Replies

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics.” - Benjamin Disraeli

Posted by Reagan Man:
“In the last Pew Center Research Report from August 2001, 86% of American's, do not agree with the following statement, ‘People should be allowed to take any drug they want so long as they don't hurt someone else.’”

So? My intent was to provide a brief case outlining why drugs should be legal. I am not attempting to say that most Americans support this notion. Consensus among morons is not a substitute for logic, so I do not consider it a significant point, in regards to this topic. About 50% of voters voted for Algore in the last election. That does not mean that he would make a good President.
The statistic that you quoted only means that a lot of people disagree with me. It contributes nothing to the search for a logical policy regarding drugs that are currently illegal.
I would wager that the disagreement is largely due to the fact that drugs have been illegal for so long. Therefore, legalizing them would be “not the way we’ve always done it” – a common logical fallacy that many fall prey to.

Posted by Reagan Man:
“Both the government and the people it represents, have every right to tell you, you can't snort cocaine. Period. The laws of the land are clear when it comes to the trafficking, purchase, possession and ingestion of those substances the people have declared harmful and illicit.”

I agree that people have the right to tell others that they cannot snort cocaine. I disagree that the people or the government have the right to imprison somebody for buying it, selling it, possessing it, or snorting it. Law grants government the power, but that does not grant it the right. Rights are not granted; they are inalienable.

I agree with Reagan Man’s last post, though:
“If an individual believes a specific law enacted by Congress is in violation of the Constitution, that person should fight within the political arena and the legal system, to reverse such a law. Until and unless a law is overturned, it remains legal and valid. It is the law of the land. Period.”

Public opinion needs to change, before there will be any hope of winning in the political or legal arena. This thread is part of an attempt at that change. Commander8 raised an important issue to consider, if this change were to occur, and legalization were to become a reality:

“Frankly, I would like to see the welfare state abolished before drugs are legalized.
If the welfare state is jettisoned first and then drugs leagalized, those who choose to ruin their lives with drugs will do so without some agency there to rehabilitate (translation:substitute their heroin with methodone.) them and they would have to either straighten themselves out or starve.”

>>>Consensus among morons is not a substitute for logic, so I do not consider it a significant point, in regards to this topic.

The people who support America's drug control policy aren't morons. These people are intelligent and responsible individuals who don't condone the use of illicit drugs and consider such behavior to be irresponsible and immoral. If you intend on continuing with this rhetorical tone, I suggest you take it to "The Smokey Backroom" Forum, where you can let loose with all manner of namecalling.

>>>I would wager that the disagreement is largely due to the fact that drugs have been illegal for so long. Therefore, legalizing them would be “not the way we’ve always done it” – a common logical fallacy that many fall prey to.

This isn't about a disagreement. Civilized society has advanced and mankind no longer considers such behavior, like drug abuse, to be in the best interests of the individual and society. We don't live in the dark ages any longer and we don't dwell in the jungle either.

>>>Law grants government the power, but that does not grant it the right. Rights are not granted; they are inalienable.

Baloney! This is a typical libertarian propaganda and misinterpretation. The will of the people, as represented through their elected officials, determines what is suitable, acceptable and proper behavior in our society. Immoral behavior will not be tolerated and at this time, that means drug use remains outlawed. I agree with Jefferson, when he wrote:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."
Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson, 1776.

The bold emphasis is mine, of course.

I agree with Reagan Man?s last post, though:
?If an individual believes a specific law enacted by Congress is in violation of the Constitution, that person should fight within the political arena and the legal system, to reverse such a law. Until and unless a law is overturned, it remains legal and valid. It is the law of the land. Period.?

Then you are as wrong as he it. Look up Marbury v. Madison. To paraphrase, a law repugnant to the Constitution is invalid FROM THE DAY it is ENACTED, NOT just from when it was found so. As such it need not be enforced or obeyed.

This is all in the decision and it has never been challenged, which would tend to mean that RM, like his counterparts who unconstitutionally enacted and currently ENFORCE this legislation will, at some point and sooner than RM wants to see, be liable for their actions. Hopefully it will entail CRIMINAL liability and if there's any justice, the enactors and the JBTs who enforce this crud will be on death row for all the murders that they have committed in so doing. The damage they have done and continue to do to the very fabric of the Republiic is incalculable.