Chapter 6 Outline
III. DRUG CONTROL: IS LEGALIZATION THE ANSWER?
A. Liberty: An Argument for Legalization
1. Some individuals argue that each responsible individual should have the right to engage in any voluntary transaction as long as it does not impose substantial, involuntary harm on a third party.
a. Children should not have this freedom.
b. Individuals should not be allowed to sell themselves into slavery as this implies giving up the freedom to make your own decisions.
B. Paternalism: An Argument against Legalization
1. Some individuals argue that through government society can attempt to keep people from harm even though they are foolish enough to take the risk.
a. This view questions the principle that individuals always know their own best interest.
C. The Final Analysis
1. The inconsistent treatment of alcohol and cocaine suggest that our drug laws follow neither the libertarian nor the paternalistic arguments.
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