Would we notice the difference in those areas. The murder of babies is legal now, even while being born - one of the things on which I strongly disagree with the LP.
Now do you really think legalizing drugs, porn and prostitution would make it any more rampant. I don't see how.
Not supporting the LP, but just asking how you think their stand on these issues would make a lot of difference.
If you you really think our government is really, really trying to do something about these evils, then you have to admit they are totally loosing the war. Personaly, I don't think they are trying
If you you really think our government is really, really trying to do something about these evils, then you have to admit they are totally losing the war. Personaly, I don't think they are trying.
Good question. Some local governments try to keep these things under control, either outright through legal bans, or covertly through zoning regulations. Take that power away from them and I think you would see an increase. Even if states and local governments don't use the powers they have, it's still good that they have the possiblility of dealing with situations that are getting out of hand.
Would it be true that in a wide-open libertarian society one could open up a porn store, brothel or head shop anywhere, even next to a school? And if one tries to prevent this has one taken a big step away from the maximalist libertarian program?
Certainly, prostitution, which is illegal in most states, would increase with legalization and would win greater legitimacy in society if it remained legal. Court rulings restrict what local governments can do about abortion or pornography, but losing the minimum control that they have probably wouldn't help things any.
Drugs are the toughest question. Some people think that legalization and the resulting decrease in price would dry up the crime and vice and predatory behavior of the illegal drug culture, but it's far from clear that this would happen. There are things to be said on both sides. But if you think of old Chinese opium dens, they really weren't a conducive environment for responsible liberty and self-government. The same was true of the collegiate drug culture of the 1960s and 1970s.
Libertarianism rests on an idea of the rational and responsible individual, but one can't assume that all individuals fit this pattern or that libertarian policies would increase the number of such citizens.