LAW'S PROVISION UNFAIR

How fortunate that the two lovely Bush daughters have parents and a family
given to unconditional love and support, with reasonable discipline and
penalties under the law, for their recent illegal drinking behavior.

They are flirting with one of the most potentially dangerous of all
recreational drugs: alcohol.

Thousands of other equally lovely young people are not so fortunate. They
may not come from such secure backgrounds, and if they have flirted with
other potentially dangerous drugs - the illegal ones - they may find
themselves subject to the overly harsh and punitive provision of the Higher
Education Act, which asks them if they have ever been convicted of
involvement with an illegal drug. They lose financial aid if they answer
yes, or if they refuse to answer the question.

This smacks of McCarthyism. It either robs these otherwise qualified people
or encourages them to lie on the application. Murders, rapists and other
violent criminals are not required to answer a question about their crimes.
But the nonviolent end up being denied the help they need. Because illegal
drugs have been demonized, these people often lose jobs they have held
responsibly for years, and their savings go to pay legal fees instead of
toward their education. It's not a good law. It should be taken off the books.

President Bush needs to be more compassionate, and stop the enforcement of
this law.

Jean Liittschwager

Walterville