Porn — the new Drug War

From Eugene at the Volokh Conspiracy, this analysis of Ashcroft’s new crackdown is worth reading. Some strong parallels with the drug war.

Note that I’m not asking whether porn is bad, or whether porn should be constitutionally protected. I’m certainly not asking whether we’d be better off in some hypothetical porn-free world (just like no sensible debate about alcohol, drug, or gun policy should ask whether we’d be better off in some hypothetical alcohol-, drug-, or gun-free world). I’m asking: How can the government’s policy possibly achieve its stated goals, without creating an unprecedentedly intrusive censorship machinery, one that’s far, far beyond what the Justice Department is talking about right now.

I guess the question is, is Ashcroft really delusional enough to believe he can somehow create a drug-free or porn-free world, or is he just willing to destroy lives and the constitution to look like he’s doing it?
Bonus question. Did I add this post just because I’m trolling for search engine traffic?