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Quetzalcohuatl
Stranger
Registered: 03/16/09
Posts: 646
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prohibition of drugs
#10224858 - 04/24/09 07:39 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Maybe this could provide some useful discussion but then I don't expect this to be a particuarly unbiased one here. But why not.
What reasons are there by which a government should be allowed to regulate or ban people from posessing drugs or using them?
1) Moral issue. There are people who think taking drugs is an immoral act. This might be because they see drug users as self-indulgent, lazy, and non-contributing members to society. Most likely, they also have strong religious reason for why they believe this.
2) Religious. Prohibition of most substances is of course firmly grounded in Christian conquest. The white Christian church found the religions and idolatries of other races despicable and through aggressive racism abolished or drove the religious practices of most of the natives into the underground. In America there is seperation of church from state though although many christian cults use their influence to motivate the policies of our supposedely liberal government.
3) Safety. Some may see that prohibition of drugs is for the greater safety of society. Whether or not it is the right of the government to decide what is and what isn't safe for the general public is debatable. They don't seem concerned about the thousands and thousands of items and other things you can purchase off the shelf which, if used incorrectly, could be very unsafe and cause permenant harm though. They just put a warning label on those.
4) The Government is God. If the government is god it can do whatever it wants to, and doesn't have to justify it's policies to it's people.
?) Some other reason.
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zouden
Neuroscientist
Registered: 11/12/07
Posts: 7,091
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 14 years, 5 months
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I think the government, as an extension of the people (through democracy) has the moral right to restrict drugs, but I would certainly prefer it if they had some semblance of reason when it comes to choosing which drugs are allowed and which are prohibited. At the moment there is no rationality.
-------------------- I know... that just the smallest part of the world belongs to me You know... I'm not a blind man but truth is the hardest thing to see
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Quetzalcohuatl
Stranger
Registered: 03/16/09
Posts: 646
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: zouden]
#10224921 - 04/24/09 07:58 AM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Yes but is it really a moral decision to determine what a person can and can't do with their own body if no violent crime is committed and no one is harmed? Is it even moral to prohibit a person from harming themselves if they are an adult capable of making a rational and informed decision about their own life? You can purchase all sorts of chemicals which if you chose not to follow the instructions, could inflict serious harm on you but they are not prohibited and anyone can purchase them over the shelf.
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zouden
Neuroscientist
Registered: 11/12/07
Posts: 7,091
Loc: Australia
Last seen: 14 years, 5 months
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In most places it's not illegal to take a drug. So you can do what you want with your body. The government has no right to stop you.
What they can do is put you in jail for possessing a drug. I don't agree with it, but it's certainly within the government's rights to do that, just the same way that possession of nerve gas or counterfeit money is illegal. They are just (in theory) enforcing the will of the people, and despite the progress being made over the last decade, most people still support drug prohibition.
-------------------- I know... that just the smallest part of the world belongs to me You know... I'm not a blind man but truth is the hardest thing to see
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learningtofly
Ancient Aliens
Registered: 05/21/07
Posts: 15,105
Loc: Out of this world
Last seen: 12 years, 7 months
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Quote:
Quetzalcohuatl said: Yes but is it really a moral decision to determine what a person can and can't do with their own body if no violent crime is committed and no one is harmed?
I don't know, is it? What exactly is your argument besides what I assume is a rhetorical question. Where is the link between morality and determining what another can do, because you didn't lay one out.
Quote:
Is it even moral to prohibit a person from harming themselves if they are an adult capable of making a rational and informed decision about their own life? You can purchase all sorts of chemicals which if you chose not to follow the instructions, could inflict serious harm on you but they are not prohibited and anyone can purchase them over the shelf.
Many would say that it is moral to do so. And two wrongs don't make a right if you're attempting to say that "Well theres already a bunch of stuff they can do"
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zen buddy
not a buddhist
Registered: 01/22/09
Posts: 704
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Prohibition is immoral!
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learningtofly
Ancient Aliens
Registered: 05/21/07
Posts: 15,105
Loc: Out of this world
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: zen buddy]
#10226007 - 04/24/09 12:49 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
zen buddy said: Prohibition is immoral!
I'm glad you think that, do you care to give any reasons?
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skatealex2
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Registered: 07/04/08
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Last seen: 5 months, 23 days
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: zen buddy]
#10226008 - 04/24/09 12:49 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
zen buddy said: Prohibition is immoral!
100% prohibition is absurd! and locking up harmless citizens is even worse!!
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deCypher
Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
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Let's compare a workforce that does not use recreational drugs and a workforce that does. Which will be more productive?
Economic incentives can also help support Prohibition; although this argument is flawed in that it assumes Prohibition is actually effective.
-------------------- We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
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learningtofly
Ancient Aliens
Registered: 05/21/07
Posts: 15,105
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: skatealex2]
#10226111 - 04/24/09 01:10 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
skatealex2 said:
Quote:
zen buddy said: Prohibition is immoral!
100% prohibition is absurd! and locking up harmless citizens is even worse!!
WHY IS PROHIBITION IMMORAL. Saying it's immoral because it's absurd doesn't make any sense. Quit making assertions and back it up
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C.M. Mann
subconscious explorer
Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 899
Loc: Florida
Last seen: 12 years, 11 months
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The prohibition on drugs is immoral because it persecutes the people, and enslaves them in jails and prisons. This is insane! I would like to see the facts, not the prejudice.
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Poid
Shroomery's #1 Spellir
Registered: 02/04/08
Posts: 40,372
Loc: SF Bay Area
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I think it's insane that the government regulates what people are allowed to do with their bodies, as if their bodies are government property. I'm still waiting for them to become legalized...
-------------------- Well I try my best to be just like I am, but everybody wants you to be just like them. -- Bob Dylanfireworks_god said:It's one thing to simply enjoy a style of life that one enjoys, but it's another thing altogether to refer to another person's choice as "wrong" or to rationalize their behavior as being pathological or resulting from some sort of inadequacy or failing so as to create a sense of superiority or separation as yet another projection of a personal fear or control issue.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: Poid]
#10227212 - 04/24/09 04:17 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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You are govt property. Break a law and find out. You were born into this matrix and you won't get out.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Poid
Shroomery's #1 Spellir
Registered: 02/04/08
Posts: 40,372
Loc: SF Bay Area
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: Icelander]
#10227255 - 04/24/09 04:24 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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I've tried to get out a few times, but the guilt caused by leaving my loved ones behind always drags me back.
If I am literally government property, then what's the point of living?
-------------------- Well I try my best to be just like I am, but everybody wants you to be just like them. -- Bob Dylanfireworks_god said:It's one thing to simply enjoy a style of life that one enjoys, but it's another thing altogether to refer to another person's choice as "wrong" or to rationalize their behavior as being pathological or resulting from some sort of inadequacy or failing so as to create a sense of superiority or separation as yet another projection of a personal fear or control issue.
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deCypher
Registered: 02/10/08
Posts: 56,232
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: Poid]
#10227265 - 04/24/09 04:26 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
Poid said: If I am literally government property, then what's the point of living?
To serve the State unquestioningly and die for it if need be.
-------------------- We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: Poid]
#10227268 - 04/24/09 04:26 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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The point? For you?
Whining about how you can't do this or that because of your loved ones.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Poid
Shroomery's #1 Spellir
Registered: 02/04/08
Posts: 40,372
Loc: SF Bay Area
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: Icelander]
#10227304 - 04/24/09 04:32 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Quote:
deCypher said:
Quote:
Poid said: If I am literally government property, then what's the point of living?
To serve the State unquestioningly and die for it if need be.
So that's the point of life.
Quote:
Icelander said: The point? For you?
Whining about how you can't do this or that because of your loved ones.
The point for anyone, not just me...
-------------------- Well I try my best to be just like I am, but everybody wants you to be just like them. -- Bob Dylanfireworks_god said:It's one thing to simply enjoy a style of life that one enjoys, but it's another thing altogether to refer to another person's choice as "wrong" or to rationalize their behavior as being pathological or resulting from some sort of inadequacy or failing so as to create a sense of superiority or separation as yet another projection of a personal fear or control issue.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: Poid]
#10227410 - 04/24/09 04:46 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Speak for yourself sonny. I could care less about my loved ones.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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Poid
Shroomery's #1 Spellir
Registered: 02/04/08
Posts: 40,372
Loc: SF Bay Area
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: Icelander]
#10227436 - 04/24/09 04:48 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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What about your siblings or cousins?
-------------------- Well I try my best to be just like I am, but everybody wants you to be just like them. -- Bob Dylanfireworks_god said:It's one thing to simply enjoy a style of life that one enjoys, but it's another thing altogether to refer to another person's choice as "wrong" or to rationalize their behavior as being pathological or resulting from some sort of inadequacy or failing so as to create a sense of superiority or separation as yet another projection of a personal fear or control issue.
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery
Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: prohibition of drugs [Re: Poid]
#10227453 - 04/24/09 04:50 PM (14 years, 11 months ago) |
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Fuck em if they can't take a joke.
I'm not going to let my dysfunctional perceived ideas of how they might feel about what I do decide how I will live my life.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
Edited by Icelander (04/24/09 04:51 PM)
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