CLEARING UP CONFUSION

Nellie Wilkerson wrote recently asking several questions (Letters,
Nov. 2). I thought I might be able to answer a couple of them and
perhaps clear up some confusion.

1. "Who is going to pay for the claims in the 'public' option ... ?"
Well, that's simple, the government is. Where does the government get
its money? They steal it from you and me, or else they create it out
of thin air by printing it indiscriminately.

2. "How is smoking marijuana better for your lungs and mine than
smoking tobacco ... ?" First of all, whether it's good or bad for you
is not the issue. The issue is freedom. Who are you to tell me what I
can or can't put in my body so long as it doesn't affect you?

Secondly, as it so happens, marijuana is not only less harmful but
actually has some positive effects medically, unlike tobacco.

Lastly, the number of those driving impaired will not increase,
because it is already illegal and will remain illegal. Legalizing pot
won't change that, nor will it turn normally law-abiding citizens into
criminals like the current law does.

Steven Holman

Escondido