Legalizing pot

[CaptainPike]

I was talking with a guy over on another website and out of nowhere he brings up pot legalization.

I was prepared for the usual "But the government could tax it" argument and was thrown off a bit by his suggestion. His idea is that not only would the government tax it, but they would own it too. The government would own the fields and government employees would grow it and harvest it.

My first thought was that the government might not be able to scapegoat pot in the way that they've used tobacco as an excuse to create or bloat up existing entitlement programs since it's a "sin". Would the government scapegoat their own product out of existence by bloating the price with taxes? Surely not.

Either way, I don't think pot should be legal.

Would conservatives care if the government took total control of pot? It's a bit different from the healthcare debate since it's a product that most conservatives don't need.

Would the war on drugs go away, or would it just shift a bit? I could see the government going after people worse than they do now for undercutting them by purchasing their drugs from someone other than Uncle Sam.

[mrclark]

well, it sure as hell would shoot their debate about health care all to hell.

It isn't conservatives who are complaining:

"Fat Americans eat too much McDonalds, therefore raising the cost of health care for all"

Its the libs who want to control your behavior, control what you eat, smoke etc. They wouldn't have a leg to stand on. If they think people's eating habits are out of control now...JUST wait until they start mass production and sales of spleef. Half the country will have the munchies and be on their way to Fat City. :D

[TonkaTim]

I'm one of those old school real deal conservatives, The ones no one likes to talk about anymore. The true limited government conservative, you know, the People grant the Federal (not national) government 17 specific enumerated powers anything beyond that is criminal government conservative.

Marijuana laws should be a state/local government issue, just like so many other issues. So if the People of a specific state wants it, they can have it. Wish we still had the great experiment going with 50 nation-states dealing with social issues on a far more local level without all this illegal mandates from a all powerful national government.

I honestly believe the People would be much happier.

[gdoane]

I was talking with a guy over on another website and out of nowhere he brings up pot legalization.

I was prepared for the usual "But the government could tax it" argument and was thrown off a bit by his suggestion. His idea is that not only would the government tax it, but they would own it too. The government would own the fields and government employees would grow it and harvest it.

The government can't even build an outhouse for less than a quarter of a million dollars.

http://www.theplumber.com/outhouse.html

$333,000 for a two-toilet outhouse that doesn't even have running water.

You let the government grow a crop and plowing the field alone is going to be a million dollar job.

My first thought was that the government might not be able to scapegoat pot in the way that they've used tobacco as an excuse to create or bloat up existing entitlement programs since it's a "sin". Would the government scapegoat their own product out of existence by bloating the price with taxes? Surely not.

The same government that gave us the $400 hammer would definitely make things more expensive than mere mortals could afford. If the government does anything it's at a price that your children's children's children will be paying for.

Either way, I don't think pot should be legal.

One look at the slimeballs who get arrested for possession is all the convincing I need that pot is bad. Just look at the company it keeps.

Would conservatives care if the government took total control of pot? It's a bit different from the healthcare debate since it's a product that most conservatives don't need.

I'd care because it's more government. You've already added government employees to grow the weed, government property for the farming, and government control over the sales. That doesn't seem like less government to me.

The one thing I trust my government to be is incompetent. Incompetence and stupidity are what the government excels at. They've got the reverse Midas touch. Everything they touch turns to something that most definitely ain't gold.

Would the war on drugs go away, or would it just shift a bit? I could see the government going after people worse than they do now for undercutting them by purchasing their drugs from someone other than Uncle Sam.

Every dealer on the planet could undercut them. These are the guys who can't make an airplane that costs less than a billion dollars. Their starting bid for health care reform is $900 Billion and they think they're going to be cheaper than an insurance company. It would be funny if the idiots weren't actually serious.

Going to the government to make something cheaper is like going to the butcher for surgery. Yeah, you'll get cut but it ain't going to make the situation any better.

[Samm]

The government can't even build an outhouse for less than a quarter of a million dollars.

http://www.theplumber.com/outhouse.html

$333,000 for a two-toilet outhouse that doesn't even have running water.

Yes, but that is a reeeealy nice outhouse. ;)

[gdoane]

Yes, but that is a reeeealy nice outhouse. ;)

I think it should be the new Capitol Hill. That way the legislators aren't the only thing in the building that are full of crap.

Do you remember the last time the government got into agriculture? The whole alternative fuel ethanol craziness? That didn't make the crops any cheaper! Corn being used for fuel while people are starving, what a brilliant plan that was.

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/18173/?a=f

With 20% of America's corn crop going into the gas tanks of cars instead of the bellies of hungry people, the Federal government's last agricultural misadventure was an unmitigated disaster.

Corn tortillas in Mexico doubled in price. The price of food that uses corn, which is everything from corn syrup to cattle because corn is used in animal feed too, went up alarmingly as the law of unintended consequences went on full display.

The whole world asked "what kind of an idiot thought that burning our food supply was a great idea?" Our dumb as rocks Congress, that's who.

Lawyers in farming is a comedy show called 'Green Acres'. It was funny on TV but it's not so funny when it really happens.

[jeepers]

The government can't even build an outhouse for less than a quarter of a million dollars.

http://www.theplumber.com/outhouse.html

$333,000 for a two-toilet outhouse that doesn't even have running water.

You let the government grow a crop and plowing the field alone is going to be a million dollar job.



The same government that gave us the $400 hammer would definitely make things more expensive than mere mortals could afford. If the government does anything it's at a price that your children's children's children will be paying for.



One look at the slimeballs who get arrested for possession is all the convincing I need that pot is bad. Just look at the company it keeps.



I'd care because it's more government. You've already added government employees to grow the weed, government property for the farming, and government control over the sales. That doesn't seem like less government to me.

The one thing I trust my government to be is incompetent. Incompetence and stupidity are what the government excels at. They've got the reverse Midas touch. Everything they touch turns to something that most definitely ain't gold.



Every dealer on the planet could undercut them. These are the guys who can't make an airplane that costs less than a billion dollars. Their starting bid for health care reform is $900 Billion and they think they're going to be cheaper than an insurance company. It would be funny if the idiots weren't actually serious.

Going to the government to make something cheaper is like going to the butcher for surgery. Yeah, you'll get cut but it ain't going to make the situation any better.



:clap: :lol:

[jeepers]

The day that the government starts running pot farms, is the day that I declare America and it's ideals dead and I need to get out of Dodge. Don't know where I'd go, but it would be a lesser of evils choice, and a judgement call about somewhere slightly less insane. (I"d be hoping that one still exists, somewhere.)

[EnchantedFrog]

I remember when the government took over the Mustang Ranch, the famous brothel in Nevada for back taxes.
They decided to run the business to recoup the taxes due.

A year or two later, the place was out of business.

Now, if they couldn't even run a whorehouse, I don't think there is any
hope that they could grow a plant that will grow wild on the side of the
road if you let it.

[jeepers]

I remember when the government took over the Mustang Ranch, the famous brothel in Nevada for back taxes.
They decided to run the business to recoup the taxes due.

A year or two later, the place was out of business.

Now, if they couldn't even run a whorehouse, I don't think there is any
hope that they could grow a plant that will grow wild on the side of the
road if you let it.


:)) :(( :))


:clap:

[johnrocks]

Why would a conservative support government owning much of anything,let alone pot fields?(they do own one actually,in Mississippi)

[CaptainPike]

Why would a conservative support government owning much of anything,let alone pot fields?(they do own one actually,in Mississippi)

I don't support the government owning anything, or pot legalization.

I don't think they would ever fully legalize it anyhow. Maybe they'll come up with a national tax stamp. My state already does it. My income already gets taxed by the state and the fed, why not double tax pot. Except it'll still be illegal so good old government can never look like the bad guy.

There's only two ways that I see laws changing or easing up regarding pot. Either they ease up on it a bit with tax stamps (but it will still be illegal), or they'll have no choice but to legalize it for medicinal uses after Obama passes his goofy health care bill. When I say "they", I mean Obama and his cronies. Let grandma stay high until she dies. I'm suprised this isn't already in that stupid health care bill.

[Dragon1963]

Legalizing pot would just cause our heath care to jump in price 20-30 years from now; as lung cancer from those who smoke a pack or two a day would increase dramatically.