The American Thinker is discussing the breakdown in respect for the rule of law. I have some ideas about that.
Prohibition regimes always engender a spirit of lawlessness among the populations they are imposed on. It seeps into the wider culture. See Prohibition, Alcohol, 1920 to 1933.
Had enough yet?
We now have two generations who have grown up in a prohibition regime. If it goes like Alcohol Prohibition we will have a 20 year hangover once we end it. Maybe longer since this has gone on longer.
Half of all kids growing up try pot. That is a LOT of folks whose adherence to the rule of law has been weakened. And of course just a generation ago such law breaking was a felony. Now it is more often just a caution or ticketing offense. Still.
In a Prohibition regime you give people practice in breaking the law. Is that really the training we should be giving half our kids?
Might I add that Alcohol Prohibition was a scheme cooked up by Progressives and some Social Conservatives. Billy Sunday ring a bell? The Progressives are no longer backing that. Leaving Conservatives holding the bag (all puns intended).
When the Democrats come back it will be under a banner of ending Prohibition. A former LEO friend of mine thinks it will happen in the next 5 years. The Maker help us if the right is on the wrong side of the issue.
And what will the Left run on? “Protecting people from themselves is not a legitimate function of government. That is what we have family and friends for.” i.e. they will pretend to move to the right.
Let me add that only a police state can protect people from themselves. Why the Right wants a nanny state is beyond me. You are sharpening the dagger that will be used against you. Ah. Well. I guess there is a reason why they call the two parties names. One is evil, the other is stupid.
I’m no more interested in moral socialism than I am in economic socialism.
Cross Posted at Power and Control
Comments
3 responses to “Prohibition Regimes”
As we’re seeing now with Great Britain even the most well intentioned of police states can only ensure the safety of all by outright suppression. And even then when rebellion rears its head even the most ardent of police states can be overwhelmed.
Conservatives are going to pay a huge political price if the WOD does end and they fight to keep it. It already hurts them with many moderate voters. And their support of the WOD certainly calls into question their supposed commitment to liberty.
The same thing is going to happen with immigration reform. While it’s true that there are millions of people in this country illegally, their crime is a political form of trespassing. It seems to me that if there is any type of “crime” for which one should be able to grant amnesty, it is this type of minor offense. The Right’s fear of the “A” word will make it easy for the Left to paint them as racists, if/when amnesty does happen.
IOW, there are political opportunities for the Right to expand their voter base if they play these two issues correctly, but their “law and order” self-righteousness will keep them from doing so.
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