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The Atlantic has a piece out today about a number of ballot initiatives aiming to legalize pot, and how it might help Obama's re-election by turning out the youth vote again (apparently counting on a "high" that isn't talking about unemployment rate). "This year there's another incumbent president with modest approval ratings who could turn out his base with controversial ballot measures. But this time, the issue features no biblical or scatological imagery. In 2012, voters in swing states will decide whether they'll allow their fellow citizens to bear joints. Unlike the gay marriage votes, there's no indication that Obama's re-election team is behind any of the pot legalization initiatives, but there are Democrats who are hoping that it will boost turnout among weed's biggest fans: young people."

The debate over legalizing drugs can often be a tricky proposition for conservatives who often talk about personal responsibility, economic freedom, and individual liberty, but oppose the legalization of drugs. (Some libertarian-leaning conservatives often favor or are neutral to the idea, but don't see it as needing a big push.)

But here's the easiest answer as to why legalizing drugs is a bad idea: The welfare/nanny state. Yep, we live in a society where "the youth" expect the government to change their diapers in the morning, and in the afternoon pay for their college, their food, and make sure they get a $100K job - with free healthcare - the day after graduation. The same youth who would likely enjoy seeing the legalization of drugs, thinks everything is free and every problem should be taken care of.

We do not live in a society where screwing up one's life and making stupid decisions only effects the person making those decisions. Instead, we live in a society where the taxpayer bails out everyone for everything. And people who screw up their lives taking drugs will be no exception. And then, how long until some Obama-ish administration demands that insurance plans cover drug usage for "medicinal" or "emotional" or "therapeutic" purposes? At the same time, let's not forget that the same ideology that favors drug legalization is also bandying about trying to ban salt, slurpees, and soda pop "for your own good."

So here's the deal: End the welfare state and consequence-free safety-net for people who make stupid decisions, and THEN we can have a legitimate discussion about legalizing drugs. Before you can demand the freedom to do whatever, whenever, you must first be willing to accept the consequences. A nanny-welfare state that fixes every personal problem (expensively I might add) and drug-legalization simply are not compatible.

Photo Source: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Legalize Pot? Bad Idea in a Nanny State originally appeared on About.com Conservative Politics: U.S. on Thursday, June 14th, 2012 at 08:29:17.

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