Good question. But legalized drugs is not the only focus of libertarians. They are pro-amnestry, pro-gay marriage, for open borders, and a whole host of other liberal ideals.
And the liberal FReepers we still have around here are very clever in distancing themselves from the pro-gay marriage concerns, as that would get them zotted, so what do they yammer on and on and on about?
Legalized drugs.
You can see the liberalism oozing out of every pore as they spew forth Barney Frank/Ron Paul talking points on marijuana. They think themselves very clever has they hide behind the Constitution as they bad mouth SoCons. One of them (on this thread now) evidently is a paid agitator from NORML, as he cuts and pastes bullet points from their website on a daily basis.
You ask what makes legalized drugs the centerpiece of libertarians? FReepers do. And JimRob tolerates this.
(See tagline)
I won't hold my breath waiting for you to quote (with URLs) the NORML text that has allegedly been copied to FR by a poster on this thread.
Drugs is a centerpiece because of the billions wasted trying to stop and incarcerate people. Why wouldn’t freepers support legalization.
Why is hiding behind the constitution a bad thing. Perhaps u should rely on that yourself.
OK.... here we go..
I am a small l libertarian. I, like most small l libertarians beleive..
1) that abortion is not only wrong, but is not a power granted to the federal government. Get the feds out of this area of our lives ( by default, according to our constitution, this becomes a 10th amendment issue )
2) the war on drugs is a dismal failure. This is not about “smoking pot” as so many so called conservatives insist. This is a basic liberty and financial issue. How many have been killed, imprisoned, or had there homes disassembled in the name of the war on drugs? How many alphabet agencies sole existence is due to the war on drugs? how much money and human capital is spent?
3) back to the war on drugs. How come my doctor cannot prescribe painkillers to me without PERMISSION from the feds? How come i cannot go into the drugstore and buy antihistimines without signing my name? this war on drugs has crawled into everyone’s personal lives.. look at rush limbaugh and his medical history splattered all over the news.. war on drugs..
3) gay marriage... not a power granted to the feds, so by default, it is a 10th amendment issue.
4) what part of the words “illegal immigrant” are so hard to understand. illegal means illegal. go to jail, then go back home and do it the right way.
5) the best defense is an overwhelming and sustainable offensive capability. However, this does not make us the worlds policemen...
So, with this all in mind, how far apart are we really?