Pubdate: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 Source: Edmonton Examiner, The (CN AB) Copyright: The Edmonton Examiner 2004 Contact: http://www.edmontonexaminer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1837 Author: C.F. Bentley, O.C. Drug Problem Can't Be Ignored by Our Society To the Editor: I am writing to congratulate The Examiner for the superlative item about the drug methamphetamine in this week's edition. I am extremely upset and concerned about the future of Canada because of the failure of our society to initiate drastic and effective ways to deal with drug use problems, deadly drunk driving, increasing per capital murder rates, gang wars and other signs of a rotting society. We are doing nothing that is effective and adequate to protect little children from the horrible, incurable, miserable life due to fetal alcohol syndrome and other life-long terrible disadvantages. A common, silly, excuse for inactions is the cowardly acceptance of the idiotic claim (attitude) that we cannot interfere with 'the rights' of people, or of dear little teenagers in trouble. In an intelligent and caring society, right should entail meeting responsibilities. Failure to do so should result in drastic draconian discipline and punishment -- without exceptions. Without such needed changes, the deterioration of our quality of life for Canadians will continue -- probably at an accelerating pace. C.F. Bentley, O.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake