Milton Friedman on America's Drug Forum pt.1of3

[badazzzftw]

smart guy and totally true what hes saying!! respect for this guy i want to be free to decide what i do!

[HUGEBRANE]

As usual, Milton Friedman was absolutely correct.

Too bad that he's gone because we need Friedman now more than ever.....

[KoreaForeigner]

Great video! Milton makes sense. Noone with half a brain can support prohibition

[ajuk1]

I agree with his point but I think he did it a disservice by exaggerating, half the prisoners? I don't think so.

[shinkengatsxa]

@ajuk1 half the number sh!t now it's probably like 2/3s less there is an AMAZING amount of drug related stuff in jail

[pragmatismnotidealis]

Its interesting to note how basic respect for law was eroded during alcohol prohibition as ordinary citizens had to break the law to get a drink. I think this might be similar to the gang culture around weed and coke, perhaps legalization would destory this? Or perhaps limit the temptation into gun and knife crime?

[ConquerorWorm2012]

Prohibition doesn't work. The so-called "war on drugs" has done nothing but create a multi-billion dollar black market, empower criminals and tyranical governments, and turn otherwise decent people into goddamn criminals.

The U.S has a greater percentage of people in prison than does every other nation on the face of the earth. We call it Democracy.

[cpblackangel88]

Drugs are a personal choice. So they should be legal. Also we spend billions as a nation to fight the gangs and mobsters in them. Than we make drugs illegal so we can give criminals a market for them to make money selling drugs illegally. Legalize gambling,drugs, and prostitution. Make it so they have no more businesses besides murder which wont be nearly enough to fund there current enterprise.

[SHBBKBB]

on the other hand, even if there was no law against alcohol use in children, you, as a parent would do your best that your child does not use it. you don't need the state to tell you what's good for your child.

[amirgiles]

A comment was deleted that equated child pornography and drug possession, since drug possession turns you into a 'thieving junkie'. Of course the reason this doesn't make sense is that every case of child pornography involves a third party victim, whereas many cases of drug use do not. You don't ban driving just because some people drive dangerously. In the same way, why ban drugs because in some people this causes them to harm others?

[fleskebille]

And of course the reason that some may turn into "thieving junkies" is, at least in large part, prohibition. If heroin users weren't stigmatized and driven to turn to the underground, many of them would be able to work, and if some didn't, they would still not cost society anywhere near what they do now.

[amirgiles]

The principle is your liberty stops where another person's starts. Pollution hurts other people, so your freedom to pollute is restricted in the same way your 'freedom' to murder is. Drugs only harm yourself. You are as free to harm yourself as much as you like. I find his view very consistent if you understand the principles involved.

[all028]

Since the gov't has NO business in telling us what we can put in our mouth, do you believe children should have the right to smoke pot or take drugs?

[sweetness111983]

its called an ID, same as beer

[all028]

Actually Milton disagrees with that as well. Milton feels that is the responsibility of the parents NOT the Gov't. No gov't interference...PERIOD.

Let me find the video or article and I will send it to you. Give me time...

[pdynamics1]

But you never answered the original point...what right does the gov't have to tell what children can put in their mouth? Isn't that government interference? Isn't that the responsibility of the parents just like all028 said?

[amirgiles]

Its complicated. You can outlaw the selling of drugs to children, under the afore mentioned principle, but do I believe they should be put in prison if caught smoking pot? No. Children should be mainly the parents responsability except in special cases.

[pdynamics1]

Ok, Let's say a kid is caught doing drugs but the parent gave them permission to do so. Should the parents be put in jail?

[amirgiles]

Depends on the drug and the age of the child I guess. Shooting up a three year old with heroin is not the same as letting your 17 year old have a glass of wine or a puff of weed. Would you put parents who smoke around their children in jail? As soon as kids are involved it gets much more complicated, but the general principle of leaving adults to make their own choices about their own health makes sense to me.

[pdynamics1]

Yes, I would put them in jail. The other thing is where is the line to be drawn? Some would say 10, others would say 18. Hell, why not 5????

[SHBBKBB]

your children have a right to eat candy whenever they want - does that mean that you have to let them do that?

[all028]

I don't think you should equate drugs with candy

[SHBBKBB]

you are free to think whatever you want but I am talking about a principle, and that is - children are not adults and it is nonsense to argue that something should be illegal for everyone because you would not want your children to use it. for example, the fact that an adult can drink alcohol does not imply that a child can do the same.

[all028]

Well, you are going against Milton's principles...no gov't intervention. It's the parents responsiblility not the gov't

[cpblackangel88]

Well parents should be the ones to tell if there kids to drink or not. Unless there intentionally harming them. I don't think government can question it.

[Thvndar]

I never thought i would hear something from Milton Friedman that i agree with

[11mc22]

i agree with with mr. Friedman

the only reason why meth is used is because it is easy to make.

just because price rises from prohibition doesn't mean it works. instead people try to find easier ways to get drugs and guess what, it gives people the incentive to look for way to create cheap synthetic drugs.

if pot, cocaine, and heroin was more expensive then why not make meth in your garage. it takes less than a few hours to make and the all the ingredients to make it can be found in Wal mart

[NullSpacio]

I totally agree

[bmtimv]

thanks for posting this

[Exakta66]

Nice to see someone of high regard who makes sense.

[rightwinglibertarian]

He drank Akvavit!! :D

That's like swedens most distasteful liquor. Poor fellow. Give the man Brännvin the next time he rejoins the cycle of life ;)

[folopo2]

thanks for the 3 videos....

excellent for the opening of minds!

[nibelungensohn]

Other than the bit about how crack came about I think Friedman was dead on.

[Butmunch666]

I think he was dead on about crack. Because crack wouldnt receive the publicity that it did if drugs were legal, besides cocaine would be very cheap.

[atrickpay11]

I really respect Milt for his solid stance on drug legalization!

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Liberals want to be your Mommy.

Conservatives want to be your Daddy.

Libertarians want to treat you like an adult.

[JohnGaltHasSpoken]

@atrickpay11 Best comment EVER !!