This isn't a perfect solution, but ultimately, I think, we are going to have to move in the direction where 13 year olds don't want to buy heroin. And that's going to be based not on punishment, but on better alternatives and honest information. And a better community of stronger social connection.
I think of the whole "sex ed" debate. Studies and statistics show that providing information -- and practical alternatives, such as birth and disease control -- works. "Abstinence only" does not.
Hell, even our "War on Drugs". Turns out that maybe my friend who grew magic mushrooms -- of which I never partook -- was doing better for himself than those turning to the nascent Prozac revolution. We're seeing reporting now that, under some conditions, those hallucinogenic experiences may be more effective at combating depression.
As for myself, I've come to think that the ever increasing "IP rights" are becoming an increasing burden on society and technology's development. Creative people are running up against walls hindering their creativity, walls that seem to be increasingly sold to "rent-seeking" holding companies.
To some extent, maybe those companies are useful and productive -- arbitraging initial creativity into a more reliable source of cash and/or cash flow.
But when they turn around and push for laws that continue to increase the tenure of their holdings and monopolies... They are using their position to further entrench their position, rather than foster free-flowing development.
For a long time, I tried -- more than many around me -- to "play by the rules". Belatedly, it seems, I've been becoming more aware of just how rigged "the rules" are and are becoming.
Free-flowing heroin's a scary thing. But, so's the law and order crowd -- or some of its more extreme aspects.
I realize my musings here are probably controversial. And I guess I'll add, for the sake of balance as well as whoever might be monitoring threads like these, that I continue to live a rather "squeaky clean" life.
But I can't buy in to the law and order rhetoric, any more.
Afghanistan has free flowing drugs and most other things we outlaw in our society such as pedophilia and laissez faire murder. In theory it is a libertarians paradise.
Not even remotely. Libertarianism is not just wanting drugs, pedophilia, and murder. Murder is certainly off the table for any libertarian, and I suspect most would agree with me that any sort of sexual conduct with children constitutes violence.
Why would libertarianism consider sex with children violence if it was not coerced? Many things we consider heinous become lawful if non coercion is the primary criterion.
Afghanistan does show that complete lack of government involvement is also a bad thing. Libertarians come across as if government involvement is the root of all societal problems.
I think of the whole "sex ed" debate. Studies and statistics show that providing information -- and practical alternatives, such as birth and disease control -- works. "Abstinence only" does not.
Hell, even our "War on Drugs". Turns out that maybe my friend who grew magic mushrooms -- of which I never partook -- was doing better for himself than those turning to the nascent Prozac revolution. We're seeing reporting now that, under some conditions, those hallucinogenic experiences may be more effective at combating depression.
As for myself, I've come to think that the ever increasing "IP rights" are becoming an increasing burden on society and technology's development. Creative people are running up against walls hindering their creativity, walls that seem to be increasingly sold to "rent-seeking" holding companies.
To some extent, maybe those companies are useful and productive -- arbitraging initial creativity into a more reliable source of cash and/or cash flow.
But when they turn around and push for laws that continue to increase the tenure of their holdings and monopolies... They are using their position to further entrench their position, rather than foster free-flowing development.
For a long time, I tried -- more than many around me -- to "play by the rules". Belatedly, it seems, I've been becoming more aware of just how rigged "the rules" are and are becoming.
Free-flowing heroin's a scary thing. But, so's the law and order crowd -- or some of its more extreme aspects.
I realize my musings here are probably controversial. And I guess I'll add, for the sake of balance as well as whoever might be monitoring threads like these, that I continue to live a rather "squeaky clean" life.
But I can't buy in to the law and order rhetoric, any more.