Posted by
ICONIC FREEDOM on Sunday, October 25, 2009 11:31:07 AM
Are people really getting upset over the potential of marijuana being legal?
People huff paint and toxic fumes from household cleaners.
Adjudicated kids I worked with used to drink Nyquil, vomit the syrup and walk around high for hours – they were called Nyquil parties. All available over the counter.
People drink and have alcohol available to them 24 hours a day – ever been to Vegas? They have an open bottle policy! Where’s the outrage! Where’s the contempt! Call the Mayor!
Are you really this naive?
If the problem is concern that people will “do more of it”, so what?
The concern is always that one behavior is a gateway to other behaviors.
It must be assumed then that drinking water leads to alcoholism.
When people think it's the "other guy" who is too irresponsible to make choice for self, you can count on the accuser being the one who is just as irresponsible; it used to be called: projection.
Who cares if someone wants to take drugs? It’s not your life to decide for another. If safety is your concern, you have to face reality that at any point in time lots of people are walking around the world high as a kite.
If you really want to make sure that certain jobs, where accuracy is most important when it comes to the responsibility of another’s life, make policy for those jobs within those companies that a daily drug test is required.
Frankly, it’s not a bad idea to have pilots take a drug test or alcohol breathalyzer test before getting in the cockpit, but no one seems to be worried about that. Nor is it out of reach to have health care workers test for drugs; I went to school with a nurse who was a recovering drug addict and work was where she got her “loot”. Her stories of rampant drug abuse were shocking.
Police, military and any other number of official positions carry weapons aren’t given such tests on a daily or hourly basis, but the law of averages tells you that at least some of those people are high on something. Folks don’t check-in to rehab not for nothin'.
Trying to control behavior is like trying to herd cats. Responsibility compels those who make choice to be able to respond to the choice. If drug use is such a concern then compel companies with high-risk jobs to demand regular and frequent drug tests, and then get out of the way. That's how free markets work: demand and supply.
Reality is that everyone has distaste for everyone else’s behavior and choices, be assured of that. Trying to control behavior of others only reveals you as arrogant, controlling, and manipulative and eventually, a hypocrite as your choices will show incongruence.
Start questioning yourself as to why you are so concerned. Where is freedom and personal responsibility?
Is it about your children?
Who then is responsible for teaching their children the consequences for such choices?
Can you police your child’s every choice? No. You can arm them with as much information as possible and accept the risk you took by having a child to begin with. If this comment offends you, consider reality: you chose to have a child knowing the world around you. Attempting to control others for your personal comfort? Society doesn't exist for you.
Unless you are planning on following your kid around 24 hours, then you better make certain you teach your children what development of personal responsibility is all about. It would be in your self-interest to teach accountability, responsibility and outcomes.
Consider how much information is available to you as an adult that you never look up, research or inquire about before making choices which could clearly alter your life. You're not teaching that negligence to your kids, are you?
If you’re willing to take the risk of indulging in drugs, alcohol, and the like, no freedom loving American would stop you.
The difference in any choice is that it is only made with the consent of those with whom it affects. Don't make a choice you can't respond to.
If it doesn’t affect you, why do you care so much?