NEW MUTATIONS CAN SPROUT FROM SPRAYING SOIL

We should hear alarm bells in our heads as U.S. drug czar Barry
McCaffrey and his minions prepare to spray herbicides and spread fungi
in their anti-drug efforts. On the one hand, we hear plans to spread
fungi in the ground, organisms known for their ability to mutate and
to survive our efforts to get rid of them. This effort is to be
combined with spraying of herbicides, killing the existing plants and
creating a perfect opportunity for strange new mutations to gain ground.

On the other hand, we have the very odd McCaffrey and his equally odd
supporters. When McCaffrey tells us that teenagers are consuming hemp
clothing to get high, does he believe what he's saying? If so, it's
time for a psychiatric evaluation. If not, it's time to remove him
from office.

A sense of proportion would suggest that the world won't stand by
forever while we attack Colombia with chemical and biological warfare.
A sense of proportion would suggest that it is a dumb idea to spread
soil organisms to attack a social problem. The list could go on but
the implication is clear--if we can't rein in our out-of-control drug
warriors, eventually someone, or something, will. We can only hope
this happens before we become the most prominent war criminals in the
21st century.

Terry Scott, Belfair