I've noticed what appears to be a trend. When a law or issue gets to be difficult, or uncomfortable, to enforce, we just legalize it. Oh, the lawmakers will explain how this should be legalized and cite many reasons why this is so. Popular among the excuses are, the cost of enforcement, that it isn't really a crime, we should be taxing it and we have been infringing on certain groups rights. I find this trend somewhat disturbing.
It is insidious in its' nature. I see it slowly eroding our values.
One issue, although not the latest, is the legalization of Marijuana. The general thinking now is that this drug is no worse than alcohol, it has legitimate health benefits, it is not really a crime, we should just tax it's sale, and it would relieve crowding in the jails and legal system. All valid arguments for an immediate response but certainly not a solution to the central issue. And what is the central issue ? This activity was made illegal for a variety of valid reasons. Central to those issues was the belief that using this drug altered your perception of reality, much like being drunk, and posed a risk to the general public. How has that changed ? We legalized alcohol, how has that been working out ? We don't have a problem with people using that drug and endangering public safety do we ? Making another substance readily available for consumption shouldn't add to that. And even if it does we will just start some 12 step program for recovery. It's cool. To me the arguments just don't hold water.
That is just one example. Another is this notion of amnesty. We have possibly over a million or more people in our country illegally. Enforcement of the law is difficult and a touchy subject. Solution, amnesty. Just make it no longer a crime. If you have managed to circumvent our laws and evade detection, especially for an extended period of time, we'll forgive you. No problem. Those pesky issues of enforcement swept under the rug.
Gambling, the same way. We will just build more casinos. State lotteries. Can a federal lottery be far behind ? More importantly, we can tax all these activities. And there is the root of the question. Money. We can justify our actions with every moral and ethical argument you can imagine. The bottom line is always money. Tax It !
Do we really want to base our economy on gambling, drug sales, tobacco taxes and a host of other vices ?
Is that what we want America to stand for ? The land of the free as long as it can be taxed ? Just seems like that is the trend I'm seeing. Law enforcement and social issues dealt with only when it is convenient or a possible revenue source ?
I could go on but hopefully you begin to see my point here. Cut through the talk and double talk and you can see. If enforcement becomes too difficult or unpopular, legalize that activity. Problem solved.
It is insidious in its' nature. I see it slowly eroding our values.
One issue, although not the latest, is the legalization of Marijuana. The general thinking now is that this drug is no worse than alcohol, it has legitimate health benefits, it is not really a crime, we should just tax it's sale, and it would relieve crowding in the jails and legal system. All valid arguments for an immediate response but certainly not a solution to the central issue. And what is the central issue ? This activity was made illegal for a variety of valid reasons. Central to those issues was the belief that using this drug altered your perception of reality, much like being drunk, and posed a risk to the general public. How has that changed ? We legalized alcohol, how has that been working out ? We don't have a problem with people using that drug and endangering public safety do we ? Making another substance readily available for consumption shouldn't add to that. And even if it does we will just start some 12 step program for recovery. It's cool. To me the arguments just don't hold water.
That is just one example. Another is this notion of amnesty. We have possibly over a million or more people in our country illegally. Enforcement of the law is difficult and a touchy subject. Solution, amnesty. Just make it no longer a crime. If you have managed to circumvent our laws and evade detection, especially for an extended period of time, we'll forgive you. No problem. Those pesky issues of enforcement swept under the rug.
Gambling, the same way. We will just build more casinos. State lotteries. Can a federal lottery be far behind ? More importantly, we can tax all these activities. And there is the root of the question. Money. We can justify our actions with every moral and ethical argument you can imagine. The bottom line is always money. Tax It !
Do we really want to base our economy on gambling, drug sales, tobacco taxes and a host of other vices ?
Is that what we want America to stand for ? The land of the free as long as it can be taxed ? Just seems like that is the trend I'm seeing. Law enforcement and social issues dealt with only when it is convenient or a possible revenue source ?
I could go on but hopefully you begin to see my point here. Cut through the talk and double talk and you can see. If enforcement becomes too difficult or unpopular, legalize that activity. Problem solved.
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