>To me that sounds like selfishness. Since you believe alcohol is not "dangerous" to others or "harm" others. I have seen alcohol ruin and >destroy more lives than tobacco ever could. It destroys lives around those who use/abuse alcohol.
Yes, alcohol can certainly be dangerous. That is why drinking and driving is illegal. As for alcohol ruining lives through addiction, almost anything in the world can become addictive. The government can only be concerned with actions that harm others. >That doesn't sound "weird", it sounds sad. Lots of people who were not drinking, killed by those who were. People allowed to make a choice >to drink and then they drove (yes it's against the law, if they are caught)... Yes, it is against the law, and the law needs to be enforced more. The law also needs stronger penalties. I know somebody who just got their fourth DUI. Somebody like that should be locked up for at least five years in prison. >Look at crime rates. If you look at crimes and violent crimes most will be committed while under the influence of some substance and usually >alcohol is involved. I have no problem with enhancing penalties if the criminal is under the influence of any drug, including alcohol. >Alcohol use does harm others, as does tobacco use. We can't selectively choose those things we like and say they don't harm others, we have >to be objective and admit that most things we do have consequences about other people. The mere USE of alcohol is not guaranteed to harm anybody else. I could get falling-down drunk every night, but as long as I don't drive or assault anybody, my drinking doesn't harm anybody else in any way. Simply smoking in the presence of others, however, does harm people, no matter how many times you claim that studies of second-hand smoke are flawed. The mere act of smoking is harmful to others. >Just as we have laws against drinking too much, What laws are those? We have laws against drinking while driving, but no laws against drinking too much. I can drink until I kill myself and it's perfectly legal. === Nathan Hunstad Minneapolis, MN (651) 489-9107 -- Home PGP DH/DSS public key -- http://www.angelfire.com/mn/freakpower/nhpubkey.txt "This may be the year when we finally come face to face with ourselves; finally just lay back and say it -- that we are really just a nation of 220 million used car salesmen with all the money we need to buy guns, and no qualms at all about killing anybody else in the world who tries to make us feel uncomfortable." -- Hunter S. Thompson ________________________________________________ Do you Gonzo?! http://www.angelfire.com/mn/freakpower REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
