Pubdate: Mon, 26 Aug 2002
Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX)
Copyright: 2002 Amarillo Globe-News
Contact:  http://amarillonet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13
Author: Mike Plylar (www.plylar.org)

4TH, 5TH AMENDMENTS ARE VICTIMS OF DRUG WAR

I agree with the opinions about local control expressed in your Aug. 19 
editorial, "Local control passes the test," about the decision of Guymon, 
Okla., public school officials to rescind their random drug- testing policy.

But your confidence that some constitutional right exists that allows such 
intrusions just because the current U.S. Supreme Court says so is sadly 
misplaced.

The truth is, the Constitution contains nothing even remotely suggesting 
such meddling by the state, or agents of the state (which clearly would 
include school officials), since all levels of government now hold a 
monopoly in the educating of America's youth.

The Fourth and Fifth amendments clearly preclude it, but, unfortunately, 
those two "unalienable rights" fell victim to the War on Drugs decades ago, 
under this and other activist Supreme Courts.

No, the government cannot honestly "determine the need" of such social 
engineering. The Founding Fathers attempted to prevent such invasions of 
our persons, but that was before the invention of the War on Everything.

Now, all bets are off. The true Constitution and its Bill of Rights no 
longer apply. America has dragons to slay.

Mike Plylar

Kremmling, Colo.
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MAP posted-by: Beth