Exhibit A as to how democracy and capitalism are utter failures is the experience of the libertarian effort to legalize marijuana. It has all of the earmarks of how libertarianism is supposed ot work, and it fails exactly as anarchists expect.
1. Legalizing marijuana is supposed to keep people out of jail while improving tax collection, a win-win. The problem is illegal marijuana trade was already taxed, at the top rate, via money laundering. now that the tax is via brick and mortar, legalized trade, the price difference between an ounce of legal vs illegal is $500 for the legal, $200 for the illegal. Think the price differential will have any effect on the illegal option?
2. This is a libertarian states-rights dream come true. Contrary to federal laws, three states have each in unique way legalized marijuana: Colorado, Washington and California. Each state is working on a states rights model, the Feds are largely pursuing selective enforcement (what is news?) and each state has designed its own legal structure, the original intent wherein states would be free to follow their bliss, the feds would protect the border and deliver the mail. Washington seems to be the most tolerable model, with the Feds shutting down 700 California dispensaries, and Colorado experiencing confiscations of proceeds. What is the magic formula in Washington state? According to the US Attorney, just don't make "too much money." We all wonder how much that is. The feds are editing the movement.
3. As Washington breathlessly announces the tax take on legal marijuana, one fellow who got an early license is selling out early on? What does he know? In Colorado, homeless shelters are overwhelmed with the penniless young who have migrated to the state for legal marijuana.
Gambling maven and late night talk host Bill Bennett excoriates the legalize marijuana movement. What only an anarchist can see is legalization cures nothing, having the state in any way involved only makes things worse. The solution is not legalization, but decriminalization. That is to say the government has no more concern about marijuana that is does about grass clippings. No jail time, no taxes, no regulations, no concerns whatsoever. Then we empty the prisons and the price drops to nothing, and smoking dope is no longer cool.
Anarchy is the solution to America's problems.
Feel free to forward this by email to three of your friends.
1. Legalizing marijuana is supposed to keep people out of jail while improving tax collection, a win-win. The problem is illegal marijuana trade was already taxed, at the top rate, via money laundering. now that the tax is via brick and mortar, legalized trade, the price difference between an ounce of legal vs illegal is $500 for the legal, $200 for the illegal. Think the price differential will have any effect on the illegal option?
2. This is a libertarian states-rights dream come true. Contrary to federal laws, three states have each in unique way legalized marijuana: Colorado, Washington and California. Each state is working on a states rights model, the Feds are largely pursuing selective enforcement (what is news?) and each state has designed its own legal structure, the original intent wherein states would be free to follow their bliss, the feds would protect the border and deliver the mail. Washington seems to be the most tolerable model, with the Feds shutting down 700 California dispensaries, and Colorado experiencing confiscations of proceeds. What is the magic formula in Washington state? According to the US Attorney, just don't make "too much money." We all wonder how much that is. The feds are editing the movement.
3. As Washington breathlessly announces the tax take on legal marijuana, one fellow who got an early license is selling out early on? What does he know? In Colorado, homeless shelters are overwhelmed with the penniless young who have migrated to the state for legal marijuana.
Gambling maven and late night talk host Bill Bennett excoriates the legalize marijuana movement. What only an anarchist can see is legalization cures nothing, having the state in any way involved only makes things worse. The solution is not legalization, but decriminalization. That is to say the government has no more concern about marijuana that is does about grass clippings. No jail time, no taxes, no regulations, no concerns whatsoever. Then we empty the prisons and the price drops to nothing, and smoking dope is no longer cool.
Anarchy is the solution to America's problems.
Feel free to forward this by email to three of your friends.
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