FIGHT ICE WITH MORE THAN WORDS

There is a dual danger in our community: the threat of crystal
methamphetamine and the threat of using crystal methamphetamine as a sexy
talking point to gain political clout.

Every year it's something: traffic cams, same-sex marriage, legalized
gambling...

Compared to those, crystal meth is a perfect hook for politicians to grab
onto because there is no dissenting side. You come out against it and you're
instantly on the winning team.

The trouble is, crystal meth is a problem, not a philosophical issue. It's a
scourge on our community, and its effects are manifold: domestic violence,
child abuse and neglect, property crime, violent crime. The ice epidemic
eats away at the integrity of our families, our neighborhoods, our safety.
Education is affected. The economy is affected.

But the chant from the Capitol continues.

Blah blah blah blah ice.

Blah blah crystal meth.

Blah blah keiki.

Blah blah 'ohana.

Talking about the problem is a good place to start, particularly when it is
happening within communities, across fences, at kitchen tables.

But there is a lot of talk, just talk, from folks who should be taking
action. Action such as financing preventive programs for at-risk youth.

Among Gov. Linda Lingle's cuts to the budget was $3.6 million from social
services programs statewide.

Of that amount, one of the largest cuts was $500,000 from youth service
agencies in Kalihi. How can a politician NOT pay for services to at-risk
kids and still do the anti-ice talk?

Thankfully, legislators reconvened in a special session to override Lingle's
veto. The money will come from the so-called rainy day fund. Take a look
around parts of Kalihi. It's raining pretty hard. It's raining hard all over
the state. It's raining ice and abuse and violence and neglect. It's raining
apathy and ignorance. It's raining self-promotion.

Instead of standing on the side of the road holding signs and waving at cars
(like they're campaigning!) let's see our lawmakers do the right thing. Pay
for social service programs. Support preventative measures. Take a hard look
at healthcare systems and health insurance that make thorough detoxification
and in-patient treatment a financial impossibility for most addicts.

Oh, but that's hard. It's complicated. It's a lot easier to chant a slogan.

But then, we're back where we were 20 years ago, "just saying no." By now
you'd think we'd realize that "just saying" it doesn't work.