Unintended consequences

Part of the conservative temperament is concern about unintended consequences. History is full of examples where the intended outcome fails to appear and what arrives instead is something quite different. This is especially true when high moral purposes clash with ingrained human behaviors.

Prohibition in the United States is a great example. A case can be made that the levels of alcohol abuse in 19th century America were catastrophic. But when the moral crusaders finally succeeded in amending the Constitution itself --something which continues to amaze me--, the unfolding consequences were a massive growth in the power of organized crime, with its attendant corruption and violence, fed by the huge market for illegal alcohol. After almost fifteen years, the amendment was repealed.

My dislike of puritanical moral crusaders continues. Now they are trying to eradicate risks to health or safety, or basic human emotions like hatred or greed or any hint of inequality in life. What do you think their chances of success are? And what will be the outcomes of their attempts to coerce the rest of us to comply with their highminded visions?