Pubdate: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 Source: Burlington Post (CN ON) Copyright: 2006 Burlington Post Contact: http://www.haltonsearch.com/hr/bp/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1528 Author: Dan Griffin DIFFERENT VALUE SYSTEM A number of the letters in the Oct. 4, Burlington Post defend the recent surplus-going-to-debt reduction while cutting programs. I'm currently reading about the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century AD. One element that contributed to the fall was the almost complete extinction of 'Res Publica' or the Public Thing, i.e. social concern. Research that helps us to better understand the medical uses of marijuana and programs that reduce the amount of smoking-related illnesses in any part of our population are far from "silly". I guess we are starting to see the value system of neo-cons who have certainly lost the "Res Publica". Dan Griffin Burlington - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine