Ever hear of second-hand smoke? Too bad it's not illegal just to simply smoke. There's also a thing called general stupidity...as in, anyone who would do drugs is simply stupid - it's a waste of money, a waste of time, and a waste of what could be a good mind. If it takes jail time and rehab to force that out of people, then so be it.
Actually, yes I do. Being against all penalties, you should rejoice when anyone does not get the penalties. I am not anti-anal rape, except in the case of Saddam Hussein. I am anti anal rape in all circumstances. Even though anal rape happens, I do not say, well I hope it happens to him, or it is okay that it happens to criminals. I am against every case, and I am happy when it is averted, no matter who is involved.
I saw a video in my sociology class last year that showed the same thing. They also showed a very questionable sting operation where the police acted as drug dealers. They'd call into in alley and people who were obviously heavy addicts would just get arrested and carried them off. What was amazing is that they didn't leave, they just kept calling into the same alley and more addicts came out. A lot of them had been arrested plenty of times. These people needed rehab, but they just kept sending them to prison and they'd come back out to get into the same trouble. It was an old video so that may have changed by now.
So? If people want to screw up their lives, let them. Responsible users shouldn't have to suffer because some people can't control themselves. The government shouldn't be able to tell me what I can ingest in my body.
The wealthy and powerful are treated differently by the criminal justice system. This is not unique to drug offenses.
This is a non-argument. I am not happy that Noelle Bush is going to jail for ten days or for one day and I am not happy that she smokes crack. One more time: I am against the drug laws. I am also against the privelege that wealth affords in the criminal justice system. Freak's right -- it's not unique to drug offenses. And I oppose it in all cases. In case it helps, if I were on the Bush jury I would have favored a not guilty verdict on principle, regardless of the facts of the case. As such, I would have been excused from jury duty (it's happened to me before). Even so, my opposition to the drug laws does not lead me to favor those few cases where money and influence places someone above the law. I really don't see how you find a contradiction there, your silly rape analogy not withstanding. My positions are all rooted in very simple notions of justice and fairness. How bout yours? What's your position on the drug laws? I'm guessing you're for them? On light (or no) sentences for the rich and famous? You for these too?
The rich will always be treated better by the legal system well as long as the best defense lawyers charge a fortune life isn't fair, and tomorrow is Saturday...
I don't think all of your liberal bretheren share this point of view. Many seem to delight in the suffering of the Bush family. See the thread that BK locked. I don't care which way the laws go, I guess you find that surprising. I also think that all laws should have prescribed penalties that apply the same to everyone. I also think that laws should be the same for everyone (ie. no special laws for or against any individual or group).
