adult humans have a natural right to ingest whatever substance they choose.
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The problem is, some of these "substances" affect other people.
I have no problem with 19-year old Slick Rick getting hammered and stoned every night in his parents basement with an endless supply of alcohol and marijuana. I do have a problem with drunken-stoned Ricky comes outside and gets in a car, or comes near my child. Because now, because of his irresponsibility, his "substances" are now having an effect on my life.
The question is, how do we deal with this problem?
A) Arrest them, put them in jail or rehab center
B) Legalize it, so they can do it as they freely. Create "volunteer" rehab centers where they can get help (HA!).
Republicans answer A.
Libertarians answer B.
If these people want to live "Freely" like they say they do, here is what I propose. Take a dump liberal state, say Vermont, Barb-wire it off, instead of sending them to jail, send them to Vermont, and let them live in anarchy away from the rest of society. Let them grow their own fruits, vegetables, and "herbal" medicines, hunt their own animals, build their own shelters, and live as the "Libertarians" they want to be. Nobody from the US Federal Government will never bother them again.
Josh, that's enough reason to make me want to be a libertarian.
I think that the problem all of you (and at the risk guarantee of being flamed) supposedly smart people are having is that you are like the blind men trying to describe an elephant when each of them are only touching different parts of the animal.
Do you look at Arlen Specter and Lincoln Chaffee and think that they are the GOP? Or do you realize that they are only a part of it?
Do you look at Zell Miller and, and, and, ..... OK, there are no other good Democrats, but do you look at Zell and proclaim that the Dems are finally getting it?
Of course not and you shouldn't. But neither should you focus on the nut cases who have a Kodak moment. Yes there are nut cases in the LP (BTW, I am a registered Republican who doesn't use any drugs and rartely even takes prescribed medications). The GOP had David Duke. So what?
You are doing what the media AND the two major parties wants you to do and that is to focus on drugs to discredit the many good ideas that Libertarians bring to the table. And for all of those who want to do drugs there are probably 10 times as many who never touch drugs but want the government to stay the hell out of their lives. The war on drugs is a bigger problem and a bigger threat to our liberties than any pothead or crack addict will ever be.
A) Arrest them, put them in jail or rehab center
B) Legalize it, so they can do it as they freely. Create "volunteer" rehab centers where they can get help (HA!).
Republicans answer A.
Libertarians answer B.
Well, in that case, you need to be sure to get alcohol outlawed then... The fact is that driving while impaired/under the influence is what's illegal, not getting drunk. Do you propose reintroducing prohibition? I'm a strong supporter of tossing the people who are busted for DUI into jail for long sentances. That's for alcohol and/or drugs.
But if DUI is the problem you have here, then why even bother mentioning drugs?
Mark