“Government prohibitions do always more mischief than had been calculated; and it is not without much hesitation that a statesman should hazard to regulate the concerns of individuals, as if he could do it better than themselves.” IfsShouldGovernmentIndividualLibertyConcernMischiefStatesmenProhibitionHesitationHazards Author:Albert Gallatin
“I agree that marijuana laws are overdue for an overhaul. I also favor the medical use of marijuana -- if it's prescribed by a physician. I cannot understand why the federal government should interfere with the doctor-patient relationship, nor why it would ignore the will of a majority of voters who have legally approved such legislation.” IfsShouldUseGovernmentLawDoctorsAgreeMajorityPatientMedicalFavorsVotersMarijuanaPhysiciansInterfereLegislationFederal GovernmentProhibitionApprovedOverdue Author:Abigail Van Buren
“For a government to declare a vice to be a crime, and to punish it as such, is an attempt to falsify the very nature of things. It is as absurd as it would be to declare truth to be a falsehood, or falsehood a truth.” GovernmentWould BeTruthCrimeVicesAbsurdFalsehoodProhibition Book:Vices Are Not Crimes: A Vindication of Moral Liberty Source: Vices Are Not Crimes: A Vindication of Moral Liberty
“Remember, government is not an enlightened organization designed to promote public welfare. It is barbaric, uncivilized force…military and police power put to the service of the insiders who control it. Yes, there are constraints on the way the insiders use their power. There are ‘checks and balances,’ built into the constitution, for example. And there are cultural norms and traditional prohibitions. But eventually, the norms and traditions wear off, like painkillers. And then, the pain of raw government begins again.” WayUseGovernmentPainRememberExampleBalanceBuiltTraditionOrganizationConstitutionPoliceChecksTraditionalWelfareEnlightenedNormConstraintsProhibitionBegin AgainInsidersBarbaricUncivilizedPainkillersPolice PowerPublic Welfare Author:Bill Bonner
“The real transgression occurs when religion wants government to tell citizens how to live uniquely personal parts of their lives. The failure of Prohibition proves the futility of such an attempt when a majority or even a substantial minority happens to disagree. Some questions may be inherently individual ones, or people may be sharply divided about whether they are. In such cases, like Prohibition and abortion, the proper role of religion is to appeal to the conscience of the individual, not the coercive power of the state.” PeopleWantMayRealStatesGovernmentHappensIndividualRolesCasesCitizensProveConscienceMajorityAppealsAbortionMinoritiesDividedDisagreeProhibitionFutilityTransgression Author:Edward Kennedy