Pubdate: Fri, 07 May 1999 Date: 05/07/1999 Source: Canberra Times (Australia) Author: A. W. W. Godfrey The attempt to open a safe injecting room at King's Cross has brought the predictable chorus that it will "send the wrong message". Surely the message of an injecting room is that if you are unfortunate or silly enough to get addicted, we would rather keep you alive and healthy than see you die on the street from overdose or disease. I find it difficult to see anything very wrong about that message. It conveys compassion. The approach may also be good economics. If we are concerned about wrong messages, try this small sample: Gambling is an acceptable industry. Big gamblers should be supported by subsidising casinos to remit part of their losses. Unremitting promotion of junk food and junk toys on children's TV is a healthy expression of the free market and free choice in action. The way to make progress is by making as much noise as possible about things we disagree on, while saying nothing about what we do agree on try parliamentary Question Time. Selling a lethal drug tobacco is fine, provided that the substance is an "accepted" one. Large gifts by business to political parties are entirely acceptable, an expression of political belief (by "legal persons" that are deliberately excluded from voting and often not even Australian!), untainted by hope of gaining influence. Bribery of individuals would, of course, be quite reprehensible. If you are rich enough, it is quite acceptable to find legal ways of avoiding contributing to the services your country provides for you. What hypocrisy to be complicit in these messages! A. W. W. GODFREY Curtin