Talkleft points to this letter from the Center for Consumer Freedom, re: MADD is not what you think it is pointing out some of the excesses of that organization:
A MADD billboard compares beer to heroin by depicting a beer bottle as if it were a syringe.
Another MADD billboard shows the following words around empty glasses of alcohol: assault, drowning, burns, rape, suicides.
A MADD television ad argues that "if you think there's a difference" between heroin and alcohol, "you're dead wrong."
The CCF calls MADD 'prohibitionists,' and that is precisely correct. The prohibitionist mindset reasons that the harm of (name your vice) outweighs the benefits, and then they presume to force that value judgement on everyone else. However, the decision to use alcohol or other intoxicant is very personal; the prohibitionist usurps the individual's right to make that decision.
You'd think after the lessons of last century we'd be entirely rid of these sort, but like fascism, socialism, and other failed philosophies they keep coming back, like b-movie zombies. I'm glad to see MADD meeting some organized resistance.
Update: I'm out of beer. Better walk to the store.
Posted by Walter at September 20, 2003 09:05 PM