[john drake]

I know you’re being sarcastic....let me add some color....government is probably the best example of “hypocrisy” outside of Hollywierd. They want you to “quit” smoking, but need the taxes so subsidize the tobacco industry farmers from time to time and charge a fortune in taxes on the products. They want you not to “gamble” illegally, but want you to play the lotto. 100 years ago they wanted you to stop drinking alcohol, but probably the largest portion of cost on a bottle of booze are all the taxes charged on them. It goes on and on. People are economic beings; where ever the price of a product can be purchased for less (including taxes paid on those products) you have a market. Thank the Lord there isn’t enough policing agents (ATF was created for that reason at the Federal level) to enforce the madness.....for now.

[vette6387]

You need to add in “The War on Drugs!” This “war” has been the LEO’s dream. Lots of cops employed, drug money confiscated and put to use buying war-making equipment and more cops. You have to ask yourself why they haven't been in any way minimally successful? Answer: They like it just the way it is, because like nearly everything in government, it's “real purpose” is as a jobs program. Doing anything really constructive, is just happenstance.