Why are you not a Libertarian?

[Swedishguy]

I think the Libertarian principles are good, but they aren't worth much if they would lead to a society noone wants to live in. I think tax cuts, deregulation and open borders would lead to prosperity for Europe, though. So basically I am a libertarian, just not a very dogmatic one.

Indeed, but don't you think you're opinions of those reforms is against the libertarian concept? Every man for himself, wasn't it?

 

[JerichoHill]

Every man for himself is not the libertarian concept. That's anarchy.

Libertarianism is about achieving the maximum amount of freedom possible in a society. Absolute freedom is a pipe dream.

Does this policy make people more free? Does it restrict anyone's freedom?

 

[eyrei]

I voted for every libertarian on the ballot (except President) in 2004, and I will do the same this year. I don't agree with them on everything, but having a number of them in the legislature would benefit our country greatly.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

Yeah, I will be voting for a lot of libertarians when I turn 18. Not just because I like some of their ideas, but also because I want to see more third parties represented.

 

[JohnRM]

If you want to get stoned with your buddies, I don't care. If you hurt other people then we have a problem. Robbery, theft, etc. are all crimes and should be punished. But if you have enough of your own money, I don't care what you spend it on.

Some people abuse alcohol but plenty of other people manage to drink and never get into any trouble. If you can do that with drugs, I'm fine with it.

I should note that I am strongly opposed to drugs personally... the whole addiction thing doesn't jive well with libertarianism.

Well, I believe that in most cases that drug use alone is harmful to society. I just cannot support the legalization thereof. I would reduce penalties for possession of Marijuana though to remove jail time for any numeration of offenses and any amounts short of distribution level. Dealers would still get the same treatment. I would like to see it fined just like speeding tickets, except doubled in value. I would also like to see offenses come with a suspension of the offender's driver's license for one year. For the second offense, it gets suspended for another year. Third offense, three more years. Fourth offense, ten years. I think we are wasting time and resources keeping pot smokers in jail. It would help with overcrowding and we wouldn't have to let violent criminals out early.

 

[JohnRM]

Little l libertarians compose 13% of the American electorate and are the largest block of swing voters. They are responsible for the 1994 Republican revolution, and will likely be responsible for the 2006 Democractic revolution (they're pissed)

Why am I a libertarian? Because I believe that freedom was the ideal our country was founded on, and what we've bled on. And that's freedom in all forms.

Yeah, as if the Democrats are any better for Libertarians.

 

[Bast]

Well, I believe that in most cases that drug use alone is harmful to society. I just cannot support the legalization thereof. I would reduce penalties for possession of Marijuana though to remove jail time for any numeration of offenses and any amounts short of distribution level. Dealers would still get the same treatment. I would like to see it fined just like speeding tickets, except doubled in value. I would also like to see offenses come with a suspension of the offender's driver's license for one year. For the second offense, it gets suspended for another year. Third offense, three more years. Fourth offense, ten years. I think we are wasting time and resources keeping pot smokers in jail. It would help with overcrowding and we wouldn't have to let violent criminals out early.

How about bigger or more jails?

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

How about bigger or more jails?

That takes more tax money. A lot of space would be cleared if drug possesion was decriminalized, at least on private property.

 

[Bast]

That takes more tax money. A lot of space would be cleared if drug possesion was decriminalized, at least on private property.

How about privatizing some of the jails? They can use the inmates for cheap labor.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

How about privatizing some of the jails? They can use the inmates for cheap labor.

That's actually an interesting idea, but a lot of regulation would probably have to be in place for security and treatment reasons.

 

[IglooDame]

How about bigger or more jails?

The US already has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. You're saying it needs to be higher?

 

[Rambuchan]

Every man for himself is not the libertarian concept. That's anarchy.

That's not Anarchy. The quote I provided in my earlier post was from the founder of the Anarchist movement, Michael Bakunin, a man who advocated Freedom with Equality, and never should the two be separated.

 

[Murky]

Legalizing drugs won't solve the problems of overcrowding jails and prisons. Addicts frequently commit other crimes to support their habit. The most common things are theft, robbery and becoming drug dealers themselves. If dangerous addictive drugs could be sold on the free market our country would go into a downward spiral so fast it would be like an apocalypse.

Instead of spending so much time punishing addicts with incarceration they should focus on rehabilitation and prevention. They should put an end to the manufacture and sell of anything not approved by the FDA.

 

[skadistic]

Legalizing drugs won't solve the problems of overcrowding jails and prisons. Addicts frequently commit other crimes to support their habit. The most common things are theft, robbery and becoming drug dealers themselves. If dangerous addictive drugs could be sold on the free market our country would go into a downward spiral so fast it would be like an apocalypse.

Instead of spending so much time punishing addicts with incarceration they should focus on rehabilitation and prevention. They should put an end to the manufacture and sell of anything not approved by the FDA.

Legalizing drugs will cut down on incarseration. Not all addicts resort to crime.
Legalizing drugs will not increase drasticly the numbers of users.
Rehab and prevention are nice.
They should only sell the most highly addictive drugs like Oxycotin because its approved by the FDA? Those pot heads are clearly a major threat to the population while the pill addicts are not because the FDA approved some of the most damiging drugs on the market.

 

[Panzeh]

Legalizing drugs in a real way means you can have big companies do it, and it's easier to hit big companies than to stamp out dealers.

 

[Murky]

Legalizing drugs will cut down on incarseration. Not all addicts resort to crime.
Legalizing drugs will not increase drasticly the numbers of users.
Rehab and prevention are nice.
They should only sell the most highly addictive drugs like Oxycotin because its approved by the FDA? Those pot heads are clearly a major threat to the population while the pill addicts are not because the FDA approved some of the most damiging drugs on the market.

The FDA isn't perfect. I think nicotine qualifies as a dangerous addictive drug but at least there some warning labels about it. Alcohol is also dangerous but there are measures in place to cut down on alcohol related crimes.

Marijuana isn't the most dangerous drug but it's still harmful and can be a stepping stone to more dangerous addictions.

What about things like Heroin, Methamphetamine and Acid? What kind of person thinks these drugs don't pose major risks to the drug users and society? A person tripping out on any of them poses a danger to themselves and anyone around them. There are also long term affects of drug use that permantly alters a person’s behavior. It would be detrimental to society and the world to make such dangerous drugs legal.

 

[skadistic]

The FDA isn't perfect. I think nicotine qualifies as a dangerous addictive drug but at least there some warning labels about it. Alcohol is also dangerous but there are measures in place to cut down on alcohol related crimes.

Marijuana isn't the most dangerous drug but it's still harmful and can be a stepping stone to more dangerous addictions.

What about things like Heroin, Methamphetamine and Acid? What kind of person thinks these drugs don't pose major risks to the drug users and society? A person tripping out on any of them poses a danger to themselves and anyone around them. There are also long term affects of drug use that permantly alters a person’s behavior. It would be detrimental to society and the world to make such dangerous drugs legal.

Heroin and meth and crack should be outlawed. Acid? Have you ever used Acid or are you going off the hype force fed lies the government spews forth in its fearmongering? Pot is not a stepping stone drug anymore then redbull.

 

[IglooDame]

Marijuana isn't the most dangerous drug but it's still harmful and can be a stepping stone to more dangerous addictions.

Frankly whenever someone cites drugs as being "stepping stones" or "gateways" I pretty much tune them out. It's as stupid a concept as thinking toy guns are stepping stones to real guns.

 

[JollyRoger]

Frankly whenever someone cites drugs as being "stepping stones" or "gateways" I pretty much tune them out. It's as stupid a concept as thinking toy guns are stepping stones to real guns.

Yep, making the gateway argument regarding MJ is just a stupid as asserting that taking a leadership position in a Church is a stepping stone to pedophilia or homosexuality.

 

[Murky]

Heroin and meth and crack should be outlawed. Acid? Have you ever used Acid or are you going off the hype force fed lies the government spews forth in its fearmongering? Pot is not a stepping stone drug anymore then redbull.

I don't use drugs except for what the doctor prescribes and the occasional glass of wine or beer.

My stance against drugs is based on what I have seen first hand and read about. A guy I used to think of as a harmless Marijuana user turned out to be one of the most despicable criminals I've ever known. The area where I live has a huge methamphetamine problem that also creates a lot of other problems. Theft and child abuse is common in the area.

I've been to seminars where law enforcement goes into great detail and shows pictures of what illegal drug manufacturing and use does to people. None of it is pretty and makes you sick to think about it.