Behind The Neo-Prohibition Campaign

The Center for Consumer Freedom ^ | April 17, 2003 | Dan Mindus

[tacticalogic]

Anybody got an explanation for the RWJ Foundation's zeal in this cause?

RWJF is a "philanthropic" tax free foundation that's a creation of Johnson & Johnson. They seem focused on control of the health care industry by defining as much of your life as possible as "health care", placing as much of your health care as possible under government control, and them in a position to influence the government agencies and bureaucrats involved.

[tacticalogic]

But it's pretty hard to believe that draconian policies that discourage even moderate drinking would on balance save health costs.

I don't think it's as much about discouraging moderate drinking, as it is them getting to say what "moderate" is, and getting paid to make sure you're "moderated".

[tpaine]

Why do people think that they can control me?

---- "The utterly insufferable arrogance of power, and the need for it, is an absolute fact of the human condition. -- Nothing can be done about it. - Just as the poor shall always be with us, so shall we have these infinitely shrewd imbeciles who live to lay down their version of 'the law' to others."
-unknown-

OTOH, why do we allow ourselves to be controlled?

The continuous disasters of man's history are mainly due to his excessive capacity and urge to become identified with a tribe, nation, church or cause, and to espouse its credo uncritically and enthusiastically, even if its tenets are contrary to reason, devoid of self-interest and detrimental to the claims of self-preservation. We are thus driven to the unfashionable conclusion that the trouble with our species is not an excess of aggression, but an excess capacity for fanatical devotion.
-Arthur Koestler-

[robertpaulsen]

"Let's have more of what hasn't worked."

Given all of your "Institute of Medicine" posts, I thought this was your mantra.

[tacticalogic]

If you want to talk about Zimmerman and MM, start a thread on Zimmerman and MM.

[cinFLA]

Zimmerman on the medical marijuana scam:

"How do we do that? At the tactical level. Well, we all know that, whether you do press work, you do demonstrations, you do community organizing, you do research, you do scientific research, policy research, lobbying and, also, initiatives. We're going to do five initiatives beyond two on medical marijuana, and five more this year. Several on ending civil asset forfeiture and several on

Each one of these initiatives has been drafted by public-opinion polling and focus-group research, so that we know exactly how far people are willing to go, what arguments will work to support our position, what arguments will work to attack our position, how we can counter those in each of these five states. And, in each state a different initiative, and it was a different process, a local research process that led to it.

Now, chances are very good we're going to win all these initiatives and on top of two other medical marijuana initiatives, hopefully in November we're going to have seven victories. "

[bassmaner]

DISCLAIMER: For the record, I have never used drugs and do not drink.

'Tis a shame that drug warriors, p.c. police, and other nanny staters have so chilled public discourse on the subject of drugs and alcohol that you feel compelled to make such a disclaimer. I, for one, believe that prohibition of any consensual activity between adults that harms no innocent third party is immoral and unconstitutional. Having said that, I believe that it is irrelevant whether I (or you, or anyone else) chooses to partake in such activities.

Memo to meddling nanny staters - that's known as "the pursuit of happiness".

[MrLeRoy]

Presently you hate the (perceived) focus of prosecuting drug users BUT

you are anti RWJF which is shifting focus to the suppliers!

Who was prosecuting alcohol users?

We are talking logic.

No, you're not---you're creating a crazy quilt of unrelated concepts.

[robertpaulsen]

"The same logic that supports relegalization of alcohol supports relegalization of drugs;"

Cool. I say if you want to (re)legalize drugs, do the same thing the anti-prohibitionists did -- pass an amendment to the Constitution.

I'm in favor of that. How about you, MrLeRoy?

[cinFLA]

If you want to talk about Zimmerman and MM, start a thread on Zimmerman and MM.

The thread is prohibition. Zimmerman is talking about initiatives to remove prohibition of drugs. He is your pro-druggie, I thought you would like to hear from him.

[MrLeRoy]

"Let's have more of what hasn't worked."

Given all of your "Institute of Medicine" posts, I thought this was your mantra.

And here I though cinFLA was the master of the non sequitur.

[MrLeRoy]

I say if you want to (re)legalize drugs, do the same thing the anti-prohibitionists did -- pass an amendment to the Constitution.

False parallel; an amendment empowering federal criminalization of drugs was never passed.

[B. Rabbit]

'Tis a shame that drug warriors, p.c. police, and other nanny staters have so chilled public discourse on the subject of drugs and alcohol that you feel compelled to make such a disclaimer. I, for one, believe that prohibition of any consensual activity between adults that harms no innocent third party is immoral and unconstitutional. Having said that, I believe that it is irrelevant whether I (or you, or anyone else) chooses to partake in such activities.

I see your point, but I wanted to make it clear that I have nothing to gain with my stance. It is purely based on logic, reason, and freedom. I stand by the disclaimer for that purpose.

[robertpaulsen]

"that's known as "the pursuit of happiness"."

More like "the selfish and irresponsible pursuit of immoral behavior".

C'mon, bassmaner, call it what it is. We're all adults here, and you don't need to couch this behavior in weasel words.

Come out and say what you really mean. You would like to be accepted in society, but would also like to participate in selfish, irresponsible, and immoral behavior. Right?

[B. Rabbit]

More like "the selfish and irresponsible pursuit of immoral behavior".

Whose morals? How do you know it to be irresponsible use? What's wrong with being selfish?

[MrLeRoy]

You would like to be accepted in society, but would also like to participate in selfish, irresponsible, and immoral behavior. Right?

Where did he say he wanted drug users protected from social ostracism?

[MrLeRoy]

FYI

[tacticalogic]

I thought you would like to hear from him.

Don't confuse wanting to hear yourself talk about him with me wanting to hear from him.

[cinFLA]

Don't confuse wanting to hear yourself talk about him with me wanting to hear from him.

I realize you have no heart for the truth.

[MrLeRoy]

He is your pro-druggie

tacticalogic, I didn't know you had a pro-druggie.