"Marijuana, Cocaine and even Heroin Should be Legalized." -Ron Paul

I accept the challenge as posted by PRO I like the structure and rules. I like the fact that PRO agrees with the great philosopher Mr. Mackey, of South Park "drugs are bad, mmmkay." This means our debate is more about the role of government in private life. We need to define government. We need to define the role and purpose of government. We need to define private life and public life in terms of behavior. We will also need to agree on the concept of "greatest good. PRO states "Marijuana, Cocaine and even Heroin Should be Legalized." I argue The role of government is to work for the greatest good of the people. One tool of good government is to pass laws to encourage the greatest good. Slavery is bad. Freedom is good. Anarchy is bad. Between the extremes of repressive government and anarchy there is a sweet spot we aim for with the most freedoms and the least damage FOR THE GREATEST GOOD. Governments have chosen to make marijuana, cocaine and heroin illegal for good reason. These drugs as they do more harm than good. They should continue to be controlled substances and highly restricted by wise government. A few thoughts and quotes to consider. "The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors." - Thomas Jefferson Defining between"private behavior " vs. "public behavior" is difficult. I like the definition expressed in a speech in 1882 by John B. Finch who was the Chairman of the Prohibition National Committee for several years in the 1880 "Is not this a free country?" "Yes, sir." "Have not I a right to swing my arm?" "Yes, but your right to swing your arm leaves off where my right not to have my nose struck begins." Let"s focus on private behavior as behavior that has no harmful effects on others. Let"s focus on public behavior as behavior acceptable by the majority for a public place. This leaves room for a huge spread of questionable behavior (say farting in a full elevator) that does no real harm, but of which others don"t approve. I agree with PRO that freedom is good and government has no right developing legislation limiting behaviors that are publicly acceptable or merely questionable (say breast feeding in public). The Greatest Good or Summum bonum is an expression used in philosophy to describe the ultimate importance, the singular and most ultimate end which human beings ought to pursue. - http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com... I am using the term in the less strict sense as "the most good for the most people" It is the role of government to aim for this as we work out the balance between my desire for freedom my neighbors desire for reasonable safety and peace. See other definitions below FROM - http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com... Judgments on the highest good have generally fallen into four categories: Utilitarianism, when the highest good is identified with the maximum possible psychological happiness for the maximum number of people; Eudaemonism or Virtue Ethics, when the highest good is identified with flourishing; Rational Deontologism, when the highest good is identified with virtue or duty; Rational Eud"monism, or tempered Deontologism, when both virtue and happiness are combined in the highest good.