Being Libertarian does NOT equal Drug User

Published on February 24, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Politics

My neighbor's grandson is putting his application in for the town marshall's position. Now, he's a good cop as far as I know, but his big issue is drugs.

The thing is, he knows I'm a Libertarian.

While one the one hand, I hope he does get the marshall's position (I can see benefits to my children once they are teenagers having a good rapport with the town cop), I also know that it would be a bad idea to invite him over to the house regularly.

Why? Well, even though my stoner days are long behind me, I still buy the occasional copy of "High Times". I don't do drugs, I don't encourage people to do drugs; in fact, I think that the majority of drug use qualifies as intentional stupidity, I DO have strong feelings against the drug laws in this country. Add to the aforementioned publication my frequent Libertarian Party mailings, and you have enough probable cause for a search to make a young cop drool.

Now don't get me wrong. There's nothing a probable cause search of the house would turn up (with the possible exception of seizing of all my garden seedlings for testing...which could be costly). But that's not the issue. The issue is the fact that many individuals in this country have gone after drugs with a rabid zeal that applies harsh penalties to a practice that is FAR less offensive than the penalties for more serious infractions (let's see....beat someone within an inch of their life, get five years, carry an ounce of pot, get 60....hmmm?). The issue is also existence within a small town where even the inevitable exoneration (assuming he's not crooked, which I really don't think he is) would set tongues to wagging for the rest of our lives and then some.

One of the problems stems from the caricaturization by Ann Coulter among others, of the LP as being a "one issue" party. It is not, and in fact, is far from it. Most Libertarians I have known are, in fact, NOT potheads (if there WAS a "one issue" to the LP, it would probably be gun or property rights....but even those I don't see a prevalence of one over the other). Being a Libertarian carries with it the almost carte blanche search implications that being a communist carried in the 1950's. The resultant actions of law "enforcement" officials have led to many violations of individual rights...and all because the person DARED to speak their mind about a perceived injustice.

Ah, well. If he gets the job, maybe I can go the "fun" route....and dry and bag a bunch of oregano just to keep him hoppin'...lol

Comments

Reiki-House

on Feb 24, 2005

"in fact, I think that the majority of drug use qualifies as intentional stupidity"
Who would they be? Recreational users?

ParaTed2k

on Feb 24, 2005

I know what you mean! Not even as a party either, but just talk about "Little L" libertarian ideals and you get all sorts of fun and interesting misconceptions.

"Aren't libertarians Anarchists?"
"libertarian is just another word for liberal"
"libertarian is just another word for conservative"

As you know, I am a Republican, but many of my views are pretty libertarianistic (even if I couldn't actually join the party, in good conscience). I guess all you have to do is say things like:

"Laws against drugs are one thing, but what have our paraniod drug interdiction methods accomplished, other than filling our prisons with non violent, small time users?

"Since when do American citizens have to justify why they want to own a product (i.e. guns)?"

or

"All government issues should be dealt with at the lowest jurisdiction possible"....

And you get marked a "radical", "druggy" or "Anarchist"or worse yet.. a Libertarian!!! ;~D

Now excuse me as I explain to this cop why a "Grateful Dead" sticker on my car (while in my driveway) ISN'T probably cause for a search of my house! ;~D

Myrrander

on Feb 24, 2005

being a drug user doesn't equal libertarian either

Gideon MacLeish

on Feb 24, 2005

lol...excellent point, myrr!

ParaTed2k

on Feb 24, 2005

being a drug user doesn't equal libertarian either

We're thinking alike again. One of us should be scared! ;~D

latour999

on Feb 24, 2005

I also tend to side on the reduction of drug laws, especially for marijuana. Does that (or the t-shirt I bought in Minneapolis) count me as a drug user? No.

Interesting story relating to this though, up here, we have a "third" (we have 4 major parties, so I suppose they would be a 5th party) party, the Marijuana Party. One of their candidates in a riding next to mine was convicted of running a grow op. In court, his lawyer tried to portray him as a social crusader like Martin Luther King, but it didn't help him.

I always thought that if you were growing illegal drugs, you would try to be inconspicuous. Not this guy

NJforever

on Feb 24, 2005

we have a "third" (we have 4 major parties, so I suppose they would be a 5th party) party, the Marijuana Party.

What do they support?

Xiozan

on Feb 25, 2005

I am your diehard vehement Anti-Socialism Libertarian and avid rabid Ayn Rand Fan.

Her philosophy is great but am I or have I ever done drugs? No, unless you count the ones Medical Doctors prescribe me but am I against the Drug War? Yes, because damn do we really need to waste time and money on a useless stoner? Sorry I am NOT my brother's (or sister's) keeper, let him/her rot if that person does not wish to better them self. After all you can only really help those who truly want to be helped, the apathetic bunches are just a waste of money, valuable taxpayer money that does not need to be wasted on such a useless venture, when a debt and other problems higher priority hands down.

Great stuff as always, Gid.

- Grim X

drmiler

on Feb 25, 2005

They should have at the very least legalized medicinal marijuana a long time ago.

bakerstreet

on Feb 25, 2005

Unfortunately, you have to battle the preceved platform of your party, much as pro-life Democrats have to battle theirs.

I guess it is a big issue for some, but to me it isn't sound for a party to take such personal issues and wedge themselves with them. Sure, there may be people who are looking for a pary that is pro-legalization, but on the whole it will turn off a lot more people than it will attract.

In my opinion, all the parties need to make their platform about the "big issues" and leave such personal questions for their individual candidates to answer. As long as Democrat=="Pr-Abortion" or Libertarian == "pro-legalization" in the minds of the average American, these parties will be stigmatized by sideshow issues.

Rightwinger

on Feb 25, 2005

I know a total of three --supposedly-- registered Libertarians, and all are pot and/or drug users. One is a total burnout, so I don't even suppose he votes at all, but....

I think it's ridiculous, as well, the way sentences for pot possession, as opposed to more serious offenses, are handed down. Your point on that subject is well-founded.

Though I'm an old-school redneck, and (though I get many goggle-eyed responses to this) have never smoked pot (I'm a Coors Light or vodka man, myself...whiskey makes the men in my family mean--it's our Irish blood, I guess, so I avoid it), I think pot is the very least of the drugs. I think it should be legalized...but only if they could make it smell better, you know?

Gideon MacLeish

on Feb 25, 2005

Baker,

You are absolutely correct on that score, even though that is hardly the whole of our platform.

One of the points I continue to hammer home within the party and on message boards is the need to "lead with electable issues". While I would never encourage any Libertarian to back off their pro-legalization stance, I would encourage them not to LEAD with it. We should lead with issues such as fiscal conservatism and personal liberties, issues that more people agree with than not.

There's a lot of work we need to do as a party, and the only way to get it done is to LISTEN to our critics; like it or not, their criticisms have some merit (hear THAT, dems?)

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!