We can pull the plug on the black market by legalizing drugs, gambling, and prostitution. Since crime syndicates and terrorists make the bulk of their money dealing in these areas, legalization would put a colossal dent in their income. The war on drugs will never be won using the current strong-arm tactics or guilt and fear manipulation techniques. Children and adults usually do the opposite of what you command them to do. Defying authority is universal.

I am not advocating the use of either of these entertainment areas, and I am not advocating that any government should regulate society's private vices or business ventures, but temporary regulation of these areas might be the only way current governments would even consider legalization. Any government should publicly preface this monumental decision with logical reasons why legalization is a better choice. Proper education yields better results than manipulation. This would also minimize mixed messages and the number of first time experimenters.

Of course, in the type of super-civilization that our Power Essence audio product talks about, people would be so engrossed in their love-of-life focus that the thought of doing drugs or wasting money in gambling or engaging in sex with prostitutes would be farthest from their minds.

If drugs, such as marijuana, were legalized for personal use, medical/material research and therapy, and available free through government outlets, it would completely remove the profit in selling the substances and remove the dangerous additives.

If governments and/or the private sector also had workshops and counseling available for treating addictions as diseases rather than crimes, I believe that more people would be willing to opt-out of their life destroying habits.

I see huge potential in incorporating Power Essence types of workshops for recovering addicts. Showing someone how to live life as a blessing has greater appeal and would probably have a higher success rate than simply turning a newly cleaned addict back out on the street.

Who currently prospers from the illegal status of the above mentioned areas? Governments have some stake in the black market since they gain from seizures of property and finances. Some branches of law enforcement prosper from simply being employed to counteract vice. Some bullies in law enforcement get a chance to beat down doors and hurt people. Politicians make themselves look good by advocating ego-justice and politicized laws. Criminals prosper from the economics of demand and the over-inflated prices.

In the end, taxpayers lose financially due to the overcrowded justice system and the wasted efforts of law enforcement.

Very well said!;)

This is the premise of Objectivism and Libertarianism, which are philosophical and political viewpoints that many people may disagree on. However, I believe that they are both based on common sense, and although I advocate for a complete detox on all politics and philosophy, these 2 ways of thinking are as close as it gets to what I personally believe in. I'll explain why.

It's all about getting rid of Victimless Crimes. These "crimes" are done with the consent of the participants and have no consequences to anyone else. However, by them becoming crimes they are, like you say, creating more problems!

Individual rights are something we are owed and will hopefully one day achieve. At the moment we live content with the con of "Equal rights", which is a false premise. Each person has individual needs. One example of individual rights being achieved is the law in England allowing muslims to avoid wearing a helmet when riding a motorbike because of their turbans. If that was done on the premise of "equal rights", everyone would have to wear a helmet, and muslims would probably be very angry.

There's lots about this topic at these sites, for those interested:

The Ayn Rand Institute (www.aynrand.com)
The ARI take on individual rights and law (http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=media_topic_individual_rights_ and_law)
The Libertarian Party (www.lp.org)

Remember, if these political and philosophical premises are realised, we will all be released from these shackles that hold us back. How do these laws hold us back? Here are some examples:

Maybe smoking pot makes you more creative, but you don't smoke it because it's illegal.
Maybe you really need a prostitute to help relieve tension - you can't concerntrate on creating great things.
You can't afford to start a business because of a massive tax debt.
You can't afford to employ someone for your business because there are too many regulations that would cost too much to conform to.

They're probably pretty bad examples, but hopefully you see what I mean.

Yes, Cemiess, good point about Individual Rights. Any legislation or proposition or mention of a particular group's rights is a con-game scam and is discrimination against the other groups involved. Individual rights cover everyone but lawmakers and politicians avoid the topic. Why do they avoid the issue of Individual Rights? :cookoo:

Women's rights are discriminatory against men and men's rights are discriminatory against women. Gay rights are discriminatory against heterosexuals. Particular racial-group rights are discriminatory against all other racial groups. Affirmative action is discriminatory against valuable people that are qualified for the job position. Politicians and lawmakers are dividing us based on differences when they really should be focused on the individual, regardless of ethnic background, gender, or whatever. Sure it sounds moral and good to discuss a particular group's rights, but be aware that those politicians are being prejudicial and their policy of focusing on a particular group's rights simply makes those politicians look good on the surface to the unaware voter and citizen.

Speaking of Govt., I saw recently where the Republicans in Congress are talking about abolitioning the IRS. Most likely won't happen, but it's nice to see that the idea is at least floating around, I suppose.

Anyway, IMHO the Govt. is way too big. Last I heard there were 18 million Federal Govt. employees. I think the founding fathers must be turning over in their graves.

I think the founding fathers must be turning over in their graves.
Definately.

http://www.comics.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/dilbert2003486440728.gif

Definately.

http://www.comics.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/dilbert2003486440728.gif


LOL!!! :biglaugh: That is one of the best Dilbert strips I've seen!!! :bouncy:

Speaking of Govt., I saw recently where the Republicans in Congress are talking about abolitioning the IRS. Most likely won't happen, but it's nice to see that the idea is at least floating around, I suppose.

Anyway, IMHO the Govt. is way too big. Last I heard there were 18 million Federal Govt. employees. I think the founding fathers must be turning over in their graves.


Yeah, they should axe the IRS…and all other worthless governmental agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I would rather see honest, unbiased private businesses giving us suggestions about potential harmful foods and drugs, rather than some appointed, biased federal group dictating what we can and cannot do to our own bodies. It all gets down to honest business regulating itself and dishonest businesses going out of business. There is too much red tape regarding government policy-making, which slows down and even stops vital progress and cures.

However, you know those government employees in those cushy, easy-money-making jobs will fight like wildcats to keep their positions and agencies. My message to them, get off your lazy butts and learn to produce something of real value for yourselves and society.

I would rather see honest, unbiased private businesses giving us suggestions about potential harmful foods and drugs, rather than some appointed, biased federal group dictating what we can and cannot do to our own bodies. It all gets down to honest business regulating itself and dishonest businesses going out of business. There is too much red tape regarding government policy-making, which slows down and even stops vital progress and cures.
Yes, but it's never going to work 100% either way. Unfortunately even if you put the businesses in charge of regulating things, they would more often then not, work towards their own agendas. On the other hand, they are doing that now and slipping govenrment official $$ under the table to look the other way. :bonk:

Yes, but it's never going to work 100% either way. Unfortunately even if you put the businesses in charge of regulating things, they would more often then not, work towards their own agendas. On the other hand, they are doing that now and slipping govenrment official $$ under the table to look the other way. :bonk:

Good point, Jeremy. Current reality is that many people in businesses and government would take dishonest advantage of the situation and steal as much as they possibly could or what they could get away with ( :mad: ). That is why I said I would rather see honest, unbiased private businesses giving us suggestions. Honesty should begin with each individual person and continue nonstop – which means that even businesses would become totally honest because everyone in business would be striving for total honesty. I'm talking about wide-scope honesty, which means honesty at all levels at all times and in all situations. I'm writing an article for our members-only newsletter on this very topic - the Dishonesty Disease.

Many religions teach honesty, yet many so-called religious people - leaders and followers are dishonest at varying degrees and under various situations.

Have you ever knowingly received too much change (or anything) from a cashier (or anyone) and did not return the excess (or property)?

Do you think that life owes you?

Do you easily justify tiny dishonesties?

These are signs that a person is afflicted with the Dishonesty Disease of the mind. The good news is that it's curable!


If consumers learned to think for themselves rather than rely on the media or other types of external authority for information, then consumers would learn how to identify and patronize honest businesses and reject dishonest businesses. Dishonest businesses would simply go out of business or become honest.

The only way we could effectively do what I suggest in my original post is if our government also becomes completely honest while rewarding honest business and cracking down 100% on dishonest business. Government should protect consumers, not dictate to and control consumers.

Here is a new political party based on honesty: http://www.capitalismparty.org/

and a related website: http://capitalism.org/index.htm

Well said Greg. If everyone could live by (I think Zig Ziglar or Tom Hopkins said this) "You can have anything you want as long as you help enough other people get what they want" then it would be a TOTALLY different world-much for the better.

...then it would be a TOTALLY different world-much for the better.

Yes, as Dr. Wallace and Neo-Tech have mentioned, it would be a Supercivilization, rather than the anti-civilization we now live in.