Pubdate: Sun, 26 Aug 2001 Source: Inquirer (PA) Copyright: 2001 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc Contact: http://inq.philly.com/content/inquirer/home/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/340 Author: Tom Maurer WHO'S BODY IS IT ANYWAY? Crispin Sartwell asks us to acknowledge the right of someone to tell us what we can ingest (Commentary, Aug. 17). I suggest that right increases in proportion to how "right" the action is. Sartwell tries to keep his 1-year-old from swallowing dishwasher detergent. If he were to feed her dishwasher detergent, he would be punished for it, just as we punish drug dealers for feeding people drugs. Just as a parent is responsible for the welfare of a family, the government is responsible for the welfare for its citizens. The government makes laws that help keep its citizens from ingesting harmful substances. Are the presently outlawed drugs not harmful? I also disagree with his assertion that addiction rates won't skyrocket with legalization. When you give children or adults unlimited access to candy, they will eat more. Tom Maurer, Collingswood - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager