I Wish I Had Written That @ Tuesday January 15, 2008 08:18 am by WunderKraut
Jeff from The Shape of Days has a nice post up about drugs and the law. One of the things I respect most about Jeff is his willingness to look at both sides of a story or to look at an issue without partisan passion.
Yesterday’s post follows the same mold. What do you do about drugs? He starts by talking about a girl suing her dealer for selling her Meth. That then leads to a discussion on drug laws.
The strict Libertarian model says that everything should be legal because we are all adults and if I want to buy drugs that is my business. Or something along those lines.
Then there is the strict Conservative model which says, “Drugs are bad. Mkay” so let’s put everyone in prison!
Where do I fall? I think I am somewhere in the middle. My views have changed much over the years and honestly, I don’t know.
The War on Drugs has succeeded in one respect…many, many, many people are behind bars for nothing more than possession. Not for dealing or hurting someone, but just for possession…I liken it to an underage kid being caught holding a beer. Yes, he broke the law, but do we put him away for 5 years where he will really learn to be a criminal? No, we call his Dad. I know, it’s not quite the same when you are talking about crack, meth or heroine.
Anyway. I like to have discussions where people actually think about what they are saying. I think we learn more and the discussion is actually productive if we can do that. Wrong is still wrong and right is still right, but when you approach a complicated subject like drugs, just saying they are bad and people who use them should be locked up isn’t going to cut it with me.
Now on to the funny:
If I had a goldfish bowl full of blow and a drinking straw, the only person who’d be harmed by my hoovering the whole damn thing — assuming I didn’t subsequently do something that would put others in danger — would be me. In the absence of an aggrieved second party, there’s nobody there to sue me, and the state’s interest in protecting me from myself is modest at best.
—
Possession? Doughnuts are bad for you, but you don’t get hauled off to jail for carrying a box of Krispy Kremes.
“Hoovering” – Priceless!
It’s a very well written post, as most of Jeff’s are. Go take a gander.
Oh, by the way…no one bought me a copy of Jeff’s book for Christmas and my heart still hurts from the disappointment. If you care.
Check out previous editions of “I Wish I Had Written That”
9 Responses to “I Wish I Had Written That - Part 41”
This is really tough. I’m mostly in the libertarian camp - someone wants to mess himself up, be my guest so long as I don’t have to pay to pick up the pieces. Certainly, I think marijuana should not be illegal (despite assertions by some dopeheads I’ve known in the past that “I drive BETTER when I’m high”). It’s not completely harmless but it has been demonized by drug warriors far beyond its effects.
On the other hand, some hard drugs have drastic effects beyond just the user. That’s where it gets very difficult.
The problem with Jeff’s analysis is that it can very easily apply to tobacco or alcohol, neither of which I think the government should criminalize.
Yeah, it’s a tough nut to crack.
I don’t think Jeff left it open to tobacco and alcohol. In fact, he even mentions how successful banning alcohol was.
But still. There has to be another way to balance public safety and social practices without resorting to “Everyone go to jail now”.
This is a topic to be discussed over several frosty adult beverages and red meat. When are you coming to Georgia?
I don’t know man, I’m afraid.
Went to Atlanta once. Walked across the street from the hotel to a small bar and was about to order up a beer. Then I looked around. It was like walking into a bar in San Francisco. A Goth/leather/bad attitude bar in San Francisco. I smiled at the bartender and said “I think I’m in the wrong place” and he smiled and said “I think you’re right.”
Well yes…that’s ATLANTA!!!! In many ways, it’s no different from San Fran. or other big cities.
But you need to come down to SOUTH Georgia…it’s not even in the same State as Atlanta…
The problem with drugs, like meth, cocaine, crack, crank, crystal and on and on, is they are addictive. And no matter what anyone says, you don’t just harm yourself.
But what is the solution? For me and others, it is God. That is who delivers us from the shackels of addiction! I have a couple of posts about addiction on my blog.
Just putting people in jail is not a real solution, but unfortunately, many have to reach a devastating bottom before they become willing to turn to God for healing.
Michael, you are exactly right.
But it still begs the question of what to do.
It’s like Social Welfare Programs. Many will say that because the U.S. is so rich, it has an obligation to help those less fortunate. Taking care of your fellow man and all.
My argument is that it was suppose to be the Church’s responsibility (I am speaking of the global Church). After all we are to care for the sick and the poor. And for centuries, we did that. But then something happened. People stopped looking to the Church for answers. Instead they turned to the Government.
So, what do we do? How do we do it? What is the answer?
Honestly, I don’t know. I know what the answer is for me and those I come in contact with, Christ. But how does that translate into policy and law?
Tough thoughts.
It is true that the Church is supposed to take care of the sick and the poor (and those that bump their heads!). Saddle Back Church out in California started a wonderful ministry addressing people with addicitions as well as other issues and hang ups called Celebrate Recovery. Did you know church people have hang ups, issues and addictions??? Anyway..it is an awesome bible based recovery program and I am so privelaged to witness the works and miracles of our Lord every day!
Our church started CR a few years back and many churches in the Detroit area now have it. I remember someone started coming but did not want to hear about God or any of that. No problem. He grew and healed and eventually came to know Christ!! He is now a member of my church!!! And a very active member of our church and an active member in CR.
I am very excited about this ministry.
Wow! That is great Michael.
Yes it’s true even us Christians have issues to deal with.
My Father-in-law has a ministry to day workers in the inner city here in Albany. Needless to say, many of those guys have alcohol and drug issues. I’ll ask him if he has ever heard of CR before. Maybe his church can get involved in something like that.
You mentioned Saddle Back Church. Is that in Mission Viejo by chance? Who is the pastor?
We lived in Mission Viejo when I was a kid and attended a church with a similar name.
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