Pubdate: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 Source: Arizona Republic (AZ) Copyright: 2002 The Arizona Republic Contact: http://www.arizonarepublic.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24 Author: Elaine McKenna 'LESS INTRUSIVE' ARE CODE WORDS Chuck Couglin disagreed with Sunday's Viewpoints article "Here come the Democrats" (which predicted a Democratic majority by decade's end) by repeating the Republicans' belief in "a benign, less intrusive government." If that's true, the Bush administration sure doesn't act like it. Attorney General John Ashcroft has legally attacked states like Oregon whose voters (twice) passed right-to-die-with-dignity laws, and California, whose voters approved doctor-prescribed medical marijuana. Republicans also continue the draconian drug laws, which cost taxpayers millions that could be better spent elsewhere. "Less intrusive" are code words for no regulation for business wanting to degrade the environment or hide profits in off-shore companies, but plenty of intrusion into your medical treatment or other personal business. ELAINE McKENNA Phoenix - --- MAP posted-by: SHeath(DPFFlorida)