Mill’s ideas on freedom seem simple enough; as long as it’s not a nuisance or interfering with others’ lives, you are free to do as you please. Others can criticize you for what they see as wrong doings, but they have no right to actually stop you (Mill, 600-620). It simple terms, if its not directly bothering you, mind your own business and everyone gets along. But the question is, can Mill’s philosophy actually work, when put into practice? A prime example to look at is drugs and drug use.
Though the actual act of doing drugs only harms you, it remains illegal to even possess most drugs. Mill would undoubtedly argue that though drugs may not be positive, used responsibly they do not harm others substantially (Mill, 600-620). Opponents argue that drugs, even when used “safely”, affect those around you; from emotional pain to your family, to slacking on your responsibilities. But that argument can be applied to many things. Televisions for instance: much of today’s youth spends hours in front of the TV, possibly wasting their potential. Should we then outlaw televisions? Mill obviously would not.
But to think that drug use would remain totally responsible, is naïve. Just take a look at alcohol; we have drunk driving, and alcoholics. Mill would clearly classify these situations and acts as nuisances to those around us (Mill, 600). But does outlawing it even prevent it? I would argue quite the opposite. As we saw in the time of prohibition, making alcohol illegal only created a black market for it. Instead of regulation, the supply of alcohol was run by gun-toting gangs. Now does any of this sound familiar? It is the exact same situation we currently have with drugs. By implementing Mill’s idea of individual responsibility and freedom, the same principle applied to alcohol with the repeal of the prohibition, drugs could be regulated. Violence would decrease, and money through business and taxation would increase. Of course issues of drug addicts and impaired driving would be present. But those problems persist now, even with the outlawing of drugs. Just as some consider heavy drinking to be immoral, there will always be those who do not condone drug use either. But we are a world of unique individuals, and to apply the same morality to everyone is overbearing, especially if the actions of said “immorality” does not affect those around them.
The United States of America has an incarceration rate of 7 times the global average (National Council for Crime and Delinquency). And I would argue this is due to the immense about of drug related “crime”. Many of these crimes are victimless, and as Mill states, victimless crimes, should not be crimes at all. So would an application of Mill’s ideas of freedom, actually work in modern day? I would certainly think so, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion…assuming it isn’t a nuisance.
Works Referenced
“Fact Sheet.” National Council for Crime and Delinquency . N.p., Nov. 2006. Web.
22 Nov. 2009. <http://www.nccd-crc.org/nccd/pubs/
2006nov_factsheet_incarceration.pdf>.
Mill, J.S. “On Liberty.” Modern Political Thought: Readings from Machiavelli to Nietzsche. Ed. David
Wooton. 2nd Edition ed. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 2008. 599-620. Print.
You’re argument sounds logical when using Mill’s point of view. And theoretically, legalizing drugs and controlling it would be beneficial to society as a whole. After all, the money from the drugs, which I’m assuming is a booming business, would be recirculated in our own economy. Also. it could help curb the use of drugs by teens and minors. However, if would be a very radical idea to implement the legalization of certain drugs. It can definitely be viewed as immoral for the government and society to legalize drugs and to profit from them. So in Mill’s view, it sounds like a good idea, but many would consider it immoral to legalize it.
I really liked your application of Mill to drugs and drug use. I thought what was very interesting was your statistic about America’s incarceration rate. My sister is currently abroad in Europe and recently went to Portugal, where drugs have been legalized. After first being shocked by the openness of drug use, she said she realized people smoking pot were of no harm to her, even when walking on the street late at night. While I know it’s naive to say drugs don’t come with crime and violence, I think it is interesting to see Portugal’s progress with drug legalization. I think direct drug use can be seen as a personal thing, affecting few others. However, drugs do result in many problems. People selling them, people addicted to them are governed by money, violence and power. The drug trade definitely has negative effects on society, but you addressed some form of legalization might end these effects. Great Post.