Posted by Cass on January 2, 2000, at 20:49:52
In reply to Let's talk... Careful - Religion and Politics..., posted by Scott L. Schofield on January 2, 2000, at 17:48:21
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> > I agree with Diane. We live in a free society, and big brother should not tell us what is right or wrong for us. Besides, if drugs are legalized, they could be taxable and boost the economy. Also, people will always find ways to get drugs illegally if they are desperate enough. People either want to self-medicate or rebel with illegal drugs. Legalization gives profesionals the green-light to counsel patients about the pros and cons. Legalization also takes away the allure of rebellion. I'm open to other opinions.
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> Do you equate a free society with anarchy? In other words, should we all be allowed to do whatever we want to whomever we want whenever we want?
>I absolutely don't believe in anarchy, but people are not necessarily harming others by self-medicating. I feel sorry for people who are outside of the mainstream and who are often in abusive or vulnerable circumstances. If I lived on the streets, I can tell you, I would seek out illegal drugs. Many of us have the luxury of having the counsel and medication under controlled circimstance. We are fortunate. Sometimes drugs are life savers. And if drugs are regulated, then certainly the harm factor of street drugs is decreased. I may be a semi-anarchist, in that I believe that certain acts are okay if there is no victim, for instance, in the case of prostitution. I don't like the influence of Puritanism on law. People argue that sometimes the prostitute is harmed or a wife is cheated on, but that often happens to woman in marriage. (Oooh, I am stirring a fire, aren't I? But I'm doing so with an attitude of open-mindedness not antagonism.) I feel this is a somewhat safe place to discuss the subject of politics and religion, especially in regards to drugs. I'm in the mood to debate, but my opinions are not fixed. I hope I didn't offend you.
poster:Cass
thread:17775
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000101/msgs/17864.html