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Title: The Dope on Conservative Pot Warriors
Source:
Lew Rockwell
URL Source: https://www.lewrockwell.com/2019/01 ... -on-conservative-pot-warriors/
Published: Jan 8, 2019
Author: Laurence M. Vance
Post Date: 2019-01-08 02:08:39 by Deckard
Keywords: None
Views: 1119
Comments: 20
A conservative is upset that there appears to be “a seemingly irresistible momentum promoting unrestrained medical and recreational use of marijuana in the U.S.” This is certainly true. Because of the passage of some marijuana ballot initiatives in the recent election, there are now thirty-three states that have legalized the medical use of marijuana, plus the District of Columbia, and ten states that have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, plus the District of Columbia. Just the states of Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming have not yet legalized medical marijuana. Recreational marijuana is now legal in the states of Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. There are, of course, still many government restrictions on the buying, selling, growing, possession, and use of marijuana. And there is still a war on drugs in general. In his brief article, “The Dope on Legal Pot,” the conservative writer makes the case that the medical benefits of marijuana are dubious; there are no adequate safety standards for the consumption of pot, even under medical supervision; the acceptance of the alleged medical benefits of marijuana mirrors earlier enthusiasms for opioids, of which we now have an epidemic; the marijuana industry is viewed by state governments as a panacea to help fund their budgets, resulting in politicians supporting legal pot because of its fiscal benefits; the promotion of marijuana stocks will drive up demand for the stocks and increase the number of people who will have a vested financial interest in marijuana; and scientists have been working to create varieties of marijuana with greater concentrations of THC. But in the course of doing all of the above, he also manages to smear libertarians: The decriminalization or legalization of pot is basically a leftist crusade, with some philosophical justification provided by the Libertarians. Once the left initiates a crusade like this, their flacks in the Corrupt Leftist Media will relentlessly promote it until these enthusiasms eventually become accepted. The Democrat Party has made decriminalization or legalization of pot part of its Party platform. Republicans have mostly remained silent on this issue, just as they often do before they test the political wind for the scent of campaign donations or political support. The Libertarians are enthusiastic about decriminalization and legalization, just as they are about every destructive vice. Thus, there is no viable political opposition to this movement. I want to ask and answer two questions. 1. Are libertarians simply justifying a leftist crusade when they call for the decriminalization or legalization of pot? Libertarians are in favor of the decriminalization or legalization of pot because it is not the job of the government to monitor, restrict, or regulate what anyone wants to eat, drink, inhale, or inject into his mouth, nose, veins, or lungs. Libertarians advocate complete marijuana freedom because they believe that anyone should be able to do anything that’s peaceful as long as he doesn’t infringe upon the personal or property rights of others and is responsible for the consequences of his actions. Liberals are not in favor of complete marijuana freedom. What Democratic member of Congress has ever called for complete marijuana freedom? When Democrats controlled both Houses of Congress under President Obama, they didn’t pass any legislation to institute marijuana freedom or anything close to it, although they had the power to do so. 2. Why are libertarians so enthusiastic about decriminalization and legalization, just as they are about every destructive vice? Libertarians are enthusiastic about decriminalization and legalization, not because marijuana is good or harmless or medically beneficial, but because they are enthusiastic about individual liberty, personal freedom, private property, and limited government. Libertarians are enthusiastic about the legalization of destructive vices, not because they don’t think they are immoral or sinful or dangerous, but because vices should not be crimes. As the nineteenth-century political philosopher Lysander Spooner explained it: Vices are those acts by which a man harms himself or his property. Crimes are those acts by which one man harms the person or property of another. Vices are simply the errors which a man makes in his search after his own happiness. Unlike crimes, they imply no malice toward others, and no interference with their persons or property. Every crime needs a real victim—not a potential victim or a possible victim, but a tangible and identifiable victim who has suffered measurable harm to his person or measurable damages to his property. “This enthusiasm for decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana means that the country really is going to pot,” says our conservative pot warrior. No, the country has already gone to pot. The enthusiasm for decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana means that the country really is turning, at least on this issue, toward more freedom and less government. I thought this was something that conservatives supported.
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#1. To: Deckard (#0)
Sure. But only if society is there to pick up the pieces of the consequences of their drug use. Then they're downright socialists. Who will take care of me now that I lost my friends, family, and my job? Where are my food stamps? I need free medical care because of my drug use. Where's your compassion? Oh, poor me! If Libertarians truly want limited government they'd push for that first. Remove ALL government support for illegal drug users. Then we can talk about legalizing those drugs.
Libertarians are left of conservatives. lib·er·tine /ÈlibYrÌtn/Submit noun 1. a person, especially a man, who behaves without moral principles or a sense of responsibility, especially in sexual matters. synonyms: philanderer, ladies' man, playboy, rake, roué, loose-liver, Don Juan, Lothario, Casanova, Romeo; More 2. a person who rejects accepted opinions in matters of religion; a freethinker. adjective 1. characterized by a disregard of morality, especially in sexual matters. "his more libertine impulses" synonyms: licentious, lustful, libidinous, lecherous, lascivious, lubricious, dissolute, dissipated, debauched, immoral, wanton, shameless, degenerate, depraved, debased, profligate, promiscuous, unchaste, lewd, prurient, salacious, indecent, immodest, impure, carnal, intemperate, abandoned, unrestrained, unprincipled, reprobate; More 2. freethinking in matters of religion.
That pretty much sums up a libertarian.
Libertarian is not the same as libertine. But by all means - keep going with your delusional posts. Libertarians are enthusiastic about decriminalization and legalization, not because marijuana is good or harmless or medically beneficial, but because they are enthusiastic about individual liberty, personal freedom, private property, and limited government. Libertarians are enthusiastic about the legalization of destructive vices, not because they don’t think they are immoral or sinful or dangerous, but because vices should not be crimes. As the nineteenth-century political philosopher Lysander Spooner explained it: Vices are those acts by which a man harms himself or his property. Crimes are those acts by which one man harms the person or property of another. Vices are simply the errors which a man makes in his search after his own happiness. Unlike crimes, they imply no malice toward others, and no interference with their persons or property. Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. So libertarians in their rejection of morality don't believe in God. Deckard there is such a thing as sin. I thought you knew that.
Then tell me 3 things a libertarian believes that a libertine wouldn't believe. Can't do it can you?
Correct. Libertarians have to remove any consideration of morality in their philosophy -- other than "harming others through force or fraud". If some activity is indecent, unethical, immoral, disrespectful, profane, etc. it must be allowed since it's not harming anyone. The problem with Libertarianism is two- fold. They ignore any effects on children and they assume everyone will take personal responsibility for their actions.
A sin or a vice is not the same as a crime.
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. Stealing is a crime and a sin. Murder is a crime and a sin. Rape is a crime and a sin.
You're seriously trying to compare those to smoking pot? Not honoring your parents is a sin - shall we send SWAT teams to arrest kids who talk back to mom and dad? Swearing is a sin - yeah, that's the ticket - arrest all the potty-mouths. Good grief, you just don't get it, do you princess? All the things that you mentioned have victims. Drunkenness is a sin - we don't go around arresting those who are drunk in their own homes or in bars, do we? Why should pot users be any different?
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. Looks like I won the debate again. You could not differentiate between libertarians and libertines. You couldn't do it because they are the same.
No. I was just making the point that sin can be a crime. Most crimes are sins.
Pot should be illegal. I don't think the penalty should be substantial. For a regular user 100 bucks and court costs seems reasonable. It is not good when kids get hooked on pot then as young adults they spend a hundred a week or more and that hurts their family. Many want to quit but are hooked. Pot isn't the worst thing in the world. There are many many things far worse. I just think we have to send a message to younger people that it isn't right and they can do better. Instead of saying this is your undeniable right toke up enjoy.
Marijuanna has victims too. The families suffer when the money goes to weed instead of food or housing. Some of these people are 30 years old and don't have a car and don;t contribute to society but they smoke every day. I know people like that.
This is just a few examples “Family charged with murders of eight people on marijuana farm” “Video shows smash and grab robbery at BotaniQ marijuana dispensary in Corktown” (just last week) You will never get Dicktard to admit that drug use causes victimization. That asshole is on the most recent popular propaganda shtick... “drug crimes are non-violent”. How many times does that asshole post an article that says... in prison for 15 years for a non violent crime. lol Don’t get me wrong though, I don’t feel Marijuanna use is worse than alcohol use, and I do favor legalization... but it still needs to be regulated and when the addicted, sheeple populace act OUTSIDE of those regulations, after legalization, punishments need to be HARSH. We should be imprisoning people for LIFE, after a 3rd alcohol or marijuana driving conviction. Drunks and potheads are a menace to a free society.
I'm the infidel... Allah warned you about. كافر المسلح
Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program Overview The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) is conducting an Industrial Hemp Research Pilot Program as authorized by KRS 260.850-260.869, and 7 U.S.C.§ 5940 (also known as Section 7606 of the 2014 Farm Bill). Industrial hemp plants, leaf, floral materials, and viable seed materials remain a Schedule I Controlled Substance under state and federal law; no person can grow, handle, broker, or process industrial hemp in Kentucky without a license issued by the KDA. For more information on applications, please visit the Applications for the Hemp Program page. Industrial Hemp is a Controlled Substance and requires a KDA License to Grow, Handle, Process, or Market Individuals and businesses who would like to be considered for a license to grow, handle, process, or market hemp must submit the appropriate license application to KDA Hemp Program, 111 Corporate Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601 prior to the established deadlines. For more information on applications, please visit the Applications for the Hemp Program page. President Trump is weeding it up on the farm.
Libertarians don't reject morality. They believe morality is relative. "Moral relativism is the idea that there is no universal or absolute set of moral principles. It’s a version of morality that advocates “to each his own,” and those who follow it say, “Who am I to judge?”
Uh-huh. And when they are unable to generate a profit, they'll come crying to the government asking to grow marijuana instead. This should take about one growing season.
That means they don't believe in morals. If they believe in moral relativism. There are moral libertarians though. Who practice personal integrity and morality. They just don't like some of it codified into law.
Unfortunately it became necessary due to many people adopting the attitude of, "If it's legal I can do it and don't you dare impose your standards on me." Back in the 50's we didn't have 90% of the laws we have today. People knew that with freedom came responsibility.
"Libertarians ... are enthusiastic about individual liberty, personal freedom, private property, and limited government.
#2. To: Deckard (#0)
Are libertarians simply justifying a leftist crusade when they call for the decriminalization or legalization of pot?
#3. To: misterwhite, paraclete (#2)
1. characterized by a disregard of morality
#4. To: A K A Stone (#2)
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#5. To: Deckard (#4)
Libertarians are enthusiastic about the legalization of destructive vices, not because they don’t think they are immoral or sinful or dangerous
#6. To: Deckard (#4)
Libertarian is not the same as libertine.
#7. To: A K A Stone (#3)
That pretty much sums up a libertarian.
#8. To: A K A Stone (#5)
Deckard there is such a thing as sin.
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#9. To: Deckard (#8)
#10. To: A K A Stone (#9)
(Edited)
Stealing is a crime and a sin. Murder is a crime and a sin. Rape is a crime and a sin.
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#11. To: Deckard (#8)
#12. To: Deckard (#10)
You're seriously trying to compare those to smoking pot?
#13. To: Deckard (#10)
Why should pot users be any different?
#14. To: Deckard (#10)
All the things that you mentioned have victims.
#15. To: A K A Stone (#14)
(Edited)
Marijuanna has victims too.
#16. To: Deckard (#0)
President Trump Signs 2018 Farm Bill, Legalizing Hemp
#17. To: A K A Stone (#5)
So libertarians in their rejection of morality don't believe in God.
#18. To: hondo68 (#16)
#19. To: misterwhite (#17)
Libertarians don't reject morality. They believe morality is relative.
#20. To: A K A Stone (#19)
They just don't like some of it codified into law.
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