Drug discussion synopsis
Several blogfest attendees mentioned the most contentious argument of the blogfest, featuring yours truly getting waxed by the combined efforts of Jim Henley, Will Wilkinson, and occasional sallies by many of the rest of the assembled group regarding drug prohibition policy.

I suggested that people not on drugs may have a point in protecting their society from people on drugs. Among many other good points, Jim replied that prohibition replaces a health problem with a crime problem, and a crime problem that forces many more innocent bystanders to share the costs (bullets flying, etc.) than the health problem did. Will (I think) pointed out that addiction -- or perhaps, "addiction" -- is handled well by lots of people, but prohibition makes it impossible to bear witness to that. Unavoidable points all around us: tobacco, alcohol.

Not having the benefit of a well-worked out philosophy on this, I was mainly trying to introduce questions. To paraphrase and extend a couple of the points I labored to defend:
(1) To use a phrase by renowned public policy thinker and philosopher Sheryl Crow, "If it makes you happy, then why the hell are you so sad?"* I.e., does utilitarianism (which I think is the underpinning of much of both economics and libertarianism) work when people's own utile-measuring-sticks are literally on drugs?
(2) The historical example of alcohol prohibition: does it apply to hard narcotics like cocaine or heroin, with different and more powerful effects on the brain? Wouldn't legalization result in even more addicts? (But see above.) Would people really forego high-potency crack for low-potency Wrigley's cocaine chewing gum? Why don't they do something like that right now? Not the wholesalers and retailers, I understand that, but the users.
(3) Whatever you think of the war on drugs, how wrong can it be to run Super Bowl advertisements urging/cajoling kids not to use them?

As I told people there, I've drifted away from many of the same anti-prohibition views I enjoyed cudgeling people with once upon a time, because of some personal connections. That certainly doesn't make me right, it just makes me doubtful about legalizing drugs as a blanket solution, or at least wary of solutions that seem to risk increased drug abuse (use to the point of self-destructiveness). It's never quite "victimless" if there's a family worrying and fighting about the user, or sacrificing time, money, and gray hairs to help the user back on his/her feet.

Where I agree (I assume) is that mandatory, long prison sentences for possessing "soft" drugs like marijuana are foolish and cruel. So there you have it: my hopelessly muddled views on drugs. My new trademark: Willing To Learn. Have at it, Will, Jim, and all readers who want to weigh in.

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*And wilfully ignoring the full text of Ms. Crow's reflections, which adds the point "then it can't be that bad". I have no idea what Crow's actually singing about -- flea markets, ponchos, and mosquitos also play some kind of role -- but it sounds good. posted by Thomas Nephew at 8:44:00 PM -- |  

 
DC Blogfest was great
For a thorough report, see Jim Henley's "after action" report. Attending were myself, Tony Adragna, "Corsair the Rational Pirate," (any rational pirate likes to keep his name private, and anybody rational won't argue with a pirate about that), Eve Tushnet, Dave Tepper, Justin "Insolvent Republic of Blogistan" Slotman (all the way from New Jersey!), Will Wilkinson, Jim Henley, and his wife, who should write her own blog (I suggest the title "Highly Qualified Offerings").

While voices were occasionally raised, Jim later e-mailed me a great Thomas Friedman quote: "two Israelis having a friendly conversation sounds like four people having an argument anywhere else." Make us honorary Israelis, as far as that goes. We talked about plenty of things: famous bloggers, hits and visits, drug policy, how the war's going, kicking back on Guam with a sixpack, Korean p/a/n/t/y/h/o/s/e responsible for megahits (yeesh), and much, much more. Great people, thoughtful folks, fun to be with one and all. It was a real pleasure meeting all of them (all of you, if/when you read this). I took a couple of non-digital photographs, and will post them as soon as I fill up the roll over the next couple of days and get it back from the local photo shop.

Diner jukebox picks: Me: "Penny Lane," a favorite of mine, which the "truest country" part of Jim Henley's recent 6-month-after piece reminded me of, and Mrs. Henley: "Gone country." Can't remember the rest. Darn.

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Update: Other after-action reports so far: Tepper, Adragna, Corsair, Tushnet, Slotman. Very interesting reading, even if it tends to confirm that I was judged the loser of the drug discussion (more on that later). But I'm very proud of my "most gentlemanly" award -- even if I don't know why I got it. I'm looking forward to the next fest, maybe at this "Franklin's" place Adragna raves about...

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At Taliano's: (from left to right): Justin Slotman, Tracey Henley,
"Rational Pirate", Eve Tushnet, Dave Tepper (striped sweater),
Tony Adragna (behind Dave), Jim Henley


At Tastee Diner: (from left to right): Justin Slotman, Eve Tushnet,
Jim Henley, me, Tony Adragna, Tracey Henley, "Rational Pirate" posted by Thomas Nephew at 4:26:00 PM -- |