Will Grigg's Liberty Minute

February 15, 2007

St. John Chrysostom, a fourth century father of the Christian Church, once pointed out that drunkenness results from a lack of self-discipline, rather than society's refusal to abolish alcohol.

Those who say that we should do away with alcohol, explained Chrysostom, ?must also say ... `Would that there were no steel,' because of the murderers, 'would that there were no night,' because of the thieves, `Would that there were no light,' because of the informers, and `Would that there were no women,' because of adultery.?

Prohibition of alcohol has never cured mankind of the flaws that lead to drunkenness. The same is true of drug prohibition, which has expanded state power, violence, and corruption while doing nothing to reduce the problems that result from addiction.

Individual liberty and social order would both benefit were we to redirect our efforts to cultivating self-discipline, while punishing as crimes only those acts of force and fraud that injure others.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.