[M.K. Borders]

I don't understand why we need pre-conditions for the government to stop trampling on people's rights.

I will support the war on drugs so long as I am the one expected to pay the bills of the losers who engage in such behavior.

I really don't think I could give a clearer answer. The use of drugs by these folks affects ME. I have to pay the bills in the form of higher taxs. Therefore drug use under todays conditions does NOT stop at a persons front door. So long as it affects me against MY will, then I see no constitutional protection.

Pull the social safety net I am compelled to support, then we will talk about the user's "rights".

[Schmedlap]

When I wrote, “I don’t understand why we need pre-conditions for the government to stop trampling on people’s rights,” I was speaking in terms of general principles, not justification of ad hoc legislation.

Posted by M.K. Borders:
“I will support the war on drugs so long as I am the one expected to pay the bills of the losers who engage in such behavior....I really don't think I could give a clearer answer.”

One way to give a clearer answer is to lay out your principles in a way that can be applied to all situations, rather than one specific situation. Focusing on principles, rather than ad hoc laws, allows us to better understand each other’s principles – and to understand and refine our own principles.

Please tell me if I understand you:
Group A = illegal drug users
G = government
X = health care expenses from illegal drug use
D = illegal drug use

Group A engages in activity D.
Activity D results in X expenses.
G violates your rights, by coercing you to pay for X.
G violates the rights of Group A, to reduce activity D.
Reduction in activity D results in a reduction of X.
So long as G coerces you to pay for X, a decrease in X equates to a decrease in the frequency with which your rights are violated.
Your rights are more important than the rights of Group A.
If G coerces you to pay X, then it is acceptable that G continues to violate rights of Group A, because this results in less violation of your rights at the hands of G.