[secretagent]

If the people don't want certain laws, they can let their representatives know about it. You would attempt to limit their right to choose how they will live.

Nope. I don't know where you get that.

You don't seem to to like libertarian philosophical theory - what about any other theory?

I note your stated preference for a representative republic, and that laws can change through the process, but what about the merit of the laws themselves?

If enough people succeed in pressuring their representatives to amend the Constitution to legalize all drugs, would you feel that they had limited your right to choose how to live? Can some laws fall short of your ideal, or does that end with "the will of the republic" ?

[robertpaulsen]

"Nope. I don't know where you get that."

You don't? Feigning ignorance?

By definition. Limited government means limited laws.

"You don't seem to to like libertarian philosophical theory - what about any other theory?"

Such as?

"I note your stated preference for a representative republic, and that laws can change through the process, but what about the merit of the laws themselves?"

The merits of the laws as judged by who? You?

As I said twice before, if the people don't like the laws they will make their voices heard. In addition, every two years the people elect those who write the laws.

"If enough people succeed in pressuring their representatives to amend the Constitution to legalize all drugs, would you feel that they had limited your right to choose how to live?"

If we were to pass a federal constitutional amendment regarding drugs, I would expect it to be similar in wording to Section 2 of the 21 amendment, turning the decision over to each state (as we did with alcohol) and removing the federal government from the process.

Would that limit my right? In theory, no. I could always move to a state where drugs remained illegal. But the reality is that it wouldn't work -- it didn't with alcohol.

Prior to Prohibition, half the states prohibited alcohol. But the "wet" states were smuggling alcohol to the "dry" states. The "dry" states requested federal help, and Congress pass the Webb-Kenyon Act prohibiting this practice. Of course it didn't work, and it wouldn't work with drugs.

So yes, it would limit my right to choose how to live. So did the 18th. The 18th was repealed.

"Can some laws fall short of your ideal, or does that end with "the will of the republic" ?"

Of course they do. And your solution guarantees that everyone will find all laws ideal?