TAXPAYERS SHOULDN'T PAY

To the editor:

The county's needle exchange, and used needle collection programs, are both
probably good ways to help curb the spread of Hepatitis and AIDS among
certain "at-risk" groups. The problem that a lot of folks, including myself
have with these programs? Taxpayer money paying for them.

Many of us face a serious moral dilemma in the purchasing and distribution
of drug paraphernalia with our tax dollars. I also personally question the
basic authority of government in general, to get involved in this kind of
issue. Government is notorious for it's tendency to slowly and
incrementally usurp the rights of the citizen - usually in the interest of
a "good idea," but in most cases, without the moral or legal right to do
so. It's easy to be compassionately generous, with someone else's money.
These programs are a case in point.

If one's lifestyle choices or personal behavior puts him/her at risk, then
that individual should bear the burden of taking the needed steps to
mitigate that risk. It is simply wrong to put that burden on the taxpayer.

Brian Cowell, Fort Bragg