Hey, I’m actually in favor of legalization — I just want all the social programs ended first. I don’t care if people die in the streets because they make bad choices. But I do not want to say: “your bad choices are fine with me — take my money: I will support your bad choices.”
End social programs
End the war on drugs
I want both things, and I think the order matters a great deal.
I want both things, but don’t see why it has to be a twofer. Right now the Welfare State supports addicts in and out of prison. Some imagine as if drug use would explode in the absence of criminalization, but seems to me basically everyone who wants to use now can. Even if the burden on the junkie coddling apparatus were to grow, you must subtract the cost of the drug war and the loss to the prison industrial complex, which is of continental proportions.
Subtract also the cost of all manner of crime connected to the drug trade, adding back in what new crime will he added by legalization. I’m almost certain we’d end up ahead. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. The Welfare State is popular, the drug war less so. At least we can possibly kick out one prop of Big Government, even if the rest inevitably destroy our civilization.
Well. as long as we’re making wish lists...criminalize alcohol and tobacco until the social programs are ended. That way we’re being consistent. Again, until then, the principle behind your request has been ceded.