Marijuana.com

LibertyLover

You mean a government safety net, right?

I've had this debate with my dad, a liberal (not a Democrat) before. He insists that the government has the responsibility to help care for his mother, and for him when he retires. I tell him I think it's his responsibility to take care of his mother, and mine and my brother's responsibility to take care of him in time as was the social safety net of humanity for eons. He always continues to insist that the government is responsible for this. I'm still awaiting an answer as to who will take care of me in my old age long after Social Security is all gone.

Socialism is tempting, but it's inherently corrupt. I flirted with it when I was young though I knew even then it was not workable in reality. I just read this and am totally fascinated by it: http://www.constitution.org/law/bastiat.htm - fantastic tirade against socialism.

 

medicine_man

Couldn't Dupont or fuel manufacturing companies adjust to utilize hemp instead? Couldn't a logging company start planting hemp instead of maple tree and use it for paper instead, and then save a lot of money?

Lothar121

I can not speak for Buzzby, but it isn't that I want socialism; I just want moderate egalitarianism when it comes to the social safety net. But I'm kind of unique in that I want it run on the state, not the federal level. The federal government is a cest pool of inefficiency and has failed miserably at protecting the public. I believe the bureaucracy is simply too much to handle in one place, thus spreading it out seems to be the best way to handle it. I can see arguments going against this, for instance some states would provide no safety net and opt for a system of church charities rather than government help, but the system might be better than what we currently have, and I am inclined to believe it would be more efficient while helping more people. Thoughts?

__________________

Donate. Write. Make a difference.. Posting Guidelines | Marijuana Policy Project | NORML | DPA | Drug WarRant | Media Awareness Project

LibertyLover

It would be much better in terms of quantity & quality of care recieved, cost effectiveness, effiencency, etc to run such programs on the state level.

I'd still be against it because it would lead to socialism. I'd favor personal responsibility first and foremost; family duty second, community care third, and state programs as a measure of last resort (in other states, not mine.

Egalitarianism is defined in Webster's as:

>>1 : a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic rights and privileges

>>2 : a social philosophy advocating the removal of inequalities among people

I'll assume you mean the first definiation as the second reeks of classical Marxism.

What you are advocating is entitlements, which are neither rights or priviledges. I don't think people should be entitled to help due to their poor planning (I'd probably be willing to help them still, but don't try to coerce me).

I again highly recommend this book (http://www.constitution.org/law/bastiat.htm) - it's really easy to read.

akornpatch

It's illegal because the government can't figure out how to regulate and tax it. Simple as that.

Now with that said, I picture weed like the beer micro-brew industry. Let us grow our own and make us get a license if we want to sell it. Allow us to have "coffee houses" (think weed for sale at Starbuck's WOOHOO!) or bars to enjoy our recreational sessions just like the drunks do. Tax and regulate...how hard could it be?

 

Mamabudz

What exactly do you have against Socialism? And Social Services?

Do you ever foresee a situation in your life where you may become reliant on the *System*?

medicine_man

Hey Mamabudz.. what happend to your dp? and posts? and.. everything else?

Buzzby

Mamabudz has been banned.

__________________

1tokeovertheline

Hard to believe that an icon of the site is banned. The rules have been loosened and someone like her gets banned. The cookies will be missed. Well maybe someone younger, say 12 or 13 can take her place. Real sorry to hear that news.