"Such confidence must include sufficient humility to allow for respect for the other side's fears -- for an unshakable confidence in one's own rightness is nearly always misplaced. There is little to learn from those who agree with you, whereas much may be learned from those who disagree."
To discuss one side's "fears" versus the other side's, is only relevant if The Law is not involved. I don't care how "afraid" conservatives are of *federal* legalization of all drugs. That's a matter of The Law...the Constitution. *Federal* criminalization of *any* drug is unconstitutional, and I don't give a
d@mn about conservatives "fears" on the issue.
The only way I would be willing to compromise on *federal* legalization of all drugs, would be if a conservative could make the case that the Constitution permits federal criminalization of drugs. No conservative can make such a case, in my opinion, because it's open-and-shut. There is simply no doubt, in my mind, that federal criminalization of the possession or within-state sale of ANY drug is unconstitutional.
So, conservatives, don't talk to me about your "fears" regarding complete elimination of all federal laws on all drugs. I'm too cold-blooded to care about your "fears" on that issue. ;-) Talk to me about The Law (the Constitution). If you admit that federal laws criminalizing drugs are unconstitutional, then your "fears" mean nothing to me. If you think that federal laws criminalizing drugs *are* constitutional, you'd better start explaining.
Mark Bahner (Libertarian)
I knew I could count on you to learn absolutely nothing from your experiences at the Ann Coulter Fan Club, Mark. That I-can't-be-wrong attitude of yours is why conservatives listen to me, a libertarian, with something resembling respect, while they dismiss you, a Libertarian, as an arrogant, self-righteous, dangerous fool. It crippled you there, and it will cripple you here. As long as you maintain that posture, you will neither learn anything you don't already know, nor influence the thinking of anyone who doesn't already agree with you.
Enjoy yourself.
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com