The Perils of Blowing Up Cultural Protection by Al Sikes

It would be difficult to pinpoint the moment when a banned substance—marijuana—became “recreational”. Right along there with swimming and jogging. Kudos to the marketing wizards. If you were a media editor, as the newly seductive title began to appear, you should say, “I’m sorry”.

When I grew up, marijuana was around but culturally frowned on. But of course, forbidden stuff, if it provides momentary pleasure or temporary relief, always has a following, even if it is underground. And this is regardless of warnings about adverse consequences. Warnings for some add to the allure.

Exploiting weakness, whether above or below ground, is often good business. So mind-altering drugs, the lure of easy money, pornography, and more can be expected. “Come on in,” the midway barker cries.

Societal weakness is human. Governments presumably exist to protect, but they, too, cannot avoid temptation. As taxpayers pushed back on higher taxes,  many governments got into the predator businesses. So now we have not just gambling from the TV couch, but it’s aggressive marketing. Marketing aimed at our weaknesses. Temptation wrapped in seductive visuals, music and animation. And, if there is little or no cultural pushback the seductive quickly overwhelms.   

The predator forces, now playing on a field where morals have given way to values, win. And there are few seductive activities that don’t pay the State. So “weed” becomes either recreational or medical marijuana. Dress it up.

In a perfect world, choice makes sense. RFK Jr. must think we are in that perfect world as he takes on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Without an evidentiary-based rationale, he states that certain vaccines used to protect children might cause threatening conditions later in life. And when the pushback comes, he says let parents decide. Let them decide whether their children, for example, should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Parents, not the CDC, are apparently in a better position to weigh risks and potential protection. Really?

We have a CDC because scale and patient capital is needed to do comprehensive benefit and threat assessments. And we need an agency with a thoroughly international perspective to comprehensively decide whether we should protect against risks. Back home, where few want to be jabbed, we are left to wonder and inquire of our favorite chatbot.

So let me close with this thought from Olivier Roy: “in a deculturated world, millions of young people bereft of anything resembling a tradition have been left susceptible to ideas that will leave them miserable and defeated.” What about the not-so-young?

There is certainly nothing wrong with criticizing culture. Americans are rather good at it. But when it comes to what we used to call morals, we should at least pause and ask questions. What we should ask, is the case for legalizing the “recreational” use of marijuana? What is the evidence pro and con on the lasting consequences? Recent reports are not encouraging.

And, should gambling on whether the next pitch is going to be a ball or strike, from our living room chair, be a legitimate source of government revenue?

Relatedly, who should pay for reversing the downward personal trajectory of drug users and obsessive gamblers? Much of the damage cannot be measured in dollars. Rehabilitation is a growth industry.

Or, turning back to pathology, should the top political appointee presiding over health policy urge parental judgment to supplant the CDC? Or, using Roy’s awkward word, deculturate, should the President and RFK Jr be leading the charge?

Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.