"PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE"

Ongoing debate regarding drug-law enforcement, and an Aspen Times
online poll on that very subject, has generated plenty of online
comment of late.

The aspentimes.com poll asking: "Do you think Sheriff Bob Braudis is
too lax when it comes to drug enforcement," provoked several comments
from readers.

Said one:

In my opinion, it is not that Braudis is too lax on drugs. With great
vision, he does not believe in or support the ongoing failure of "the
war on drugs" mentality. The Pitkin County Sheriff's Dept. does not
hesitate apprehending those caught breaking the law including drug
violations. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

And there was this:

Braudis has been a great sheriff --- he has many duties and quietly
and effectively goes about them.

But, there was also this:

The drug and alcohol rate for teens in Aspen is amoung the highest in
the state. When Aspen led the country in no smoking Aspen's teen
smoking rate was amoung the lowest. When Aspen cares enough about
leading their youth out of these horrendous statistics the policies
for drugs will not be ENABLING as it is now.

One reader took issue with the poll itself:

Hmmm.this smacks of "push-polling", of the type that Rove has
mastered. By that I mean a "poll" that is actually constructed to
create a pre-ordained outcome (ie it is not a poll at all)

First of all, they are compound questions (statistically suspect, right there)

The two answers that support Braudis are split, so the anti-Braudis
response has a statistically better chance of coming out on top. And
the "I support Braudis because he is lax" actually is a hidden
negative, to be used by the other side as further reason not to support him.

I don't know Braudis, and don't know his opponent, and don't know the
issues, but linguistically, and statistically, this poll is flawed on its face.

In other words, if I were Braudis, I would wonder what the Times had
against me!

Finally, our reporting on the enforcement debate between Braudis and
his challenger, Rick Magnuson, prompted reaction from one reader. An excerpt:

Sheriff Bob Braudis, I believe, empathizes with the fact that people
will not stop because of the law, and he makes an effort for people
to be and feel safe without using threatening methods. I believe he
has gained respect from his fellow citizens naturally, rather than
exercise his power through force.

This town has been flourishing for decades. It may contain a higher
level of drug use for all I know than other towns of its size, but
with its wealth, free spirit, and "resortesque party appeal," why wouldn't it?