[ALittleLight]

I was much more libertarian when I was younger. Drugs are a good example. I always thought people should be free to do whatever they want. I feel that way about myself, certainly, and don't feel bound by any drug laws - not that I use drugs, but if I wanted to the law wouldn't bother me. Over time though I've lived in places where drugs practically are legal and the consequences - homeless, petty crime, public drug use, overdose deaths, etc seem less than ideal.

Nowadays I feel less libertarian and more confused. What is the social benefit of allowing gambling addicts to bankrupt themselves? Why do we allow that? I like to gamble now and again, and think I should be allowed to, but...

[cowvin]

Yep, I'm with you. I'm generally pretty loose on letting people enjoy their vices, but I think it's also reasonable for society to protect people who might be preyed upon by others through their vices.

For example, heroin is notoriously destructive and addictive. I'm cool with outlawing it. But something like marijuana is not nearly as destructive and addictive, so I'd rather legalize it.

Gambling can be addictive, but people enjoy it, so it should be legal. However, I think it's appropriate to ban certain predatory gambling practices.

[water554]

You can legalize drugs and not let losers camp on public property and openly operate bike chop shops. The states that legalize drugs just happen to be the states that let human garbage … garbage up the city. I don’t think there’s a causal link.