America is a land of freedom, or that's what they tell kids in school. Freedom does have limitations here in America. There are many activities in America that are illegal, even though they potentially harm only willing participants. These are called consensual crimes.

Thomas Jefferson once said, "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts as are only injurious to others." This would not reflect the moral legislation in today's America. Some consensual crimes in America include: illegal gambling, assisted suicide, prostitution, illegal drug use, jaywalking and wearing safety devices like seat belts. These activities potentially harm only consenting participants, so why has the government made them illegal?

If consensual crimes were legal, it would not only save America money, it would help it earn more. Maintaining consensual crimes is a drain on American society. According to consensual crimes author Peter McWilliams, the government spends more than $29 billion a year just to prevent drug use. This does not include the enormous amounts of money required to incarcerate consensual crime criminals. The Bureau of Justice Statistics says prison costs have been going up over the years. In 2001, state correctional facilities cost $15.6 billion, and prison expenditures were another $29.5 billion. According to McWilliams, about four to six million people are arrested each year for consensual crimes. Think how much money the country would save if these activities were legal.

If consensual crimes were legal, it would not only save America money, it would help it earn more. The Office of National Drug Control Policy estimates that Americans spend about $66 billion dollars a year on just drugs. This money does not usually enter the regular economy, but stays in the black market of drugs.

This does not include the money earned from other consensual crimes like illegal gambling and prostitution. If these activities were legal, they could be taxed and the money spent would move into the legitimate market. With a national debt of more than $10 trillion and rising, America could sure use the billions of dollars that would be gained from legalizing consensual crimes.

Not only could America tax consensual crimes if they were legal, it could also regulate them. The Food and Drug Administration and other organizations would have to impose health standards, thus making the drugs safer than they would be on the streets. Production of things like recreational drugs could also be made in America, creating countless new jobs and another level to tax.

Not only could America tax consensual crimes if they were legal, it could also regulate them. What is the difference between drug use and smoking? One is legal and the other is not. Why can the government tell a person that they must wear a seat belt while driving? The laws seem to be in place to promote some sort of national morality. Well, there is no national morality. Every American should be allowed to do whatever he or she wants as long as it does not harm the property or person of any non-consenting other.

One only has to look at history to see the folly of consensual crimes. Alcohol was once made a consensual crime during prohibition. America still drank plenty of booze, but it did get the lovely gift of strong organized crime. Current organized crime is run like a business, and what is the economic base of these organizations: consensual crimes like drugs, prostitution and gambling. Even if one disregards the monetary advantages, the benefit of greatly reducing the power of organized crime seems obvious.

America is not a nation of children, and the government is not its parents. How do you want to be treated?