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Libertarian Saturday
Author: TriSec    Date: 01/26/2008 14:13:15

Good Morning!

Well, by now I'm sure you've all noticed the new buttons at the bottom of each and every blog (Fark, Digg, Technorati, etc.) Well, there's yet another one I've been using for a while called "del.icio.us". It's more of a bookmarking site; you can tag a page and go back to your 'own' bookmark page and pick up all this stuff at any time. (Admin's tip: it's great for blogging. If something looks interesting, I'll tag it and go back and read it later.)

But there's also a terrific RSS reader out there called "Bloglines" (sorry for the wiki link; I couldn't figure out how to log out and then get back to the generic home page.) You can pick and choose what you want to see; set it up with just headlines, summaries, or the whole shebang. That too is a terrific tool...if you see something that you like, you can just click on the "subscribe" button and it will search the entire page you're browsing for a feed...

Anyway, I was cleaning my bloglines up recently, and getting rid of a few things I never had the chance to read, despite subscribing with all the best intentions. But I did add a new one, and it's one of the better services I've ever found. Check out Rational Review sometime....you might be surprised at what you find.


Which, at long last, leads me to today's entry. Earlier in the week, I happened across a blog called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. It's run by law enforcement professionals, mostly those at the sharp end of the stick, and it's about some of the excesses and just plain ludicrous things they have seen 'on the job' while enforcing our misguided war on drugs.

And remember, many folks consider Libertarians to be the "Gun-loving, dope-shooting party", so I guess I won't be dispelling that stereotype today. The party platform is quite clear:


III.2 The War on Drugs

The Issue: The suffering that drug misuse has brought about is deplorable; however, drug prohibition causes more harm than drugs themselves. The so-called "War on Drugs" is in reality a war against the American people, our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is a grave threat to individual liberty, to domestic order and to peace in the world.

The Principle: Individuals should have the right to use drugs, whether for medical or recreational purposes, without fear of legal reprisals, but must be held legally responsible for the consequences of their actions only if they violate others’ rights.

Solutions: Social involvement by individuals is essential to address the problem of substance misuse and abuse. Popular education and assistance groups are a better approach than prohibition, and we support the activities of private organizations as the best way to move forward on the issue.

Transitional Action: Repeal all laws establishing criminal or civil penalties for the use of drugs. Repeal laws that infringe upon individual rights to be secure in our persons, homes, and property as protected by the Fourth Amendment. Stop the use of "anti-crime" measures such as profiling or civil asset forfeiture that reduce the standard of proof historically borne by government in prosecutions. Stop prosecuting accused non-violent drug offenders, and pardon those previously convicted.



Whether you agree or not, isn't the core principle there "live and let live"? Remember, I consider myself to be from the wing of the Libertarians that advocates tolerance, acceptance, and leaving people the hell alone. At the end of the day, as long as you do no harm to others, shouldn't you be able to do what you want to your own body in your own home?

Getting back to the LEAP blog....a lawman by the name of Rusty White seems to agree.
I just don't get it. We have people screaming and demanding personal responsibility with less government intrusion in our lives - excellent ideas. Yet these same people have no problem supporting a nanny government, stripping people of their individual freedoms and the chance to be responsible for their own actions. Why? Because they don't like the personal and private choices about how one should live their life, even if they are harming no one else. HELLO???

Wouldn’t we all be better off if we held people accountable for their own actions, and not the choices and fear of others? And why hold millions to be just as guilty as the ignorant few? We have millions of responsible operators of vehicles, yet we all know there are some ignorant ones. But we hold each person responsible for their own actions. Well, for the most part we used to, until this new nanny government alcohol prohibition. You would have thought we learned our lessons from the past failure.

We have those who want the nanny government to end abortions, many claiming faith as their right to do so. Yet they have no problem supporting a policy that steals a family’s gift from the Almighty after birth, simply for testing positive for a trace usage of His gift to all. Can anybody show where He accepts this, or gave His permission to do so for Him? How can anyone who claims He is almighty and all knowing turn around and claim He doesn’t have the right to give to those children? Is there any wonder why people are turning away from religion? Could it possibly be faith has been hijacked for self-serving, biased, bigoted and manipulated worldly agendas? Why did Jesus eat with sinners? Because he couldn't keep his food down around religious people! Like I have said many times before, I have never had a problem with the Almighty, but his fan club wrongfully acting in his name drives me nuts!

We have those who say, “Obey the laws. Whether you like them or agree with them, it's the law. If you don't like them, follow them until you can get them changed.” Yet when we have new laws passed that they don't agree with, these public servants refuse, saying it sends the wrong message. How is it you who are sworn to uphold all our laws get to choose which ones are good or bad, and we who fund you with our tax dollars are too stupid to do so as well? Or could it possibly be they can't understand a written message, a law sent to them? Enough is enough! Can you say two-faced? if you demand we follow the laws, then you do so as well. Practice what you preach!

Since when did truth and honesty become the wrong message? When did we as a people become such a bunch of sheeple and fear-mongers that truth, logic, common sense and the concept of laws for all no longer applies? I call BS.



So, we're a little disjointed today...but nevertheless we hope you'll drop in and give us your opinion!

 

115 comments (Latest Comment: 01/27/2008 04:02:33 by livingonli)
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