Pubdate: Fri, 03 Oct 2003
Source: Daily Herald-Tribune, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 The Daily Herald-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/804
Author: Chris Buors

IT'S ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY

Manuela Campbell (letter, Sept. 30) can be guaranteed gang-like activity 
will follow crystal meth into Grande Prairie. Enterprising ruffians are 
always quick to profit when the state enacts foolish prohibitions. Manuela 
needs a short lesson in the immutable laws of supply and demand. Any time a 
product is in high demand and black market profits are available, somebody 
will decide the risk is worth it.

It sounds counterintuitive, but no amount of demonization has ever saved 
one single kid from drugs. Making drugs the forbidden fruit in fact has 
consequences. It works in inverse proportion; the worse you say the side 
effects are the sooner some kids want to give them a try. Kids know the 
government has lied about marijuana for over hundred years. Why would 
school children or anybody else believe them now?

Perhaps, just perhaps, Manuela ought to think about the notion of 
responsibility. It goes hand in hand with liberty. Temptation is ever 
present and it is the duty of parents to teach their children how to deal 
with vice. Making all drugs legally available is the only way to stop 
amateurs from blowing up the neighborhood. When is the last time Grande 
Prairie residents had to worry some idiot blowing up the neighborhood with 
an alcohol still?

"Educating" school children to embrace your particular worldview is called 
indoctrination.

For instance, the notion of addiction is an indoctrinated cultural belief. 
There is no such thing as a supernatural force that compels people to act 
against their will. None of the chemicals on the periodic table have 
supernatural powers of allurement either. Belief in addiction is eerily 
similar to belief in voodoo when you look at the cold hard facts.

Chris Buors

Winnipeg Manitoba
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