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Originally Posted by Slartibartfas
Your attitude towards drugs is honorable, but I can't follow some of your conclusions. Many people tend to drive too fast with their cars. I know cars have a very important use, but the solution can not be to punish those who drive correctly. Why is it the right way for lets say alcohol. If there are people who are not acting in a responsible way, why punishing all people for it?
People who drink and drive are punished heavily, when they harm anyone under alcohol influence its easily possible that they ruined their entire financial existence for ever and thats good.
I have been drunk already fair number of times, I dare to say that I have drinking "under control" though. Even when I drink more I usually give it a rest after 2 liter beer or so. That hardly can be called excessive, especially as that does not so often anyway. Mostly I will only drink a beer or two and then at least as much for the taste as for anything else.
I know that people react differently to alcohol, from myself I can not confirm that I am "mentally unstable" under influence of alcohol. I may be sedated, and may dare a bit more than without alcohol, but I am not suddenly Mister Hide. I have been never involved in a fight so far, nor harmed a fly anything.
Dont get me wrong, I have nothing against strict age controls, anti drink and drive campaigns and punishments etc. Even the more for initiatives that help alcoholics to get a life again without alcohol. But what about the mass that consumes alcohol responsibly, do they deserve to be thrown into one pot with the others?
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No. You're absolutely right. That was an overreaction on my part, I will admit that much. I think we can agree on this. Responsibility and self-control is a virtue to be valued and there's no reason that those who drink responsibly should be punished for the irresponsible actions of others. That's nothing but unfairness.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slartibartfas
Did I blame one? No, I just said what happened and it will happen again if prohibition should be enacted again.
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My apologies. I should have held my tongue and read deeper into your post before commenting on that part of it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slartibartfas
Of course one can say its the bad criminals who exploit it (and you could probably to so justifiably), but that won't change the result.
If I remember correctly the prohibition did not only contribute to crime by criminalizing large parts of the society and filling prisons but also because it was the starter money for the Italian mafia to vastly expand over the country and build a basis on which it could operate well also after prohibition was abandoned again.
Its like driving with a Bentley into the Bronx. Of course you can say its the criminals fault that it got stolen, but its not like you couldn't expect it.
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Yes, I can see the
logic in your argument, it's certainly full of truth. Too much truth, if you know what I mean...
--too much conflict and crime in this world, but I suppose there always will be. So yes, I can understand what you mean. And after thinking about it, I can definitely agree that those who drink responsibly should not pay the consequences for those who abuse alcohol.
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