And I think social services should now step OUT and let the addicts face the natural consequences of their own choices...including the consequences of facing an armed citizenry. It seems a better solution that increasing the power of the government.
I am concerned that the critics on this post have ignored my main issue - that drug addicts are fueling our enemies with money while at the same time functioning like a cancer, destroying our nation from within.
Why do you suppose that our enemies choose to make money from the sale of illegal drugs, and not from other addictive, harmful substances like tobacco or alcohol? Perhaps if drugs were not relegated to the realm of the unlawful, unlawful merchants would not enjoy an advantage in that market.
Right now the government seems to have a contradictory drug policy; drug use is criminalized, but drug users are subsidized. I think if the government started to just back out of the matter, both of your concerns would be addressed. Removing drugs from the criminal realm means that our enemies could no longer make money off of them, just like ending Prohibition reduced (if not eliminated) the involvement of organized crime in the alcohol trade. Removing government subsidies for addicts means the addicts can not be a drain on the taxpayer any more.
Less government is better.
“Less government is better.”
That is what I’ve stated in my posts. I don’t support more government interference, far from that.
We already prosecute drug users and drug traffickers. Everyone deserves a chance to change their ways. But when criminal behaviors are threatening to public safety AND national security - just like treason - I’m in favor of capital punishment.
“...Removing drugs from the criminal realm means that our enemies could no longer make money off of them,...”
That’s is like saying “abolish all traffic laws and traffic deaths will decline”.
I strongly suspect that it won’t work. Addictive drugs aren’t easy to discontinue whereas with alcohol or chocolate many if not most people find it is possible to have just one and walk away.
Substance abuse often runs in families. People who are bipolar, or who have certain personality disorders, are more subject to substance abuse including alcohol and various drugs. If a person knows family history and can control the cravings, that’s cool. Unfortunately many cannot.
Occasional use of tobacco and alcohol will not kill you. It has not been unknown for a first time user of cocaine or heroin to die. Marijuana is known as a gateway drug - it is an introduction to getting high. Prolonged regular use can cause brain damage. Drinking a glass of red wine at dinner won’t.
You sound sincere and talk like a Libertarian. The doctrine is attractive but the laws we have are to protect people from each other AND from our own stupidity. It is a precarious balance at best and it’s just a damn shame most people aren’t better, but philosophers have been moaning about for a long, long time.