Only illegal industries kill, kidnap, keep private armies
Libertarian and George Mason University Professor Don Boudreaux sends this sensible letter to the New York Times:
While in Mexico, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will pledge U.S. help in the fight against violent Mexican drug suppliers ("Clinton Says U.S. Feeds Mexico Drug Trade," March 26).It's interesting to reflect that when Mrs. Clinton visits France she need not pledge U.S. help in the fight against violent French wine suppliers. Or that when she visits Belgium she need not pledge help against violent Belgian chocolate suppliers. Or that when she visits Colombia she need not pledge help against violent Colombian coffee suppliers. Or that when she visits Japan she need not pledge help against violent Japanese automobile suppliers.
I detect a pattern! When goods and services can be produced, sold, and consumed legally, suppliers of these goods and services are peaceful and not violent.
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Imagine the overnight plunge in killings, government expense and support for terrorism -- from Baltimore to Bogota to Kabul -- if cocaine, heroin etc. were legalized and carefully regulated.
Comments
Next thing you'll want to do is repeal prohibition.
Posted by: Rusty | April 14, 2009 11:55 AM
This is a fascinating arguement and I have heard it may times in relation to the drug problem. Facinating mainly in that it is so far off base to be laughable. Should we simply legalize everything people do that may put them in prison and let it be regulated by the free market? By this logic, we should legalize child pornography and the forced prostitution of minors because pedophiles might become violent if we restrict these activities. Somehow, I think our country and our citizens deserve better! Cocaine and heroin endanger the health and lives of our families and children. Their use in the United States should never be sanctioned by the government through legalization. Let's not forget that these drugs alter a person's state of mind and can cause paranoia and violence in a person regardless of whether the drug is legal or not.
Posted by: Stan | April 14, 2009 12:12 PM
Stan - you have completely missed the point. The argument is not to legalize "everything that people do that may put them in prison" - it is to decriminalize victimless crimes. All your examples, they've got victims.
Drug users and even drug abusers only hurt themselves. If drug abusers OR anyone else get violent and hurt someone - well, that's already against the law because there is a real victim involved. Anyone who develops a habit of committing violent acts is going to end up in jail anyway, drug abuser or straightedge.
Posted by: Stephen Biko | November 7, 2009 2:10 AM
Donald Jay is completely ignorant about crime and drugs, he sounds like a damn 14 year old. This has pretty much no point, what about users who have their lives ruined because of this, and the people legalizing it being assassinated by illegal drug dealers who have lost their jobs. Dumbest column ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: michael | December 12, 2009 8:12 AM