Legalize Drugs. Then What?Libertarians have always been for ending the drug war and just legalizing everything. Many of the best thinkers who advocate this are not drug users themselves; it's a matter of libertarian principle.
Many democrats, on the other hand, are probably already users and just don't want the fear of getting caught hanging over their heads. Being drug-addled would explain their irrational behaviors like believing we can control the temperature of their anthropomorphized Mother Earth, but that there is no God. Believing Judeo-Christian morals are suspect and should never be imposed on anyone; but a handsome, well spoken man should be worshiped and obeyed.
The Price of Cocaine
Anyway, Larry sent me an Economist link that maps the price of cocaine. An economist would not be surprised to learn that it's cheaper closer to the source. Down Colombia way and in Central America, a gram costs a mere $2. That same gram costs over $300 in the beautiful, remote island nation of New Zealand.
So if we legalize it, how would that work? Would government control production? Or would we merely cease criminal pursuit of the fabrication and distribution networks and instead bog them down with the tax and regulation administrivia we foist on every other business?
Libertarianism will usher in more liberalism
Either way, the lower the price, the more people will use it. So government will want to tax it heavily to discourage use (think cigarettes). This will in turn cause illegal production and distribution. Back to square one. Also, are we as a nation willing to stand aside and do nothing as lives, families and communities are destroyed by rampant drug use? The answer is no. No politician with your money in his pocket will refrain from costly remedies.
Although I agree with the libertarian position on many things, I can see some flaws. We should not be passing libertarian laws if we cannot accept the libertarian consequences. The ultimate result would be more liberalism to "solve" the problems caused by government's benign neglect. Early 1900's redux...
Economist - Cocaine Map
