Limited government sounds good to most, but I think Americans can't really handle it. by Sterling
(libertarian)
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Verboten -
As a young boy growing up in a Dutch-American community, this was the term whispered amoungst adults when a subject not to be spoken of was raised. Verboten...come to find out...is actually a German term meaning "forbidden," but we must have adopted it since it fit our Calvinistic ways so well.
Today I am going to touch on a subject that is usually seen as "verboten." MADD, known as Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Before the flames are unleashed in my direction, let it be known that I do not condone people who drive so far under the influence that they are a hazard to themselves and others. However, MADD has perfected the "more is better" policy of law enforcement. The drive toward zero tolerence of any alcohol in the public square and the subsequent increase in penalties for lower and lower thresholds of blood alcohol levels is their hallmark.
That being said, what is the appropriate response from the government to public safety issues? When more and more actions are criminalized, the size of the government by default grows and grows.
In my opinion, MADD set off a chain of events that has spawned the war on drunk driving, drugs, and all manner of safety issues. The disclaimer of "for the children" has been used to justify greater and greater intrusions into our lives, and expansion of government and the police state.
What I like to call the "Safety Nazis" are everywhere and ever vigilant. The cost to society for lawsuits and product recalls is staggering. If there is even the remotest chance that a product might cause a child harm somewhere, somehow, millions and millions of dollars are spent to recall product that would likely never harm anyone, and to what cost to all of us? Massive government agencies and layers and layers of courts dedicated to adjudicating cases brought by people who feel they have been harmed clog our judicial system, and direct thousands to jail and government monitoring yearly.
My question tonight for Ron Paul supporters is, are you really ready for limited government? A government that does not criminalize every slight that may come down the pike to you, a government that is not able to put everyone in jail you have been harmed by.
I would welcome such a state of affairs, but I think most peole have been so brainwashed into believing that they are one misstep away from death that they will balk when given the choice between freedom or the nanny state. I hope I am wrong and I look forward to your replys.
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The views expressed
in this article are those of Sterling only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
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