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Originally Posted by jorgelito
For example, if someone wants to "cut themselves" or kill themselves, (control over their own body) then why do people try and stop them? Why do the authorities get involved? It's their body, shouldn't they be allowed to do what they want? Also, if I want to take drugs, can't I do what I want to my body?
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Suicide reduces a consumer's ability to participate usefully in the economy. Unwanted children reduce the earning (read: spending and tax paying) potential of the mother (or both parents). The added spending associated with child-rearing is a non-issue because the abortion of an unwanted pregnancy does not preclude a wanted pregnancy (and associated economic activity) later in life. Further, the spending associated with a more established parent will be greater than in the outcome of an unwanted pregnancy.
The motivation behind the expansion of drug laws was also initially economic, but is now primarily political.