[AmarilloMike]

We have drifted into a current that will eventually take us to an "Aunty" state:

People who get drunk and drive boats sometimes hurt themselves and others. Aunty says "Let's pass a law so that you can't have beer at all in the boat."

Some people hurt themselves and others with guns. Aunty says "Let's pass a law against all people owning guns."

Some people won't fasten their seatbelts and they hurt themselves unnecessarily. Aunty says "Let's pass a law mandating seat belt use."

Some people hurt themselves and others with tobacco. Aunty says "Let's outlaw tobacco."

Now I say if you want to smoke cigars I think that is great. Just go outside so I am not exposed to the carcinogenic second hand smoke.

120 years ago cocaine, morphine, heroin, opium, and marijuana were all legal. But some people abused them so Aunty said "Let's pass a law making them illegal."

The list just goes on and on; First Aunty says we shouldn't, and then she says we can't.

Let me state for the record I don't use any recreational drugs beyond caffeine. I relgiously fasten my seatbelt, I don't drink and drive anything because I don't drink. I don't have any problem at all sending a first time DUI offender to jail for a year or a 2nd time offender to jail for 20 years. I just think we are trading the freedom to make decisions as an adult for a nebulous increase in public safety.

Left unchecked Aunty will take the experience we call "living" out of life.


Best,


Mike