This one has bubbled up in my mind in the last few months from time to time, and so I decided to throw it out here to see if anyone else has this meme.

I have noticed how many libertarian type thinkers seem to favor legalization of drugs.  In reality, however, the countries that have actually legalized drugs to varying degrees more than the United States, tend to have very socialistic ways of viewing the role of their governments.  I believe in fact that they succeed in their more permissive attitudes precisely because they have done the kind of general social planning in a wide variety of spheres that make this possible.  For example, a socialized medicine approach to health care issues, something I generally hear libertarian thinkers opposing.  Also a much more extensive public transportation system on all levels (local to multinational) as opposed to American individualistic car culture, also lessens the public safety impact of intoxication.  I think of that as something which more socialistic countries do a better job of than Americans.

It is because of the existence of various conundrums like this, that although I continue to have a lot of affinity for libertarian ideas (esp. neo-Objectivst), on the whole I fail to feel the sense of ideological commitment to the libertarian program that self identified Libertarians do.

-Jake