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Another case of the wide gap between liberals and conservatives in the understanding of what laws are. Liberals think of the law as some liquid, malleable agreement by a consensus of popular opinion on what should and should not be allowed. Conservatives see law as a set of rules made to allow the optimum functioning of society as a whole with as little incursion into the individual's rights as possible. Liberals are adolescents rebelling against the rules, conservatives are like parents attempting to enforce them. We have, in this country, a family being run by the children and parents who have thrown their hands up in frustration and given up. Pretty soon it will be back to the sandbox for us all.

Conservatives see law as a set of rules made to allow the optimum functioning of society as a whole with as little incursion into the individual's rights as possible.

And since the War On Some Drugs has no demonstrable effect on the functioning of society as a whole, but does intrude on individuals' rights, it is not a conservative policy.

22 posted on 09/22/2003 10:28:09 AM PDT by MrLeRoy (The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. - Jefferson)

Conservatives see law as a set of rules made to allow the optimum functioning of society as a whole

That sounds more like socialists to me. From each according to his ability and all that.

41 posted on 09/22/2003 10:45:00 AM PDT by jmc813 (Check out the FR Big Brother 4 thread! http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/943368/posts)