Pubdate: Tue, 24 May 2011 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2011 Times Colonist Contact: http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/letters.html Website: http://www.timescolonist.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Robert M.J. Thompson Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n323/a09.html BLAME OURSELVES, NOT STEPHEN HARPER Re: "Insite, crime, and Harper's war on facts," May 19. We need to stop blaming Prime Minister Stephen Harper for every perceived ill in Canada. It's true we get the government we deserve, and the current one is only reflecting and using the fear felt by many that the world is going to hell in a handbasket. Facts rarely matter when emotions run so high as on the issue of drug addiction. Regrettably, many people I talk to want addicts to be punished or at the very least isolated. That their situation might be improved or even changed by compassionate health care would mean that our society is tolerating or condoning their experience. Harper has become the champion of this attitude and was therefore elected to carry out those wishes. We have no one to blame but ourselves. Robert M.J. Thompson Victoria - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.