WHO'S BODY IS IT ANYWAY?

Crispin Sartwell asks us to acknowledge the right of someone to tell us
what we can ingest (Commentary, Aug. 17). I suggest that right increases
in proportion to how "right" the action is.

Sartwell tries to keep his 1-year-old from swallowing dishwasher
detergent. If he were to feed her dishwasher detergent, he would be
punished for it, just as we punish drug dealers for feeding people
drugs. Just as a parent is responsible for the welfare of a family, the
government is responsible for the welfare for its citizens.

The government makes laws that help keep its citizens from ingesting
harmful substances. Are the presently outlawed drugs not harmful?

I also disagree with his assertion that addiction rates won't skyrocket
with legalization. When you give children or adults unlimited access to
candy, they will eat more.

Tom Maurer, Collingswood