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originally posted by: Metallicus
You don't seem to value individual liberty over across the pond.
originally posted by: ChaoticOrder
I think the point Metallicus was making is some what true actually. The US was founded by people with a deep respect for individual freedom so the US does tend to have much more respect for personal liberty than most other developed nations, especially certain nations in the EU and the Commonwealth. People who live in the US tend to take it for granted because they don't know what it's like to live in a place with a more nannying type of government.
There is hardly a nation on Earth where it's actually legal to buy and smoke marijuana for recreational use. Even in EU nations where it's not really a crime, it's still technically a crime and there is a lot of legal loopholes being exploited.
In summary, citizens of the United States shouldn't take for granted the ideals their nation was founded upon, straying from those ideals in the name of the greater good will pave the path to hell.
originally posted by: [post=20075308]ArMaP
Portugal decriminalized drug use some years ago, so drug use (of any kind) is not a crime, if the person is considered addicted then it's a health issue, no loopholes needed. Being a health problem it falls under the privacy between doctor and patient, so nobody needs to know about it, that's why drug screening in private companies, for example, has to be done by a doctor and the results are only known by the doctor, that should act accordingly. As nobody can be fired because of a health problem nobody can be fired directly for using drugs.
In summary, citizens of the United States shouldn't take for granted the ideals their nation was founded upon, straying from those ideals in the name of the greater good will pave the path to hell.
They shouldn't assume that they are special either, all humans think have the same goals and dreams.
originally posted by: Metallicus
a reply to: purplemer
Europeans don't have the same respect for individual liberty as Americans. They also don't have a Constitution that guarantees free speech. Unfortunately these things can happen when an Authoritarian government puts the needs of 'society' above the rights of the individual.