cannabisnews.com: The Law and Morality





The Law and Morality
Posted by CN Staff on December 20, 2006 at 06:14:25 PT
By Leo Morris
Source: News-Sentinel
Indiana -- Even if we take into account that the person who did the report is for marijuana legalization, his conclusion that pot is now the nation's biggest cash crop is probably true, and I notice that the government official quoted doesn't dispute it. What is challenged by the government is this:A 2005 analysis by Harvard visiting professor Jeffrey Miron estimates that if the United States legalized marijuana, the country would save $7.7 billion in law enforcement costs and could generated as much as $6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like alcohol or tobacco.
The same argument could obviously be made about any human behavior, and the government buys it in some cases (gambling) and mostly doesn't in others (prostitution, for example). I'm not entering into that particular rhetorical thicket, but I bring it all up as an excuse to make a couple of points about the law from a libertarian perspective.1. Outputs are more important than inputs. It shouldn't be of great concern to anybody what I ingest or read or watch on TV. What matters is how I behave, no matter what caused it or whatever I might be under the influence of. The criminal justice system sometimes heeds this distinction, not caring, for example, if I drink myself silly every night. It only gets involved if I drive under the influence or get drunk and start beating up people or stripping at noon on Main Street. On drugs other than alcohol, it makes the presumption that the harmful effects on society are so probable that my freedom to act should be curtailed. This assumption, it seems fair to say, is more true for something like crack than it is for something like marijuana.2. Anything that is a form of theft -- one taking something from someone else that which one is not entitled to -- is a legitimate target of the law; any law that does not address a form of theft should be treated with skepticism. Murder is theft of a life. Rape is theft of free will. Fraud is theft of trust. Things I do in private or with another consenting adult steal nothing from anyone, whether it's smoking pot or visiting a prostitute or getting my hair cut by unlicensed barber.Those two rules don't cover everything, and it is possible to think of contradictions and exceptions. But just using them as guiding principles could get rid of about 90 percent of the laws we now have, which most libertarians would say is about right. The law would be more certain, more enforceable and more understandable.It would also better fulfill its primary function, that of "legislating morality," that thing so many people back in the 1960s said couldn't or shouldn't be done. I use "morality" in its older, broader sense of "how we treat others." It is the purpose of the law both to let us know what we may not do and what we may reasonably expect from others in a civilized society. I don't think it does either very well these days.Source: News-Sentinel, The (Fort Wayne, IN)Author: Leo MorrisPublished: December 20, 2006 Copyright: 2006 The News-SentinelContact: lmorris news-sentinel.comWebsite: http://www.fortwayne.com/Related Articles:Group Calls Marijuana State's Top Cash Crophttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22460.shtmlMarijuana Top US Cash Crop, Analyst Sayshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22458.shtmlPot is Called Biggest Cash Crophttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22457.shtml 
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Comment #17 posted by FoM on December 22, 2006 at 13:56:32 PT
Hope
You got those shows right too. On Hallmark tonight The March of The Penguins will be on. We wanted to see that movie so we will be watching it tonight.http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/intindex.jsphttp://www.hallmarkchannel.com/us_framework.jsp?BODY=program.jsp&CONTENT=DAM_FAM_5487106
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Comment #16 posted by Hope on December 22, 2006 at 13:42:22 PT
Fury
and My Friend, Flicka.
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on December 22, 2006 at 12:33:50 PT
Hope
Rin Tin Tin and Lassie how I loved those shows.
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Comment #14 posted by FoM on December 22, 2006 at 12:24:32 PT
museman
Happy Solstice to you and your family. 
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Comment #13 posted by Hope on December 22, 2006 at 12:19:28 PT
Comment 10
We need Lassie and Rin Tin Tin, I think.The other day, my sister mentioned to my granddaughter that it looked like one of the dogs was trying to tell her to follow him. "Maybe, Timmy's in the well.", my sister said to her. She didn't have a clue.That's sad. Lassie needs to return, and Rin Tin Tin, too.
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Comment #12 posted by Hope on December 22, 2006 at 12:12:43 PT
Merry, Happy Solstice, Museman!
To you and all of yours. May you be blessed!
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Comment #11 posted by museman on December 22, 2006 at 11:42:56 PT
Happy Solstice
Merry midwinter,This is the time of year when the ancients, and the not-so- ancients celebrated the Return Of The Sun.It is a day of hope, looking forward to the year to come. It is the actual physical end - beginning of the year...which the ancients knew, and practiced before Rome and the Holy Roman Empire changed things around to suit their own calendar.The longest night of the year -last night- was often accompanied by much prayer and religious ritual -much like the Mass of X became. Many people -the elderly and sickly never made it past this point of winter. Those who did had good hope for making it another year.So today is an actual day of hope, based on real time events that are happening now, and actually happen every year.Today we gather round the Solstice Tree, and sing many songs. We play games with family and friends. There is a modern tradition which involves brownies. Normally we would open the presents under the tree this am, but this year we have a new member of the extended family whose mom isn't quite understanding of Solstice, so we will be opening the presents under the tree on Xmas morning.I know that I am a cynical old fart, and often times it seems like I don't have 'anything good to say', but don't think I don't know that we are all children at heart, and essentially we all want and need the same things;Peace, comfort, and health. Joy is nice too, but kinda hard without those other three.I wish you all peace, comfort, and health.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on December 22, 2006 at 09:39:06 PT
Just a Comment
This is just my thoughts right now. We have takers and givers and they don't see eye to eye. We have been watching in the evening a Hallmark Channel and last night the movie was called Loves Abiding Joy. It reminded me of The Waltons or more like Little House on The Prairie. If you get the Hallmark Channel it is worth a look. I don't know where good value shows have gone but I haven't seen them for a long time. During the holidays I look deep inside and try to make sure I am looking for the right things in life. That is the purpose of this time of year to me. We bought The Christmas Attic CD from the Trans Siberian Orchestra and it is good. I hope 2007 wakes up people to important values more then any other wish I have. Merry Christmas and I hope everyone is enjoying this time of rest.
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Comment #9 posted by John Tyler on December 22, 2006 at 08:00:43 PT
7.7 billion
7.7 billion to enforce laws against cannabis. If cannabis were legal the law enforcement folks fear that that 7.7 billion they are now getting would go else where and not to them. No fancy cop equipment, no busting down doors, no helicopter rides in the country, and more importantly no salaries. They are not going to want to give that up. They are going to have all kinds of justifications for keeping cannabis illegal to keep this money flow coming.  They have to be convinced that going into another line of work is in their own best interest. They could be giver early retirement or cash buyouts.
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Comment #8 posted by museman on December 20, 2006 at 12:39:35 PT
law vs morality
What we have is two polar opposites, which ought to be in sync with each other, but are actually at odds.The 'Law' is what we're made to do, 'morality' is what we should do. One would think that they would be one and the same, but no, both have become interpretable mediums, the resulting conclusions and ideologies accepted and validated only by select criteria.In law, the criteria is wealth and power. One must have it, or have access to it to get in the game. Only wealth gets you into and through law school. The ability to be totally left-brained 24-7 is a prerequisite though, don't want no stinkin' bleedin' hearts mucking up the status quo.In contemporary definition of morality, the 'authority' is distinctly and exclusively 'the church.' Though in it's original inception, the highest actual morality practiced, also has an uncanny resemblance to common sense, todays' standards are steeped in twisted logic that supports the statutes of wealth and power, though the actual words coming down from the pulpit appear to reflect the original.Law and morality are at odds, because all law except the simple laws of God and Yshwh, is immoral in the true sense of the word.#1. No one has these rights of power and authority, they were taken by force and violence, and they are held the same way. Might may make right, which is the nature of a Republic, like Rome, but in truth such things are of barbaric predatory behavior, and have nothing whatsoever to do with freedom, personal liberties or rights of any kind, they are mere continuances of the same old story; gold will buy an army, a police force, assassins, spies, armament, and the latest fashions from Paris, all on the same day.#2. Sovereignty of being. No one has 'legal' jurisdiction over another person, unless that person or persons is an immature child in need of parenting, or a handicapped person who cannot make decisions because of their infirmity. Any law or 'moral judgement' which states otherwise is directly contradictory to the SOURCE and PRECEDENT of all law; God.The wealth and power of this country has broken every commandment God gave us, yet they still claim the higher moral ground. Though the outside of their 'cup' may be bright and shiny, with all the latest color and texture available, inside it is a gross plethora of all the dark deeds that have been committed in the sole interest of obtaining, securing, and holding onto wealth and power.The sociological results of such reinforced ignorance, is the so-called 'criminal element' that for whatever reasons choose not to go along with the status quo. This assures that those who occupy that false piety of their self interpreted 'higher morality' always have justifcation for their existence -to 'protect' us from the element that they created to perpetuate their power.Law creates crime. (false) Authority creates rebellion, and (false) morality creates all the excuses the power elite need to keep the wool firmly placed over the peoples eyes.Take away their power, people. It's not done through their courts, it's done in our hearts and minds. If we continue to give credibility to falseness, how can we expect any real positive progress? One may be subject to force, violence, imprisonment, and other devious and immoral deeds of the government and the power rich who own it, but no one has to believe in it or even compromise with it, as long as folks aren't willing to go for the cause of the greater disease, all symptoms will continue to escalate until the false society crumbles under the weight of it's burden of lies.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on December 20, 2006 at 11:16:53 PT
Hope
First I want to say I quoted from the wrong Christmas movie. I think it was from a Rudolph movie. They blend together for me but the point is we can't change the past so why look back and we can't change much of the future so why worry to excess. We can make a difference where we are right now and that can determine how the future goes but we should keep looking at now and enjoy life and hope for a better tomorrow. That's how I look at life.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on December 20, 2006 at 10:51:08 PT
"one foot in front of the other"
That's the only way I can do it...and I have to add to that, "Keep going. Keep going. Trudge through no matter what...and keep going." It's the only way I can make it sometimes. Sometimes it's easy...but usually it's not. So "One foot in front of the other. One step at a time. Keep going. Keep going."You do get further...a lot further along if you do take those steps at let one lead to another. You get absolutely no where, but miserable, if you don't force yourself to take those first steps. Remembering the misery of not taking those steps can sometimes be the right catalyst. The first step...maybe the first ten are the hardest. Sometimes when I'm faced with a big job, I just tell myself, do three things. Or five things. Or maybe 15 things. Getting started is the hardest part...then not allowing distractions to slow you down too much. That's what they do. Slow you down. So you have to fight them. That's how goals, no matter how small, or large are attained. One step at a time. One after another. Keep going. Keep going.
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on December 20, 2006 at 10:18:42 PT
OverwhelmSam
I'm like you. I take it in stride and love to laugh and be silly and enjoy my friends and family and all of you. Put one foot in front of the other and soon we'll be walking thru the door. That's from The Year Without a Santa Claus! LOL!
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Comment #4 posted by OverwhelmSam on December 20, 2006 at 10:12:41 PT
FoM
Me too. I take the felonious war on cannabis in stride and have fun anyway.
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 20, 2006 at 07:24:50 PT
OverwhelmSam
I think life wouldn't be worth living without fun. I love to smile! 
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Comment #2 posted by OverwhelmSam on December 20, 2006 at 06:46:17 PT
Are You Having Any Fun?
Are you doing any living? What good is your life if you're not, having any fun?
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Comment #1 posted by Had Enough on December 20, 2006 at 06:37:04 PT
MathMatics
7.7 Billion saved in enforcement costs.6.2 Billion collected in Tax.13.9 Billion total, that can be used elsewhere.Now add in the other real total hidden costs, and we are into the Trillions.How can this be ignored???But wait!!! It’s not being ignored now, is it?
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