BUREAUCRATIC IDIOTS ARE TRAMPLING OUR RIGHTS

I must write in response to the letters of Jenny Morales on Aug. 7
and Casey O'Connor on Aug. 5. Both wrote about smoking, one about
cigarettes and one about marijuana. But nobody ever talks about alcohol.

Perfectly legal to buy and sell, but the second-hand effects of
alcohol are many times worse than smoking either pot or cigarettes.
Families are broken apart, careers are destroyed, and people are
killed by those who drink and drive. And what about the physical and
emotional abuse to those around the drinker? I don't remember ever
reading about someone being killed by a cigarette-smoking driver, or
abused by a crazed Marlboro man, a career destroyed or a divorce over
a box of Camels.

I don't think I've ever read about any of these things happening to
someone who just smokes pot. Sure, mix it with alcohol or other drugs
and anything can happen. I know you'll say pot leads to other drugs
because you have been brainwashed to believe that. Being a baby
boomer, I smoked my share of pot when I was young. It did not lead to
other drugs. Now I smoke cigarettes. I have a full-time job, pay my
bills each month and I am a responsible tax-paying citizen. My point
is, this is America, and our rights are being trampled by
bureaucratic idiots. If you don't like my smoking, then stay away,
just like I stay away from drunks.

Karl Williams

Waterville