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I'm sitting here, watching the current drug czar and last drug czar on CNN, talking about alcohol and marijuana.
The current one, Gil Kerlikowske, is saying that they are against marijuana because, "look at what alcohol and tobacco do now". The former one (sorry, didn't catch his name), said he is in favor of stricter laws on alcohol.
When will people learn, you can't stop people from doing these things.
I'm not just wanting to get into a debate about marijuana or alcohol, but all morals.
If its not widely accepted by the public, and I mean in numbers higher than 80% support, you can't tell 20% of 350,000,000 people they can't do something they want to do.
Sex, drugs, music, hate, and all of the other morals we try to tell people no to. When are we going to learn that all of these things will always exist, but as long as they aren't hurting anyone other than those who decide to participate in them, then why do you care?
What about murder? Should we legalize it? Not murdering is a moral value.
Thats why I said in my OP, that you can't legislate morals, that less than 80% majority agree with.
For instance, Alcohol was seen by about 60% of Americans as being ok to prohibit. However, the other 40% eventually got their way, because you just can't legislate morality.
Also, civil rights. Until a overwhelming majority thought that everyone should have the same rights, it wasn't passed.
You just can't legislate morality. Everyone knows murder, stealing, and things of that nature are wrong, which is why those are laws in every country.
It's an interesting topic for sure. Think about our laws...why are any of them there? Mostly to protect people from their own human nature tendency to do things that are not necessarily good for them, or others. I agree however that, and I know this isn't quite the topic, but why exactly is alcohol perfectly legal and marijuana not? I never understood the logic. But anyway, you can't 'legislate' morality. But you can and should legislate protection; both from others and from ourselves.
What about murder? Should we legalize it? Not murdering is a moral value.
I think we can legislate things where somebody else gets hurt (or killed, in this case). On the other hand, if nobody but the person involved in getting hurt (or nobody at all), then that's their business to do as they like.
Sex, drugs, music, hate, and all of the other morals we try to tell people no to. When are we going to learn that all of these things will always exist, but as long as they aren't hurting anyone other than those who decide to participate in them, then why do you care?
So where do you draw the line, if there is one at all? Which morals are you picking and choosing? All behavior can be looked at as moral or immoral.
So, do you completely do away with the age of consent, allow persons in power to have sex with their subordinates (priest, teacher, jailor), is incest allowed? Who will determine what "hurt" is?
Do you do away completely with drug laws, does that include all drugs? Can I gift them to who I want? Use them where and when I want?
Should we be allowed to scream "FIRE" in a movie theater or "I'LL BLOW THIS MOTHER" on an airplane?
Should public schools be allowed to teach religion, evolution, creationism as a valid point of view, if they so choose?. Should children be allowed to go to school dressed any way they want?
BTW, we don't legislate feelings or intent, we legislate behavior. When you mean hate I assume you mean discrimination. Is that not hurtful? What is hurtful in your mind?
If you want 100% Freedom to.... then you wil have to do away with Freedom from..
It's an interesting topic for sure. Think about our laws...why are any of them there? Mostly to protect people from their own human nature tendency to do things that are not necessarily good for them, or others. I agree however that, and I know this isn't quite the topic, but why exactly is alcohol perfectly legal and marijuana not? I never understood the logic. But anyway, you can't 'legislate' morality. But you can and should legislate protection; both from others and from ourselves.
This is an excellent point. I'm not fan of either, but, making it illegal just doesn't work at all in my opinion.
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