Ron Paul: Why Can’t We ‘Put Into Our Body Whatever We Want?’

[luckytxn 2,264]

It is strange to think that we do not even own our own bodies but that it belongs to the state. Land of the free indeed.

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul decried the “war on drugs” Thursday night, telling supporters in Washington state that people should be able to make their own decisions on such matters.

Voters in Washington are likely to decide this year whether to legalize the recreational use of marijuana

“If we are allowed to deal with our eternity and all that we believe in spiritually, and if we’re allowed to read any book that we want under freedom of speech, why is it we can’t put into our body whatever we want?” Paul told more than 1,000 people at a rally in Vancouver, a suburb of Portland, Ore.

Paul did not mention his rivals for the Republican nomination but criticized President Barack Obama for killing American citizens with suspected terrorist ties and for expanding federal regulations.

The Texas congressman said he wasn’t sure if he’d win the GOP nomination and tries not to predict the future but added that he’s encouraged by the enthusiasm of his supporters.

“People who are strong believers in issues and ideas and principals, they do lead the way,” he said.

Paul is the second Republican to hold a major public event in Washington. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum was in Olympia and Tacoma on Monday. Washington’s caucuses are scheduled for March 3.

Some in the Vancouver audience came from neighboring Oregon, which has a primary set for May 15.

Paul was spending Thursday campaigning in Idaho and Washington and has rallies planned Friday in Richland and Spokane. He is expected to hit most of Washington’s media markets before the state’s nonbinding caucuses.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Laws are made on the basis of how you might harm others, not yourself.

The problem with such laws is they are an assumption and unfairly target everyone in society.

It's a balancing scale for legislators. You either A) stop people from doing something to prevent it from affecting other people. or B) let everyone do it and run the risk of other people being affected.

The sad truth is though, that even with laws in place, people are still going to do what is against the law, especially in the privacy of their own home. It's the same with alcohol, you aren't supposed to drink and drive and people do it anyway. You shouldn't smoke weed and drive either, but they do it anyway.

You want to solve the problem, you make penalties stiffer for doing activity A and then moving on to activity B while still effected by activity A.

Every argument against "illegal" drugs is absurd on its face because alcohol causes the exact same problems if not worse when abused the same way.

[slim 1,525]

They just don't want to understand. If they can't control even the most basic of individual liberties, they lose.

The tea tax was only a few pence.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

They just don't want to understand. If they can't control even the most basic of individual liberties, they lose.

The tea tax was only a few pence.

Two shillings and six pence per pound. Ironically the arrangement would have meant that tea prices would have fallen, but negatively affected colonial businesses etc.

[slim 1,525]

Two shillings and six pence per pound. Ironically the arrangement would have meant that tea prices would have fallen, but negatively affected colonial businesses etc.

"British tea was once again imported into the colonies in significant amounts, with merchants paying the Townshend duty of three pence per pound."

Teabags

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

"British tea was once again imported into the colonies in significant amounts, with merchants paying the Townshend duty of three pence per pound."

Teabags

Oops I quoted the London duty

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Act

[slim 1,525]

Oops I quoted the London duty

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_Act

No worries. At least you're aware there was a tea tax. Most Americans have no idea what that's all about.

[luckytxn 2,264]

No worries. At least you're aware there was a tea tax. Most Americans have no idea what that's all about.

They really hated the paper tax.