Pubdate: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 Source: Charlotte Observer (NC) Copyright: 2008 The Charlotte Observer Contact: http://www.charlotte.com/observer/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/78 Author: Susan Orrell WE MUST DEMAND COMMON SENSE FROM OUR LEADERS Rather than make sure our kids are getting the education needed to survive in this world, we plan to lower graduation standards so they can all get (a now empty and worthless) diploma. We fill our prisons with easy targets: the homeless, drug users, prostitutes - people whose offenses affect no one but themselves and other consensual partners, and who could benefit from rehabilitation centers that cost far less than prisons. Meanwhile, we can't keep violent offenders off the street because our jails and prisons are full. How long will the insanity continue before we demand common sense from ourselves and our leaders? Susan Orrell - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin