Anyone else amused to see:

 

Aiden Seamus, cammando, ColonelCrazy, Coupon21, Da champ, formerkywrestler, Gmoney, GO CATS, GRC4LIFE, Habib, halfback20, hoopsr1, Hoot Gibson, Musketeer_alum97, PepRock01, Run To State, SportsGuy41017

All agree on something?

lbbc,

 

So in your ideal country are people not allowed to make choices that you view as "dumb"? How far are you willing to let the government control your life? What if the government decides that something you enjoy is bad and should be made illegal (for the record, I don't get high, have before, not for me)? What would your reaction be?

 

I think the point people on your side are missing is that getting high is a choice, just like having bacon for breakfast this morning was a choice. The more we continue to allow the government to make choices for us, the more we go away from being individuals.

 

I may be wrong though, you may just want a theocracy where based on religion the government can dictate our day to day lives, outlawing things such as marijuana, alcohol, unhealthy foods, etc..

If one would check the statistics I think you would find more people killed on the roads from cell phone use than alcohol or MJ.

How has that worked for alcohol?

 

Millions died in drunk driving accidents. (Many more than died in crime related incidents during Prohibition.)

Wives and children beaten in drunken rages.

Millions health racked by alcohol.

 

Yeah, I guess those problems did go away with legalizing and taxing it.

lbbc,

 

So in your ideal country are people not allowed to make choices that you view as "dumb"? How far are you willing to let the government control your life? What if the government decides that something you enjoy is bad and should be made illegal (for the record, I don't get high, have before, not for me)? What would your reaction be?

 

I think the point people on your side are missing is that getting high is a choice, just like having bacon for breakfast this morning was a choice. The more we continue to allow the government to make choices for us, the more we go away from being individuals.

 

I may be wrong though, you may just want a theocracy where based on religion the government can dictate our day to day lives, outlawing things such as marijuana, alcohol, unhealthy foods, etc..

:thumb: Government's role is not to limit the choices we can make- it is to minimize the negative effects that our choices can have on others, and society as a whole.

 

That is why Drunk Driving is illegal, but drinking alcohol is not.

lbbc,

 

So in your ideal country are people not allowed to make choices that you view as "dumb"? How far are you willing to let the government control your life? What if the government decides that something you enjoy is bad and should be made illegal (for the record, I don't get high, have before, not for me)? What would your reaction be?

 

I think the point people on your side are missing is that getting high is a choice, just like having bacon for breakfast this morning was a choice. The more we continue to allow the government to make choices for us, the more we go away from being individuals.

 

I may be wrong though, you may just want a theocracy where based on religion the government can dictate our day to day lives, outlawing things such as marijuana, alcohol, unhealthy foods, etc..

 

So which of these choices are willing for the government to get rid of....

 

I cannot choose to fire a person because of their race, should the government remove this restriction and allow me this choice?

 

A woman cannot choose to hire herself out for prostitution, should government remove this restriction and allow me this choice?

 

A parent who did not want to raise a child cannot disavow that child financially, should government remove this restriction and allow that father the choice?

 

That whole choice argument is weak because the government limits our choice all the time.

 

The debate rather is...IS THIS an issue that government should be allowed to limit.

 

I say yes.

If one would check the statistics I think you would find more people killed on the roads from cell phone use than alcohol or MJ.

 

I would love for you to try and prove this.

So which of these choices are willing for the government to get rid of....

 

I cannot choose to fire a person because of their race, should the government remove this restriction and allow me this choice?

 

A woman cannot choose to hire herself out for prostitution, should government remove this restriction and allow me this choice?

 

A parent who did not want to raise a child cannot disavow that child financially, should government remove this restriction and allow that father the choice?

 

That whole choice argument is weak because the government limits our choice all the time.

 

The debate rather is...IS THIS an issue that government should be allowed to limit.

 

I say yes.

I have a rebuttal to this, but first I'd like to ask you a question if you are so ok with government limiting our choices.

 

What if the government decided that religions are harmful to people and made it illegal for you to practice your faith? How would you feel about choices then? And don't go the easy route by saying it is unconstitutional, many people would argue (and I feel correctly) that things such as the Patriot Act are unconstitutional, certain gun bans are unconstitutional, etc.

 

Also before you answer, there is a somewhat (I use this term loosely) popular notion that relgion is harmful, so this isn't totally out of whack. If you don't believe me, check out the popularity of this book. Also got to #1 on NYT best seller list.

Edited October 16, 200817 yr by formerkywrestler

I would love for you to try and prove this.

 

I would like to read an actual argument as to why marijuana should be illegal.

 

You can make all of the comparisons that you'd like; however, I'm yet to read an actual argument as to why marijuana should be illegal.

I have a rebuttal to this, but first I'd like to ask you a question if you are so ok with government limiting our choices.

 

What if the government decided that religions are harmful to people and made it illegal for you to practice your faith? How would you feel about choices then? And don't go the easy route by saying it is unconstitutional, many people would argue (and I feel correctly) that things such as the Patriot Act are unconstitutional, certain gun bans are unconstitutional, etc.

 

Also before you answer, there is a somewhat (I use this term loosely) popular notion that relgion is harmful, so this isn't totally out of whack. If you don't believe me, check out the popularity of this book. Also got to #1 on NYT best seller list.

 

 

You must have missed my point that we allow government to limit our choices all the time. It is a constant in this country from the first day the Founding Fathers founded this country.

 

The debate is whether this limitation is a good one.

 

I think it is.

 

And btw, if you believe the common thoughts from Revelation, there will be a time in this country's future that it will be illegal to talk and promote Christianity. In Canada, they have already limited what a preacher can say from the pulpit. In the US, we have done the same thing with the pulpit and politics.

 

I am reading a Ted Dekker book presently, Sinner, in which they are limiting what churches can say.

I would like to read an actual argument as to why marijuana should be illegal.

 

You can make all of the comparisons that you'd like; however, I'm yet to read an actual argument as to why marijuana should be illegal.

 

It ruins people's lives.

http://www.bluegrasspreps.com/showthread.php?t=149121&highlight=marijuana&page=3

 

 

http://www.bluegrasspreps.com/showthread.php?t=132009&highlight=marijuana

 

http://www.bluegrasspreps.com/showthread.php?t=120671&highlight=marijuana&page=2

It ruins people's lives.

 

Alcohol ruins peoples lives when it is abused. Prescription drugs ruin peoples lives when they are abused. Cheating on spouses ruins some peoples lives. Child abuse ruins some kids lives. Car accidents ruins some peoples lives. Shark attacks ruin some peoples lives. Homicides, plane crashes, etc...I could go on and on.

Alcohol ruins peoples lives when it is abused. Prescription drugs ruin peoples lives when they are abused. Cheating on spouses ruins some peoples lives. Child abuse ruins some kids lives. Car accidents ruins some peoples lives. Shark attacks ruin some peoples lives. Homicides, plane crashes, etc...I could go on and on.

 

And some of the things you mentioned are illegal or have legal consequences.

You must have missed my point that we allow government to limit our choices all the time. It is a constant in this country from the first day the Founding Fathers founded this country.

 

The debate is whether this limitation is a good one.

 

I think it is.

 

And btw, if you believe the common thoughts from Revelation, there will be a time in this country's future that it will be illegal to talk and promote Christianity. In Canada, they have already limited what a preacher can say from the pulpit. In the US, we have done the same thing with the pulpit and politics.

 

I am reading a Ted Dekker book presently, Sinner, in which they are limiting what churches can say.

Thanks. Didn't expect you to answer the question. And you DEFINITELY missed my point. But that's ok, I'll give my rebuttal.

 

The government should only limit choices that harm others. When used responsibly marijuana causes no harm to others...just as many, many legal choices.

It all comes down to responsibility.

 

How responsible does the government think we are ? ANYTHING can be used in an irresponsible way to cause harm to ones self or others.

 

Baseball Bats - Primarily used for playing baseball. If I wanted to be irresponsible with one, I could use it as a murder weapon.

 

Pillows - They make sleeping much more comfortable. I suppose if I wanted to use one irresponsibly, I could smother someone to death with it.

 

Tylenol - Great for headache relief. If I wanted to be irresponsible, I could swallow several bottles and kill myself.

 

Alcohol - Some people are able to drink the stuff and have a completely responsible, fun night. Some choose to act irresponsibly, abuse it and drink and drive among other irresponsible acts.

 

Marijuana - Some could use it the way the use alcohol. Some would inevitably abuse it.

 

My point is,anything used in a way that it was not intended to be used can cause trouble. Some people just aren't responsible enough to enjoy some things. Should we all be punished for this ?

 

This is the part that really bothers me. By government standards, I wasn't responsible enough for my own money to gamble with it before I turned 21. I was however responsible enough to fight in a war the day I turned 18. I was responsible enough to use a weapon in order to take another mans life.