This book ties the prohibitionist experiment to other totalitarian endeavours while tracing the Spirit of Freedom as it moves through the centuries. Arguing from a perspective of first principles, the author explains the psychology that connects morality and law: how the morality of the prophets and that of the founders are one and the same; and why this simple fact has been so difficult to grasp.
As in other times and places, our difficulties arise from having accepted the false authority of collectively held irrational fears; this trait of moral panic never fails, and as the parallels between the prohibition experiment and former mass-movements that have gone wrong are explained, it is clear that the status quo depends upon a state of unconsciousness.
Indeed, after exploring the history of drug prohibition, we find that this moral crusade can only thrive because of power-politics coupled with the psychological defence mechanisms of projection and denial. Whenever human rights violations abound, it will always be due to the disruptive influence of these forces and their impact on our psyche - and in our day and age, the result is the prohibitionist psychosis.
This book describes its destructive workings on Western civilisation. From a moral and legal point of view, the experiment of drug prohibition is shown to be a crime against humanity and upon recognizing its impact, it is clear that if we are to reclaim our inherent potential, society will need to readjust. As the founders knew, the art of constructive social engineering always began with a 'frequent recurrence to fundamental principles,' and as the light of reason returns to the West, this book elaborates on what it means to abide by a constitution.
