BAND-AID SOLUTIONS

In response to Julius Bloomfield's letter entitled "We Won't Tolerate
Illegal Drug Trade" the suggestions he has made are a "Band-Aid" in themselves.

The problem of drug addicts and the criminal activity that results from
their addiction, more often is a result of those addicts/criminals having
been brought up by parents who lacked the skills necessary to parent
effectively.

They often grew up in homes where there was a lack of love and affection,
absence of discipline and/or being held responsible and accountable for
their actions.

To suggest that pawnbrokers and small money lending institutions as well as
the public pay the price for this is not solving the problem and is most
unfair. There are people who are responsible, law-abiding citizens who may
occasionally have a need to borrow against a paycheque from a small money
lending institution in order to feed their family due to an unforeseen
financial emergency. To make these small businesses pay excessively high
license costs is most unfair to them and to those who use the institutions
responsibly.

The problem starts at home. Perhaps the public funding he suggests being
provided to fight drug operations would be better spent by providing a
government funded course for young parents to teach them the skills
required to ensure the best possible chance of bringing their children up
to be loving, responsible law abiding citizens.

R.A. Dagneau

Okanagan Falls