Pubdate: Mon, 13 May 2002
Source: Union, The (CA)
Contact:  2002 Nevada County Publishing Company
Website: http://www.theunion.com/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/957
Author: Arielle Lowe

RULING ON EVICTIONS UNFAIR

The Supreme Court's decisions to grant landlords the ability to evict their 
tenants as a result of a friend or relative's involvement in the use of or 
distribution of illegal drugs, affects me deeply. All people make mistakes 
and do not use good judgment from time to time but I do not believe that 
anyone should be punished for an offense except for the offender. Perhaps 
even punishing a drug abuser is not a constructive decision.

I do not believe that the punishment of a drug abuser supports or 
encourages reform. I cannot imagine a situation involving drug use by one 
member of a family without the rest of the family's knowledge, resulting in 
the eviction of the entire family, being fair.

Although perhaps punishing an entire family for the mistake of one member 
will make the offender think more about the negative results of their 
actions before committing such actions repeatedly, but one individual 
should never be condemned for another's actions. Especially if they are 
completely unaware of the involvement with illegal activities and has no 
way of stopping the instance from taking place.

As a result of these issues, the Supreme Court's decision concerning this 
matter feels more like racism, sexism, ageism and/or any other mindlessly 
ignorant generalization of specific group or genre rather than a logical, 
unbiased verdict.

Arielle Lowe

Nevada City
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