The Libertarian Alliance: BLOG

Here is a fun thing!

Because the prisons are bursting at the seams, those caught stealing (especially from shops, and if they rough up the shopkeepers, that is to say if they are ROBBERS as opposed to mere “shoplifters”) may be able to cite “desperation” in their defence, and it may keep them out of chokey. So, er, I guess they can do it some more.

I have a well-formed policy-position on crime. Firstly, I’m against it, and secondly, it occurs because someone takes a rational decision to commit it. If a liberal civilisation, based on voluntary principles and consent between people as to what actions are allowed, is to exist, then it breaks down if these boundaries are torn away by Gramscians. It then begs the question about where gramscians stand in the question of Natural Rights, and what “Rights” therefore they ought to claim (or not) if they persist in peddling their destructive nonsense.

Of this government, or indeed any for that matter, owuld stop pretending to occupy what some see as moral high ground, and would admit that “The War On Drugs” is lost, than the £100-a-day habit could become the £5-a-day habit - about the price of 20 fags. GlaxoSmithKline, Schering, Pfizer and the rest could compete to supply the best gear, backed by advertising (to encourage brand switching of course! Remember the faile defence of tobacco-ads by its firms?) and Gordon Brown could collect £4.50 of that price in taxation. The avalaunche of secondary crimes, referred to in this article, and contingent on drugs remaining illegal, and therefore high priced and in the control of thugs, could be removed.

The Telegraph was knd enough to publish my comments, appearing at about 08.20am and 10.20 am.