Government is just protecting these people from their own choices. It's done routinely and is a fundamental part of American life. Seat belts, prescription drugs, illegal drugs, FDA food standards, water use standards, speed limits, etc. In every case, you can count on the following excuses to limit your freedom:
(1) If you do the bad activity, you might do something worse (e.g., drug users steal)
(2) If you do the bad activity, you might suffer and expect others to pay (e.g., drug users get sick)
(3) If you do the bad activity, you might add to a global problem (e.g., drug users undermine border security)
(4) It's for the children
The fun part is watching people use these reasons to control others on the one hand, but object to exactly the same logic when it affects something else.
(1) If you do the bad activity, you might do something worse (e.g., drug users steal)
(2) If you do the bad activity, you might suffer and expect others to pay (e.g., drug users get sick)
(3) If you do the bad activity, you might add to a global problem (e.g., drug users undermine border security)
(4) It's for the children
The fun part is watching people use these reasons to control others on the one hand, but object to exactly the same logic when it affects something else.
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