Gambling

In certain jurisdictions within the United States certain types of monetary wagering is outlawed. This has nothing to do with the protection from the initiation of force, this is simply the result of people in power deciding that they oppose gambling for some reason and then outlaw it. This is a terrible misuse and abuse of government power. A grown adult has the right to his property, not the privilege of using his property in certain state-approved manners. I advocate the legalization of all forms of gambling provided the activity being waged upon is legal. This will protect the right to property and will also allow the government to protect gamblers from fraud by allowing civil suits for fraudulence in case of need.

Drugs

Certain people in power have decided that they are opposed to certain plant extracts while they favor others. In accordance, they have decided to outlaw certain plant extracts while allowing others to remain legal. Out of favor plant extracts do not initiate force upon people. Government agents storming someone's house and accidentally shooting some of the inhabitants all because of some plants is an initiation of force, and a gross violation of the rights to life and property. I am opposed to public intoxication and any sort of inhibited driving (or operation of heavy machinery!), but beyond that, the government has no business proscribing which plants are allowable and which aren't. I support the end of all prohibitions on plants, the pardons for all people in jail for plant-related crimes, and the abolition of the FDA.

Prostitution

Prostitution is wrong for many reasons, but I won't get into it here because it is outside the demesne of government: there is no initiation of force involved. The facts are that there are thousands of women who want to prostitute themselves and millions of men who want prostitutes. No law will change this fact, it will only drive the activities underground making it more dangerous for all involved and contribute to the spreading of STD's. Nevada has the right idea in allowing for state-regulated legal prostitution. The state does not have the right to regulate certain sex acts, but regulation is a huge step up from prohibition. The government simply has no right to decide which sexual acts are legal and which aren't. The government has no business in the bedroom and has no business outlawing any sort of voluntary interaction between consenting adults.

We are not a Theocracy

It is primarily the Republicans who advocate the creating of political crimes by creating prohibitions on activities they feel are immoral because of their religion. Do you really want to live like we have the Taliban in charge? I say, "Thank God!" we're not living in a theocracy, so let's start governing as if we don't. It is up to every adult to determine his own actions, not up to government to play at being Big Brother and protect ourselves from all our vices. I don't think we have free will just for Big Brother to take it away. The Pilgrims who founded our country were fleeing from just this sort of thing.