The Lone Libertarian

Happy Repeal Day!!!

Let us all celebrate the repeal of the 18th Amendment of the Constitution and the ratification of the 21st Amendment with a pint at the local pub.

On December 5, 1933, the 13 dark years of Prohibition in America ended.

Dewars appears to be cashing in on the celebration on their website, and why not?

Come to think of it, this is the only “holiday” I can think of where commercialization does not distort the meaning of the “holiday.”

Conceptually this day can be used to illustrate the libertarian principle of self-ownership, and being free to do with your body what you please, so long as it does not infringe on the rights of others.

Looking at the Prohibition era, we can see many parallels to the ridiculous “War on Drugs” that costs us tens of billions a year ($12.4 billion in federal dollars for 2006). During Prohibition, much like the War on Drugs, alcohol was available to those willing to pay, risk their health (due to dangerous additives), and risk their livelihoods to be locked away for their offense of consumption. Organized crime handled the production and distribution of alcohol, much like today’s drug cartels and street gangs.

Prohibition didn’t stop the consumption of alcohol, just like the War on Drugs wont stop someone from smoking marijuana.

The microbrewery is calling, so I’ll cut this one short.

America: Remember, remember the Fifth of December…