Okay, so it's 4 in the AM. I just thought I would get today's post out of the way. I've been thinking a lot about religion. It's funny: hardcore religious people think I have no spiritual side, but atheists seem to think I'm just another religious weirdo. Frankly, this seems to be the case in everything I do. People don't know where to place me on scales. I don't fit into easy categories and this is a problem for most people.
Why is this?
It was suggested when I was young that I might have Asperger's to a degree. This was not, as far as I am aware, followed up upon and I don't really talk about it much. As I have encountered people that use whatever mental issue some quack diagnosed them with as a crutch, I don't want to end up the same way. I DO make jokes about my dyslexia, but I feel that I have properly overcome it to such a degree that I don't rely on it to explain my failures in life.
I think, perhaps, that I just have a different way of viewing things than the vast majority of the population and this can be problematic for people to deal with. I will offer an example:
Three major, ongoing social issues, worldwide, are drugs, prostitution, and gambling. Anyone engaged in these activities is a willing party. No one goes into it without any choice in the matter (I don't care what anyone says, choice comes up, even if only at the beginning). Those offering illegal services related to such vices are in it willingly and those paying for the vice are also in it willingly. This is what is classically referred to as a "victimless crime." Because I think religions are, in general, self-serving and detrimental to a free society, I refer to laws against acts such as buying, selling, and using drugs, prostitution, and gambling as "sin laws."
Ultimately, these things go on, no matter what. If people didn't want to take part in these activities, then Las Vegas would go bankrupt and there would be no need for a Federal organization called the Drug Enforcement Agency. Despite laws against doing this stuff, people still do it and someone else makes a profit. However, since these activities are illegal, those profiting off of them are criminals.
That said, they are merely providing a desired service in a free-market economy and denying them this through government regulation is tantamount to government controlling what a business can do. The crimes covered by "sin laws" are not directly leading to actions that would harm someone who is not willingly involved, thus they could not be considered "crime against humanity." By supporting sin laws, one is ultimately supporting control of government over private economy and, thus, a form of Communism.
Ultimately, there is little or no difference in the prohibition of marijuana or cocaine than there would be in banning alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, fatty foods, sugar, or whatever other substance health Nazis are going on about this week. In addition, there is no difference in selling one's body for private sexual favors and selling one's body for pornographic purposes or even for more mundane services such as cleaning or landscaping. Nor is there any difference between playing poker for money or betting in a football pool or playing the lottery. The only reason these actions are against the law is that someone who stood to lose money on them being legal convinced a large group of people (generally members of religious groups) that they were morally wrong. By supporting the continued illegal status of such activities, one is further giving into those profiteers controlling government, meaning one is supporting a form of Fascism.
In addition, as I have mentioned and inferred, supporting laws such as those that oppose legal status for drug sales and usage, prostitution, and gambling ultimately provides governmental power to a secular organization or group of organizations. Although "separation of church and state" is not explicitly stated in the Constitution, it is stated that freedom to practice religion is an important freedom. In order for everyone to be able to practice according to their own faith (or lack thereof), a separation of church and state MUST be in place. Otherwise, this nation is not truly free and we are, instead, in a form of Theocracy.
Therefore, by supporting the laws against drugs, prostitution, and gambling, not only are the faithful, "holier-than-thou," "moral majority," working implicitly against the spirit of the Constitution of the United States, but they are supporting; somehow, at the exact same time; Communisim, Fascism, and the idea of a Theocratic government; all concept that would have sickened the Founding Fathers if they were able to see this.
With all that in mind, I would also like to say that the good religious folks of this great nation are also granting the scumbags who would profit off of illegal activities (not all of them would be scum bags, but I would bet a top-heavy ratio of them would be) a huge boon. You see, everything that is covered by sin laws goes on, regardless of what legal status it happens to be in whatever part of the world or place in history you happen to be in. Frankly, there is no way to stop it from going on. Forcing those brave souls who protect us and uphold the law to deal with these people puts heroic individuals in danger and, clearly, does not stop the activity. Because drugs, prostitution, and gambling are illegal in most places in the United States, those individuals and organizations that maintain profits from such goings-on do not pay taxes on them and, rather, rely on a careful system of money laundering to ensure that they do not need to deal with a government organization they truly fear: the Internal Revenue Service.
I think it interesting that the DEA, FBI, and various police organizations seem to strike no fear into the hearts of those who deal in vice, but the IRS seemingly does. Of course, when you examine it, it becomes clear. Criminals in the United States have a much higher degree of rights than taxpayers. The IRS is answerably to NO organization or authority and can incarcerate people with only the bare minimum of precedent. They do not have to rely on "innocent until proven guilty" and have no restrictions as to time limits on when they can deal with those who do not pay proper taxes.
Criminal organizations do not want the various sin laws to be repealed because, if they are, then they will be forced to open their books to the IRS for the first time. Instead of having underpaid, overworked, mortally endangered police to deal with, they will have to work with the efficient and dangerous investigators of the IRS (the only part of the organization that IS efficient, as far as I can tell). Legalization of drugs, prostitution, and gambling does something having the laws in place certainly never could: hit the bad guys where it counts - their wallets.
In addition, the fact that there are already organizations meant to deal with these activities means that they could be re-tasked to monitor rather than persecute. This would minimize the danger that the decent people who try to deal with vice are currently in and would improve the quality of and safety of the products themselves. It would also add jobs to the market; civil service positions to assist with monitoring, testing, and enforcing strict restrictions that would reduce the incidents of poisoning, overdosing, and spread of STDs.
Oh, by the way, all of those new jobs would be paid for by the inconceivable increase in tax revenue. If the sin laws were repealed and new sin taxes put in place, it is entirely possibly that the entire population of the United States would see a massive reduction in taxes. We could pay of debts, we could create jobs, we could win wars; in essence, our nation would be back to being the most powerful nation on the planet and not just saying it and hoping it's true.
To summarize: repealing the laws on drugs, prostitution, and gambling would ensure that we were supporting a free market economy; strengthening Democracy and freedom; helping this nation get out of debt and improve financially; and hitting criminal organizations harder than they have ever been hit before in one fell swoop.
I am not a religious person and, frankly, I like a little chaos. After thinking about this such a great deal, I have come to actually support these laws. I like the fact that the patriots and religious pundits are shooting themselves in the foot in order for some fruitless battle that they are destined to lose. However, this doesn't mean I won't bring it up.
I like to tell smart people how stupid they're being.
So that is an example of what I think about. Maybe it's because I was an only child with a minimal amount of friends and was unable to really interact with people until I learned how to create a persona that appealed to folks. Maybe I have Asperger's to the degree that was indicated when I was young. Whatever it is, I don't think like normal people. I am not a normal person and I accept this.
Frankly, I feel that normal people tend to be boring and suck.
As I write this, I think about some folks I know who may be the dumbest couple I have ever met. They are going to the Glenn Beck rally in Washington that coincides with the anniversary of MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech. This duo have never impressed upon my anything but the most rudimentary intellect and hearing about how pleased they are to head out to this travesty cements my thought that whatever pre-animate matter they utilize for neurological impulses must, in fact, be a miracle of science to allow them to ambulate of their own volition and actually manage a semblance of communication with sentient beings.
I feel as though this blog does something that no speech given by Mr. Beck has managed to do: offer hypothesis, proof, and a proper, intelligible summary. Also, I didn't cry like a bitch once while I was writing it.
I think I will send a note and a link to Beck about this blog and see what happens. IF he actually does read it, I want him to especially note this last paragraph, because it's really just for him. If you are not Glen Beck, feel free to end here and I'll see you tomorrow.
Mr. Beck - What you do is lie and spread hate by trying to cement your close-minded way of thinking to the good American people. I am certain that you think I am scum and, thanks to holier-than-thou garbage like yourself, I am inclined to agree with you on every level. I have no illusions about what I am, but I also see through all the illusions you offer and understand exactly what you are. Put on whatever face you want and cry a river of crocodile tears whilst the lost, dispossessed, fearing, and angry all tune in to try to fill the void left by faith in something... I know you. I am not the only one.
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