of coverage and unfair reporting since 1984 and I do not believe complaining would accomplish anything, especially with the 30 or so seconds I was given to make my point. 

I don’t believe it is the media’s fault or duty to report on the candidates platforms. I believe the solution to lack of media coverage is to make voting mandatory. In other words, if you don’t vote you are not entitled to government assistance such as, welfare, unemployment or health insurance. It is the Governments duty, at all levels, to provide for adequate forums and advertizing of Candidates, sort of like on America’s Got Talent. The media exists on advertising and the governing bodies should provide and pay for adequate coverage in the media and candidates should be allowed to purchase more if they desire.

5. Do you believe that you will one day be Mayor of the city of Hamilton? How do you assess that probability and if you believe it to be improbable (The Hamiltonian is not assuming anything here), what are you achieving along the way? 

REPLY 5.Quite possibly! When the Citizens of Hamilton see no other bright star in the sky, they will vote me Mayor.

I don’t believe I will live to see the day when someone, the powers that be, don’t want in, to ever be elected in a Mayoralty Race, especially with less than a 40% turnout. The awareness of this is probably an achievement in and of itself. 

You have mentioned my growing popularity. I would say the it is the honesty and integrity of my message that is becoming more acceptable and popular.

Our Mayor Bratina now refers to Hamilton as “The Greater Hemp Area”. That is an achievement in itself. I hope someday that Council will realize how much money is being wasted on policing and ruining the lives of decent people just because they use marijuana and do something about it. Justice, like charity begins at home and in our own back yards.

6. What should Hamiltonians know about The Church of the Universe. Purpose, origins, goals, misconceptions etc.

REPLY 6. Purpose: God’s Church is the People. We worship God. We use marijuana in our Worship of God. Our Golden Rule is “don’t hurt yourself and don’t hurt anyone else”.

The Church of the Universe is not a religion. Only people can have a religion.

The Church is a gathering of, like minded, God’s People.

The Church of the Universe came into existence in 1969 at Clearwater Abbey http://www.iamm.com/clearwater.htm and it’s peoples use Marijuana in their Worship of God.

The Reefer madness and government propaganda continue to this day and all because it is not taxable. Reference: Revelation Chap 22 “The tree of life is for the healing of the nations and will be given freely”. Marijuana, Gods’ Tree of Life, grows easily in the garden and fulfills Gods’ commands that we “tend the garden”.

7. What changes might we see in Hamilton in the next 4 years. A little crystal balling .....

REPLY 7.I have great faith in Mayor Bratina. Having run in the by–election in Ward 2, in which he was first elected to Council, and having run and sat beside him in that and the 2010 Mayoral Election I feel confident in by belief that Mayor Bratina is sincere and in touch with the common person. I put him in the ranks of Mayors Lloyd D. Jackson and Victor Copps.

I was most impressed by the fact that Mayor Bratina, the only one of the 3 Amigo’s who took the time to attend the Debate, ( held by Hamilton Urban Core Community Health Centre, in the old bus station at 71 Rebecca St., N., on behalf of the poor and underprivileged), complained that we should have stayed at Hamilton Centre and got rid of the other City Hall and saved 81 million dollars and that taking over the xxxxxxxxxxxxxx building on James St, N, for 20 years at 1 million per year, is a waste of tax payers money.

I don’t know what the future of the City of Hamilton is. I do know that to be a great City we have to have a strong infrastructure. 

I believe that Mayor Bratina knows this and hope that he can convince Council to spend Hamilton’s money on rebuilding our infrastructure.

8. Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview? 

REPLY 8.Above all I would like to reiterate my thanks to the people who felt my message was important enough to come out and vote for it. And also my thank you goes out to all of The Greater Hamilton Area. I appreciate the opportunity of putting myself forward to be Mayor of this Great City.

Be well and Prosper
Bless you , bless us all!
Reverend Brother Michael J. Baldasaro , Mayoralty Candidate 2010-11-21
Reverend Brother Walter A. Tucker, Counsel
http://www.iamm.com/baldasaro.for.mayor.htm