I thought there was an interesting juxtapose of two stories. I find anyone’s death very important. A young person, full of potential, even more so. Perhaps, the nanny state can’t substitute for parenting. AND, by that nanny state interfering with people parenting, children and young adults are put at risk.
{Story #1}
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/11469409/detail.html?subid=10101581
Long Beach Teen Dies in N.J. Frat Drinking Incident
POSTED: 6:41 am PDT March 31, 2007
LONG BEACH, Calif. — An autopsy is expected to be done Saturday on an 18-year- old Long Beach man who died after drinking a large of amount of vodka at a fraternity party at his New Jersey university. Gary DeVercelly, a freshman at Rider University, died Friday at a hospital in Trenton, N.J.
{Story #2}
http://www.lewrockwell.com/lora/m.lora33.html
Let Kids Buy Vodka!
by Manuel Lora
*** begin quote ***
Let’s share an anecdote. A few years ago I was at a bar with my wife’s family. It was a large group with several adults and some “underage” children. We all sat at the bar and ordered drinks. The bar tender saw my wife’s underage cousin (who had ordered a soft drink) and said that she could not sit there because of some law. So far so good right? This is something that we’re used to by now. Truth is: this kid’s mother was there. The law has replaced parental guidance.
So let’s see. Instead of parenting, we have laws and regulations, and greedy and faraway politicians. When kids break the law, however, the parents get blamed, not the politicians! How in the world does this make sense? Those in government want to have it both ways. They impose norms on society but they are almost legally untouchable when things go wrong.
How, then, do anti-vice laws strengthen communities? They do not. Instead of letting families set standards, these kinds of law break communities apart. What’s worse is that families that don’t even “get in trouble” still have to pay for the enforcement of others’ problems with the government in the form of taxes. One would wish that it stopped here but when the police begin to enforce vice laws (part of that eternal “victimless crime” category) they have to devote less time dealing with real crime like murders. Of course, the police department could hire more police, but this means more taxation and more enforcement of the same laws.
Parental responsibility involves having both the right and responsibility to set rules. This right belongs exclusively with the parents. The state has nothing to do with parenting at all.
*** end quote ***
So as I see it. the vice laws enforced by the gooferment caused this problem.
(1) The gooferment intrudes into parenting. Gives parents a false sense of security. Creates a “prison” (i.e., Rider University is a gooferment school) with “drug” problems.
(2) The gooferment diktats precludes people from learning about “drinking” from their parents in a safe environment where mistakes wouldn’t be fatal.
(3) Then the gooferment wants more diktats and budget to “solve” the very problem it creates.
When I first visited Vegas on a family trip, there was no speed limits, no drinking age, and no gambling age. I didn’t see any kids drinking, gambling, or hot rodding. And, I looked ’cause I was convinced I was in paradise. They even had legal prostitution. But, the family set a few rules of its own. And, I escaped sin city, virtue in tact.
We don’t need Mommy Government smothering us with “what’s good for us”. Nor do we need Father State throwing millions of us in jail for “our sins”. We need to just leave everyone alone to respect the rights of others.
I think that Gary DeVercelly is a casualty of gooferment. End the Drug War now!
Reinke Faces Life 