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AFP | As foreign forces plan to back off of Afghanistan occupation, NATO chief states NATO's own exit will be much more gradual.

Infowars.com | The move towards a cashless society is already underway in India in the form of Smart Cards partially financed by the World Bank.

Kurt Nimmo | Rand Paul's endorsement is a blow to his father's warnings about war and the destruction of liberty.

Express Tribune News | Twenty-six US Congressmen have sent a letter to President Barack Obama “demanding a legal justification from the White House for signature drone strikes.”

Infowars.com | Alex discusses the latest news in relation to the rise of the technological police state.

Infowars.com | Alex talks about breaking the trance of the victims of the nanny state.

Infowars.com | Alex confronts multiple aspects of the emerging police state.

Zero Hedge | In an epic rant, trumping Biderman, UKIP's Nigel Farage appears to have reached the limit of his frustration with his 'peers' in the European Parliament after the Spanish bailout.

Ethan A. Huff | In correctly identifying pesticides and other chemicals as one of the primary causes, however, the U.N. also tacks on the global warming myth in an attempt to push for a centralized, world government.

The Atlantic has a piece out today about a number of ballot initiatives aiming to legalize pot, and how it might help Obama's re-election by turning out the youth vote again (apparently counting on a "high" that isn't talking about unemployment rate). "This year there's another incumbent president with modest approval ratings who could turn out his base with controversial ballot measures. But this time, the issue features no biblical or scatological imagery. In 2012, voters in swing states will decide whether they'll allow their fellow citizens to bear joints. Unlike the gay marriage votes, there's no indication that Obama's re-election team is behind any of the pot legalization initiatives, but there are Democrats who are hoping that it will boost turnout among weed's biggest fans: young people."

The debate over legalizing drugs can often be a tricky proposition for conservatives who often talk about personal responsibility, economic freedom, and individual liberty, but oppose the legalization of drugs. (Some libertarian-leaning conservatives often favor or are neutral to the idea, but don't see it as needing a big push.)

But here's the easiest answer as to why legalizing drugs is a bad idea: The welfare/nanny state. Yep, we live in a society where "the youth" expect the government to change their diapers in the morning, and in the afternoon pay for their college, their food, and make sure they get a $100K job - with free healthcare - the day after graduation. The same youth who would likely enjoy seeing the legalization of drugs, thinks everything is free and every problem should be taken care of.

We do not live in a society where screwing up one's life and making stupid decisions only effects the person making those decisions. Instead, we live in a society where the taxpayer bails out everyone for everything. And people who screw up their lives taking drugs will be no exception. And then, how long until some Obama-ish administration demands that insurance plans cover drug usage for "medicinal" or "emotional" or "therapeutic" purposes? At the same time, let's not forget that the same ideology that favors drug legalization is also bandying about trying to ban salt, slurpees, and soda pop "for your own good."

So here's the deal: End the welfare state and consequence-free safety-net for people who make stupid decisions, and THEN we can have a legitimate discussion about legalizing drugs. Before you can demand the freedom to do whatever, whenever, you must first be willing to accept the consequences. A nanny-welfare state that fixes every personal problem (expensively I might add) and drug-legalization simply are not compatible.

Photo Source: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

Legalize Pot? Bad Idea in a Nanny State originally appeared on About.com Conservative Politics: U.S. on Thursday, June 14th, 2012 at 08:29:17.

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With so many great conservative columnists and writers in the world today, it can be hard to know who to read. This list offers a mix of writers with different writing styles ranging from the serious to the humorous. Each of the columnists here write on a number of issues important to conservatives including economics and the free market, foreign policy, American politics, and current events. Read The List

Top Conservative Writers: Who to Read originally appeared on About.com Conservative Politics: U.S. on Thursday, June 14th, 2012 at 07:36:37.

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