What Are They Smoking

NRO ^ | 10/28/2003 | Deroy Murdock

[Texaggie79]

You doper....

[Texaggie79]

"Noper" ping

[Vigilantcitizen]

"My friend drew me with a cig."

You have a very good and talented friend.

[tacticalogic]

Individual rights and individual liberties are libertarian principles, not conservative ones.

In communist China, yes. "Libertarian" is politically absolute. "Conservative" is politically relative - it depends on where you are.

[headsonpikes]

Individual rights and individual liberties are libertarian principles, not conservative ones.

Thank you for your honesty, rp.

I suppose this is why the anti-Perestroika commies were called 'conservatives'.

You 'conservatives' are an adaptive lot. ;^)

[ßuddaßudd]

From what I understand, Tommy's crime is that he sold the paraphernalia interstate, across state lines, which is federal crime. The WOD is only a money generating venture by the Feds.
ßß

[PaxMacian]

FREE CHONG!

FREE RUSH!

FREE LOVE!

[ActionNewsBill]

(hey, what better tool to keep the government in check?).

Silly me, I thought that's what the Second Amendment was written for.

You on the other hand, seem to believe that it protects the right to go duck hunting.

[Conservative til I die]

Seriously. What next? Arresting people for talking about drugs? I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few drug warriors on FR in favor of this.

[samtheman]

Maybe you're right. If you are, it's truly sad. But then, there's obviously at least one judge and one prosecutor who believe locking people up for the shape of their glass objects. I guess there are people here who would agree with that ruling.

For the record: I am not in favor of legalizing all drugs. I'm on the fence as far as weed goes. I see the argument both ways. But coke and heroin... lock up the dealers and throw away the key.

Having said that, though, this conviction of Chong is very third-worldish.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

Individual rights and individual liberties are libertarian principles, not conservative ones.

Interesting, and I thank you for responding. Let's take this a bit further: do you believe firearm ownership, as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment, is an individual right?

[robertpaulsen]

You guys are something else. To avoid the truth, you reference "conservatives" in China, Russia, ... any others you want to add to the list?

And that truth is individual rights and individual liberties are not conservative principles.

[robertpaulsen]

"You on the other hand, seem to believe that it protects the right to go duck hunting."

Nah. Not fair to the ducks to go hunting with an M203 40mm Grenade Launcher.

Plus, there's little left to eat after using one of these.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

And that truth is individual rights and individual liberties are not conservative principles.

Robert,

What, according to you, constitutes conservative principles?

[robertpaulsen]

"minimum government control or interference into our personal lives"

I'm all in favor of the above. You, on the other hand, prefer NO government control or interference into our personal lives.

That's the difference between a conservative and an anarchist libertarian (redundant, I know).

[Hemingway's Ghost]

What's an appropriate metric for determining how much influence the government (any kind, federal, state, or local) may have on our personal lives? Where do you draw the line between public and private behavior?

[headsonpikes]

Well, rp, if you don't believe in individual rights and liberties, just what is it that you are trying to 'conserve'?

Could it be social status and power, like your fellow tory conservatives in the PRC and the former USSR?

[tacticalogic]

You seem to be under the impression that attacking anyone who points out your argument is a load of crap will fix what's wrong what's wrong with your argument.

[Dosa26]

Individual rights and individual liberties are libertarian principles, not conservative ones.

Wow. That's as far out in the stix as I've ever seen a poster I consider intelligent go. Thanks for your honesty, but our founders didn't throw off the kingly shackles to protect the rights of a collective.

[robertpaulsen]

"do you believe firearm ownership, as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment, is an individual right? "

You're asking me as though I speak for all conservatives? I don't think I do.

Personally, as a conservative, I interpret the 2nd Amendment's "right of the people" to mean that the individual's right to keep and bear arms are not to be infringed by the federal government. "Arms" being defined as that carried by the average militiaman (soldier). But if you look at our laws, passed with the help of conservative legislators, I may be in the minority.

You will note that, as a conservative, I have defined "arms" and I have defined the 2nd amendment applicability to the federal government. I believe that a Libertarian would define it differently. Ask one.