I may be off the reservation in terms of regular conservative mantra regarding this topic, but why should Alcohol and Cigarettes be taxed to the gills and pot and prostitution not be? I mean, if we are going to deem these professions and product more "noble" just because they get taxed, then aren't we retro-actively blessing booze and cancer-sticks as well?

Some may say your stance is selectively picking what things have liberty of process and which don't. Maybe its something all fiscal conservatives can re-examine?. After all, morality, is -at best-, very subjective.

As always, ... good insight and perspective.

@Truth - I am not here to moralize necessarily, though I have my personal feelings on the issue. It's just that what the gov't has deemed "illegal" is suddenly en vogue, when it meets their needs. That's MY point in this piece.

On that point, we both do concur. I, like you, have my personal pangs about the topic, but also do not appreciate Government using it as a political football when there's 2 minutes left in the game and they are looking for the proverbial Hail Mary to get out of a fiscal jam.

Always appreciate your candor.

Maybe it will become a mecca for all the prostitutes and drug peddlers in our town, go west young creeps, go west. They are trying to legalize marijuana in my state also. Can't smoke cigarettes anyplace but now you can tote up in church if it helps your migraines.

Up until fifty years ago homosexuality had always been suppressed (since the fall of Rome- which didn't seem to be weakened by it). conservatives (meaning those cautious of new ideas) wished it to remain so (simply because it had not been tried in their experience). Now, after fifty years of experience hardly anyone proposes a renewal of suppression- precisely because experience has shown it unnecessary.
Drugs were legal throughout the world until the early twentieth century, and there is currently a program running in Portugal that indicates than legalization does less harm than prohibition. Prostitution has been legal (if restricted) throughout western Europe for nearly fifty years without any problems. These ideas aren't new or theoretical- they're tried and tested (albeit not in the US)
Yes its a shame that governments need pushing before they look round for better policies- but that's government for you. The less of it the better, experience tells, is the correct approach.

I think the point of Kevin's article is the hypocrisy of the government. Health, safety, morality are all put aside at their pleasure. I think Ron Paul has it right.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufekh_SwZd0

I desire to be more single minded when it comes to liberty and the constitution. I hope that society as it gets older could become wiser, like on the slavery issue, or woman's suffrage, but with great debate and beginning in the hearts of men.

Even when we deem something despicable or morally wrong, do we have a right to interfere in a man's choice or lifestyle? I don't think we do unless they infringe upon another's rights. I was just a kid learning the constitution, but the "inalienable rights" meant to me that they were universal to humans and given by God. Even God allows us to make choices that aren't in our best interest.

Speaking of "services"...

Internal Revenue 'Service'
U.S. Postal 'Service'
Telephone 'Service'
Cable TV 'Service'
Civil 'Service'
State, City, County & Public 'Service'
Customer 'Service'

This is not what I thought 'service' meant..But today, I overheard two farmers talking, and one of them said he had hired a bull to 'service' a few cows.

BAM!!! It all came into focus. Now I understand what all those agencies are doing to us.
You are now as enlightened as I am, Black Sphere.
You're welcome;)

aren't government and prostitution the same age? i mean, cumon, arent they the same thing?
another great rant!

njsoifa - Very true!

@Hello Birdy - You cracked me up!!

The Lord works in mysterious ways. . . After all the liberals, pros, dealers and every sicko looking for their services moves to the golden state, God will send a giant earthquake and the state will fall off into the ocean.
Not so much a prediction as a wish

"First, when I was a teenager, the mantra by the liberals was, "You can't legislate morality."

Which they knew was a lie when they said it. Someone back in the '80s (maybe Jerry Falwell, can't recall) said, "Make no mistake - ALL laws are the legislation of one groups morality onto everyone else." The only question is, whose in charge/whose morality we talking about?

"Even when we deem something despicable or morally wrong, do we have a right to interfere in a man's choice or lifestyle?"

Is his choice going to violate the rights and liberties of others? If so, then yes, we damn well do have that right.

My rights STOP where yours start, and vice versa.

Prohibition did not work in the 1920's regarding alcohol and it has not worked with marijuana either.

If states decided to legalize prostitution, as Nevada has, it would be regulated and much safer for the prostitutes and the johns.

These are two things that will never cease to exist. Too many tax dollars are wasted each year to combat Prostitution and marijuana use. the result is more Prostitutes and no decline in marijuana use. It is time for the fed to step out of the way and the States to invoke 10th amendment rights.

I have not been able to support much of anything that comes from California, but here they are heading in the right direction.

Government is wnat should be outlawed. not prostitution and narcotics.