Libertarianism vs. common sense.(Letter to the editor)

Dave Seely in his letter to the editor ("Libertarianism," November 13, 2006) makes the case that just as the free market self-corrects, so would vice (self-inflicted harm) self-correct if left unchecked, and so vice laws aren't necessary.

He considers the so-called "war on drugs" a complete failure because, even though billions of dollars have been spent and our jails filled, drugs are easily available thanks to an elaborate black market. He claims the "economic cost and the moral costs of freedom would be far less than that of government intervention," i.e., the government war on drugs.

I am assuming he is advocating the legalization of drugs. Under such a plan, the idea is that legalization would mean the costs of drugs to the user would plummet, thus reducing crimes committed for stealing to buy drugs (because supply would skyrocket to meet demand). If a person destroys himself, so be it. The only person being hurt is the drug user. This is my take on Mr. Seely's message. If only that were true.

There are social and health costs too numerous to enumerate here. What about young people who are too immature to realize what they are doing to themselves when they take drugs? Lives are completely ruined in many cases.

Also, the fact is that there is no real war on drugs. If we wanted to eliminate the supply of drugs to this country, like Singapore and Arabia have accomplished, simply make the risk/reward ratio too great to even consider getting in the business. When your head is on the line, all of sudden things ...