By Luc Loranhe (2005)

In principle, and even though I am not a user of prohibited drugs, I am in favor of the legalization of drugs.

I don't mean that drugs are good in principle. They are also not bad in principle.

But people ought to have far-reaching rights over their own bodies. A government can offer help, but not punishment for drug users.

If I ask 100 people whether they think that their government should have less control over people's private lives, more than 90 percent will probably say yes.

So, why not dismantle government control? Drug laws would be a good start.

The problem with politics today is that only religious fanatics have a strong, albeit wrong, philosophical basis for their political models. Atheistic politicians usually only have shallow philosophical views, such as the idea of "working for a better world". But better for them is just more of the same. More paved roads, more television programs, more video surveillance in public places, more schools, more heated swimming pools.

How about less of all of that, but more personal liberty, more sexual opportunities, and more education about measures to assure that one will die a gentle death?