| To the Editor: Having voted straight Libertarian for many years (except recently for Republican Ron Paul), and having served as an officer of the Antelope Valley Libertarian Party, I can assure reader Ken Brougher [AV press 5/29/08, p. A13] that we are not a bunch of wild-eyed stoners. Consequently, in the unlikely event that we prevail in the coming election, he needn't expect "a bunch of dope heads running around." However, if we lose, there will be the usual bunch of dopes running the country, and I'd argue that's worse. Libertarians agree with Ronald Reagan's sentiment that "Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." The national drug habit is only one of many problems exacerbated by big government, but since Mr. Brougher brought it up, here's what's wrong with our Federal government's drug war: First, some of us hold the quaint notion that we own our personal bodies, so that what we choose to put into them is our own business and nobody else's, thank you very much. Second, in the face of constant demand, the drug war creates shortages which cause high prices, thus leading to multiple forms of criminal activity by users and suppliers. Third, prohibition doesn't work. We have ample evidence from the 1920s. People flouted the law widely, gin flowed like water, and the criminal element prospered. Fourth, the drug war has wreaked havoc on residents of Columbia, Peru, and other countries as the result of our inability to enforce our own laws. Fifth, the Feds shouldn't usurp the states' rights in any arena. Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr, an erstwhile drug warrior, now supports the right of states to set their own medical marijuana policy, without interference from the federal government. Many more points could be made, but I've cited enough to illustrate how government makes a problem worse. We'd still have drug abuse without the drug war, of course, but probably less, and certainly without the associated criminal activity. The Libertarian position on most things is, simply, less government and more personal responsibility and choice. If another example were needed, consider the explosive issue of homosexual marriages. Judges and legislators shouldn't be redefining marriage, because the government shouldn't be in the marriage business to begin with. It should merely enforce the contractual aspects of marriage. Marriage itself is a private matter between two individuals who freely choose their mates according to their religious beliefs, social traditions, and innermost yearnings. Libertarians don't see what that has to do with Big Brother. Richard P. Huemer, MD 2755 W. Ave. N Palmdale, CA 93551 661-947-8299 References: Milton Friedman: Why Government Is The Problem. From: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/wl1991.htm, accessed 5/29/08. Chris Frates: Bob Barr Flip-Flops on Pot. From: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3329.html, accessed 5/29/08. |
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