THE DRUG TESTING DEBATE IN PETOSKEY

Is drug testing the best way to deter substance abuse by our youth?
Community forums discussing this issue were triggered recently when a
Petoskey school board member suggested drug testing for schools. The
reason: to help prevent students from becoming problem drug users.

Drug abuse has obviously been difficult to resolve nationwide, let
alone in Petoskey. So, it shouldn't be surprising there was no
consensus in favor or against testing among those attending the
Petoskey meetings. I have always believed emphasis of personal
responsibility for one's own actions is the best policy attacking
drug abuse. Tough drug laws, TV ad campaigns, and presidential
proclamations have all failed to make a dent into the problem.

Yet, since a friend of mine died of a drug overdose recently, I have
had to rethink my position. Most of her friends seemed to be shocked
that she must have had a serious drug problem. As I look back, maybe
drug testing could have saved her life.

What if employers had random drug tests in place as a requirement for
working? Also, is it asking too much for each student to undergo drug
testing before being admitted to our educational systems?

My deceased friend had so much to live for: she was bright,
attractive and had big plans for the future. Only in her mid-20's,
she also had two beautiful children whom she loved deeply. This
tragedy should not have happened. If the schools she attended and
jobs she worked had all required her to be clean before coming on
board maybe her life would have turned out differently.

Whatever they decide, I commend the Petoskey School Board for
studying this serious problem.

Speaking of forums, will we ever have an independent commission to
investigate the 9/11 attacks? In part because of pressure by family
members of the victims, the Bush administration had finally given its
okay to set up an independent commission. The intent was to create a
group of impartial members who would perform a complete review of the
causes of the tragedy. Such an investigation would be allowed to look
at previous and current presidential administrations without the
political considerations that a congressional review would tend to
invite.

Yet, last week House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Porter Goss
suddenly pulled the plug on creating such a commission. He referred
to influences "above my pay grade" as causing his reversal, according
to sources cited by Newsweek magazine.

The same sources insist VP Dick Cheney was that "higher power",
placing a call to Chairman Goss that squashed the investigation.
Cheney is on record as opposing any review of the administration's
actions relating to 9/11.

The terrorist attacks of last year were the most cataclysmic event of
this generation and the failure to appoint an independent commission
would be a travesty. The victims' families deserve to know why it
happened. You and I deserve to know why it happened. I refuse to
believe our vice president doesn't care to know the same.

No one I know is blaming the tragedy on U.S. government officials. We
need this investigation because no one wants 9/11 to ever happen,
again. Is that too much to ask?