Your papers please

I was just reading an anecdote from a younger person that was carded while trying to buy cigarettes, and I thought.. hmmm.. we all carry state issued ID, and we're required to flash it when we spend money sometimes, depending on what we look like. And I thought.. well.. that's rather fascist, isn't it? I mean, I know that I would need to produce ID if I get a speeding ticket, so I can prove that I'm licensed to drive, and so the citation can be tracked. That makes sense.

Then I thought.. if you think in terms of political orientation, if I say that I'd like to go wherever I want, and do whatever I want, without showing some other "authority figure" my identification, is that liberal or conservative, or perhaps libertarian ideology? Assume that the wherever is in the United States, and the whatever doesn't affect anybody else.

If I think people should be responsible for their own actions at any age, which orientation?

Why do you have to be 21 years old to buy alcohol? I got it whenever I wanted when I was well under that age. Is it because younger people are irresponsible?

Why do you have to be 18 years old to buy cigarettes? I got them whenever I wanted when I was well under that age. Is it because younger people don't know what's good or bad for them?

Maybe it's that "slippery slope" argument that right wingers like to throw around. If we decriminalize under-age drinking, cigarettes, drugs, it will lead to anarchy even though that activity goes on constantly anyway? They seem to think that if there is no law prohibiting it, that's tacit approval for the behavior, and thus society will crumble.

Why do conservatives think they know what is best for each individual, and why do they think they have the right to control another person, and why do they think everyone is going to go nuts if given freedom in their own domain? Why do conservatives distrust and assume everyone is irresponsible? Why are they such control freaks?

Is the United States really the land of the free? Actually, some European countries probably are more so than the U.S. Still, the one thing the U.S. is really good for, is making a shit ton of money. It just depresses me that the U.S. is becoming more and more a Soviet style state due to the conservatives quest for control

Me.. I believe to each his own. I don't assume the worst of people in a generic sense, but it's pretty clear to me as I think about these things that conservatives are severely disturbed people with serious personality defects.