On personal freedom

The Daily Dish has had a couple of recent posts on the subject of personal freedom, and how the new GOP is seeking to expand the government's role in cultural issues.

Basically [Senator Rick] Santorum’s GOP is all for personal freedom—so long as you freely choose to refrain from smoking pot, pulling feeding tubes out of brain dead loves ones, and doing what you like in your own bedroom...

Whatever happened to the party that backed rugged individualism? Of personal freedom? Of autonomy?

While I don't think the government should get involved in people's personal decisions, I do believe that it has a responsibility towards society's well-being as a whole. I sympathize with lawmakers that have religious beliefs and those that feel it is their duty to use those beliefs as a guide in their work. However, we have to be somewhat realistic here. Legislation that is passed on peoples' sex lives (i.e. masturbation, adultery, etc.) will not be respected or enforced, as they do not affect anyone but the people that choose to take part in these activities. But there is a distinction that can be made: consumption of drugs like pot, crack, or even alcohol is a detriment to society as a whole. It is the government's responsibility to make sure that these things are not allowed to destroy the fabric of the family unit, as they so often do.