Ken Burns: Prohibition, Drug Laws, & Unintended Consequences

"Slavery was our worst idea," says legendary documentarian Ken Burns. "I'm not sure that Prohibition was second, but it's really up there."

Burns talks to Reason.tv's Nick Gillespie about his new PBS film, an in-depth look at one of the most controversial episodes in U.S. history. "The Noble Experiment," notes Burns, left a legacy of organized crime, moral hypocrisy, single-issue politics, and unintended consequences from which we're still recovering.

About 13 minutes. Shot by Jim Epstein, Anthony Fisher, and Meredith Bragg, who also edited the piece.

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42uAvbPvsWU to watch Burns discuss his ardent support for public funding of the arts, the breakdown of mass audiences, and whether his self-description of being a "Yellow Dog Democrat" affects his creative work.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• reason
• reason.com
• reason.org
• reason magazine
• reason.tv
• reason foundation
• pbs prohibition
• ken burns
• marijuana
• drug laws
• nick gillespie
• 420
• pot
• Cannabis (drug)
• Unintended consequences

[fatguyonthc]

How do we test to see if someone is under the influence of cannabis while driving? Easy, don't. Instead let's hold all drivers accountable for their actions, whether they are stoned, drunk or sober.

[cjfilmproductions]

Right at the end look at how he says "because it is drugs"then he says we dont know the history .I think it shows his bias on the subject. The thing is we do know the history. booze breeds violence and stupidity .weed breeds munchies....second no one drives erratically on pot. if you test for driving on pot you should do the same for coffee ....texting while driving is more dangerous than driving on pot lets ban cellphones.

[SUBinfinit]

He is wrong about marijuana we have been using it since the beginning of our history in almost every early society not to mention it is linked to our brain by our nerulogical receptors

[lillllbit]

@zeldafreak701

Yep, smart men are so hot!

[cdogggITY]

Either I pick up my marijuana at a dispensary with the money going into our economy or get my smoke off the streets which indeed does finance black market?? Regardless one or the other will happen because I am gonna smoke, and im sure im not alone.

[Licmycat]

This isn't just about money. It's also a slick way for the rich to control and help or punish anyone who kisses their butts or won't. Especially when they get monies from the gov.

[TheInsoviet]

these laws are bullshit, for now im buying legal herbs, shit actually works [legalwaytogethigh com]

[joshlongnecker10]

Correct me if Im wrong but I believe cannabis is older than alcohol.

[zeldafreak701]

Ken Burns is so hot. I'm serious, he looks fantastic for a man his age.

[chrismazurful]

His ridiculous comparison between the Tea Party and prohibition is truly absurd. Prohibition much more closely resembles modern democrat’s absolute intolerance of any point of view except for their own. Who is currently attempting to prohibit, by taxation, the sale of food and beverages deemed unhealthy? Not the Tea party. If anything, the Tea Party and it’s Libertarian roots, are natural opponents of prohibition. As far as being anti immigrant, the Tea Party is only against illegal immigration

[EdDunkle]

I think he's straight edge, old school nerd style. He seems to have no clue about the war on drugs.

[beigelycheenut]

What an obnoxious turd!