Before Thomas Hart Benton became a Senator he was John Astor’s attorney. John was smuggling opium into China. Benton was in charge of the Oregon Territory before it became a State. With the arrival on the tax on legal marijuana, this history is pertinent. Did Astor use monies from opium sales to promote Oregon as a State?
I just called the Oregon Historic Society and tried to find out why some folks are saying the ‘My Oregon – You’re Oregon’ exhibit is “controversial”. I suspect it is because it doesn’t include any white-washed romantic notions from Christians, and promotes Rock and Roll via posters and guitars. Then there is that homeless man – with basket! Is he on drugs? Is he an addict, and thus he is homeless? Does he love Rock music too much? Is he a parasite on society? Is he anti-American?
The Christian-right backs the very rich who bank in the Cayman Islands and fly what looks like a British flag on their yachts. Republicans accuse our President of being an anti-Capitalist, and anti-Big Business. Jonh Jacob Astor was America’s first Big Business Man. He made millions delivering opium to Chinese addicts with the help of the British we fought our War of Independence…
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