Ken Burn's 'Prohibition'

[Jim Johnson]

And an estimated 30,000-50,000 paralyzed when tri-ortho cresyl phosphate was added to Ginger Jake.

...which was added by the manufacture of 'Jamaica Ginger' to fool the government's alcohol tests.  The phosphate was not deliberately added in an attempt to punish it's users. 

Many manufactures of liquor, during prohibition, added less expensive poisonous ingredients but nothing could be done about it.   

[MaineShark]

...which was added by the manufacture of 'Jamaica Ginger' to fool the government's alcohol tests.  The phosphate was not deliberately added in an attempt to punish it's users.

And even then, it still falls on the government.  It's called "unintended consequences."  They set up a system that encouraged bootlegging, then set up tests which could only be defeated by adding adulterants.  Sure, the folks who did it have responsibility, just like a terrorist bomber has responsibility for his act, but the folks who goaded him into it by convincing him that it was his duty to God (or whatever) have their own bloody hands, too.

And, the whole thing was accidental - they contacted a chemist to find out about a chemical that would have certain properties and he recommended one.  He didn't know it was intended for use in a food product, so he didn't take the potential danger into account.  They couldn't exactly mention that they were bootleggers who were looking to fool government tests, so they didn't tell him, assuming that he would put two and two together and realize the score.  So, while they were certainly negligent, they were not engaging in the sort of depravedly-indifferent behavior that characterizes many governmental decisions.

[Free libertarian]

I found it interesting that women complained of marital rape before prohibition and women were the driving force behind prohibition.
People drank more.
The clitoris was discovered by (shown to) American men in the mid 1920's.
Then women where the driving force behind anti prohibition.

I really really wanted to make a clitoris discovery joke.   I even waited a couple of days for something funny to pop into my head....NOTHING...damn, I'm losing it.   

I'd like to take this opportunity to say thanks for the straight line Mr. Johnson, despite my failure to come thru. So where the hell was Pat K, when  I needed back up? 

[Pat K]

Sorry I just got back from  a 1920's  clitoris discovery- historical reenactment .

[Becky Thatcher]

Sorry I just got back from  a 1920's  clitoris discovery- historical reenactment .

Well done PatK!    Nice to know you have Bob's back in a crisis situation. 

[Free libertarian]

Sorry I just got back from  a 1920's  clitoris discovery- historical reenactment .

 

[Russell Kanning]

Total insanity
Isn't anti-prohibition a double negative? :-)