Why marijuana legalization undermines “bourgeois virtues”

Description:

The New York legislature has just passed a law that could bring $350 million of tax revenues to the state each year from marijuana sales. While the short-term benefits may be appealing, it Governor Cuomo and his lawmakers have not considered the far-reaching ramifications of such a law. The passage of this and other similar laws across the nation call into question several items: What has happened to bourgeois virtues such as honesty, integrity, temperance, and delayed gratification in our nation? What role does the government have in maintaining those values? If that is not their role, what is?

In this episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Howard Husock, an adjunct fellow alongside them at American Enterprise Institute studying local government, civil society, and urban housing policy. Referencing one of his recent columns, Howard discusses how the passage of laws that enable and even encourage drug use undermines the bourgeois values that contribute to a productive and healthy society. Howard notes that, far too often, government officials are followers of public trends rather than leaders who advocate for proven, constructive values.

Resources:

Government against bourgeois values | Howard Husock | City Journal

Albany’s shameless weed bribe will hurt the poor | Howard Husock | New York Daily News

Show notes:

01:00 | What are the bourgeois virtues?

02:50 | The unintended consequences of collecting revenue from marijuana taxes

07:15 | Will marijuana laws create new “dry” and “wet” towns?

10:10 | Why do legislators continue to enable drug use?

13:20 | Government as peoples’ problem solver

17:00 | With the widespread decline of religious institutions, how can seemingly lost virtues be reinforced going forward?