Force is obvious: it's related to either common defense against a foreign enemy, or to prevent/control/punish criminal action committed by domestic outlaws.
But what about fraud? Where does one draw the line? We know the ancient Hebrews developed a number of purity laws, which were encompassed within religious proscriptions. Everyone knows about German beer purity laws, but few are aware they actually date back to circa 900 CE, not just the more familiar & current rules adopted during the 16th century.
How do you guys feel about child labor laws and compulsory education? The justification of course was to prevent the exploitation of youth, which could then be dumped on society after they were used, broken and useless for any further productive work.
So, let's talk flavored tobacco. How are proposed regulations & prohibitions any different from a wide range of products regulated to prevent/mitigate adulterants? Wouldn't these types of policies be similar to any other that gave range to *informed* adult decisions, while also barring the exploitation of additive qualities directed towards children?
Finally, once you're on this type of intellectual glide path, what about the cost to society to deal with either the mentally ill and/or criminal class? Both are net drain on society, but the downside to ignoring these populations are the types of public health crises developing in cities like LA what with all the filth and disease.
Yup, anything that is addictive needs to be looked at. They sell this stuff at gas stations where the kids go to get drinks. It’s heralded as not harmful in any way. It won’t take long to find out the truth.
So often the previous disastrous interventions of government are used as the justification for further interventions - Government must bail out Fannie and Freddie - after government politically forced them into corrupt, crony-capitalist lending in the first place.
Re: E-cigs. We have both a large regulatory apparatus, and a government that lives off tobacco revenue - so that assures an eventual intervention. The vaping industry arose all by itself, invented products, regulated itself for over 2 decades Zero help, input, and minimal regulation from government.
What’s outrageous is that no one has offered any scientific fact behind banning “vaping.” Here in NY, Andrew Cuomo is ready to shut down the entire industry basis the media “outrage.” You can be fined more in NY for selling “vaping products” to a child, than you can be for selling them marijuana.
Child labor laws - these were solved by economic development and prosperity. Not government regulation. I’m sure Pakistan and Bangladesh have very strict laws about child labor too. Did labor unions really “give us the weekend” as they like to claim?
Compulsory education - 1/2 the kids in my city don’t graduate, and what exactly have they learned by for 10 years “in school” anyway? And yet we still pay $18K per student to keep the vast educational bureaucracy running. Is this really the only way for society?
You are asking the proper question - what is the role of government? But people also need to ask - at what level of government should things be managed?