Comments on: To Drain The Cesspool, Legalize Drugs http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2009/04/01/to-drain-the-cesspool-legalize-drugs/ Words from a Non-Leftist Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:54:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: mark ross http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2009/04/01/to-drain-the-cesspool-legalize-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-2329 mark ross Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:58:57 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2009/04/01/to-drain-the-cesspool-legalize-drugs/#comment-2329 Ironically, back on Sept. 11, 2001, R. Emmet Tyrell published an op ed that introduced the expression "guard rails." Socially and morally mature individuals have much less to worry about abusing common intoxicants than do folks withou such personal development. Blackie is right in wondering about unintended consequences... but we already have a substantial population of pathological abusers and their allies... in spite of all efforts to the contrary. Ironically, back on Sept. 11, 2001, R. Emmet Tyrell published an op ed that introduced the expression “guard rails.” Socially and morally mature individuals have much less to worry about abusing common intoxicants than do folks withou such personal development. Blackie is right in wondering about unintended consequences… but we already have a substantial population of pathological abusers and their allies… in spite of all efforts to the contrary.

]]> By: blackie http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2009/04/01/to-drain-the-cesspool-legalize-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-2328 blackie Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:32:28 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2009/04/01/to-drain-the-cesspool-legalize-drugs/#comment-2328 I wonder what crimes drug dealers would switch to. Drug dealers customers will stick to breaking into our cars & houses, but waht will suppliers turn to? I think legalizing drugs, while a good idea would lead to some interesting unintended consequences. I wonder what crimes drug dealers would switch to. Drug dealers customers will stick to breaking into our cars & houses, but waht will suppliers turn to? I think legalizing drugs, while a good idea would lead to some interesting unintended consequences.

]]> By: Mike Caton http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2009/04/01/to-drain-the-cesspool-legalize-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-2327 Mike Caton Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:09:42 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2009/04/01/to-drain-the-cesspool-legalize-drugs/#comment-2327 Absolutely 100% agree. And we have a moment when lots of other factors are lining up to make this position more mainstream. If states wait for the Feds to do it, we'll wait forever - the higher up you go, the political risk/reward ratio for being associated with decriminalization becomes unfavorable. We should really focus on decriminalizing in California. Consequently we should focus on pockets of resistance in the state that would stop it from happening. While there are many pragmatic reasons for decriminalization, we shouldn't stop pressing the basic fact that prohibition is outlawing something that, in itself, is not morally wrong. "Victimless crime" is an oxymoron. Absolutely 100% agree. And we have a moment when lots of other factors are lining up to make this position more mainstream. If states wait for the Feds to do it, we’ll wait forever – the higher up you go, the political risk/reward ratio for being associated with decriminalization becomes unfavorable. We should really focus on decriminalizing in California. Consequently we should focus on pockets of resistance in the state that would stop it from happening.

While there are many pragmatic reasons for decriminalization, we shouldn’t stop pressing the basic fact that prohibition is outlawing something that, in itself, is not morally wrong. “Victimless crime” is an oxymoron.

]]> By: mark ross http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2009/04/01/to-drain-the-cesspool-legalize-drugs/comment-page-1/#comment-2326 mark ross Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:00:34 +0000 http://www.eastbayconservative.com/2009/04/01/to-drain-the-cesspool-legalize-drugs/#comment-2326 Well, you are, at least, a "small L" libertarian. Over 25 years ago the Chronicle ran a freelance op ed piece entitled "Gangsters always vote for Prohibition." In modern times, despite legal alcohol, there's still plenty of sobriety... especially during work hours. Booze, drugs and guns are not the source of our social ills... they are the manifestations of social weakness. Well, you are, at least, a “small L” libertarian. Over 25 years ago the Chronicle ran a freelance op ed piece entitled “Gangsters always vote for Prohibition.” In modern times, despite legal alcohol, there’s still plenty of sobriety… especially during work hours. Booze, drugs and guns are not the source of our social ills… they are the manifestations of social weakness.

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