Pubdate: Mon, 15 May 2000
Source: Farmington Daily Times (NM)
Copyright: NorthWest New Mexico Publishing Co.
Contact:  Letter to the Editor, P.O. Box 450, Farmington, NM 87499
Fax: (505) 564-4630
Website: http://www.daily-times.com/
Author: Glennette Gleim

GOVERNMENT NO ANSWER TO PROBLEMS

Editor:

Great editorial in the May 4 edition, full of name-calling and obvious
biased opinion. Does this mean you and the "gov" don't ride in the
same golf cart?

With experimental drug use among teenagers increasing, and the initial
"first time use" age getting younger each year, it doesn't take a
rocket scientist to understand the so-called war on drugs is a sham.
It generates billions of tax dollars, increases the size and scope of
government, and allows people to stick their nose in the air and feel
good about themselves while actually doing nothing about the problem.

Government sanctioned mind-altering drugs with adverse side affects
are fed to our children daily, but we don't give these people funny
drug-related nicknames.

Your obvious displeasure with "Puff Daddy" and his veto pen reinforces
my opinion that we have way too big a government. We the people
tremble in fear when the government threatens to cut off money -
funny, shouldn't that be the other way around? Government isn't the
solution to the problem; government is the problem standing in the way
of the solution. You say, "indications are strong that Colorado, Utah
and Arizona are for the project." Well, indications are it might rain,
someday maybe, we hope, might be. We need to get things a little more
cinched up before we commit $500,000. Maybe the four states should
take on this project and leave the "fedgov" out of it.

You mention "pride and teamwork effort." Now that's an idea. Let's do
it the old fashioned way, community donations and labor. An old
fashioned "barn raising." I'll donate the first 50 bucks and be there
with my pick and shovel. Of course I'll look pretty silly standing
there all by myself, with only 50 bucks to work with.

GLENNETTE GLEIM-Aztec
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