PATRIOT ACT

To The Editor:

In his letter to the editor legislator Richard Wilson profiled voting
taxpayers that supported the resolution against the Patriot Act as
"illicit drug profiteers". (Patriot Act Sept 7).

Here's how "illicit drug profiteering" works.

You tell the press you just broke up a marijuana cartel by
confiscating their $80 million crop ($30 T0 $80 Million In Pot, Sept
11). It was one of the "largest single seizures of marijuana ever
seen". It took hard work and cooperation from eight agencies. Half of
the personal had to be taken from their terrorism duties for the
seizure of cannabis.

Was a great headline grabber till Watertown Daily Times reporter James
Donnelly revealed it was a crop of hemp! The taxpayers just paid to
have a farmer's field weeded by the National Guard, the military [NG]
that is not supposed to be in domestic policing!

While flying looking for terrorist activity, the Border patrol, Green
Mountain Boys of Vermont, and Civil Air Patrol have spotted 35 to 500
plant crops (Aug 29). They never noticed this 25-acre [75,000-plant]
crop underneath the flight pattern of the Ogdensburg International
Airport [Sept 11]!

Has this crop been a political budget tool over the years? I wrote a
letter to the editor about this Sept 1, 2001. Here are parts of that
letter:

26,000 Marijuana plants seized in 1993, 38,000 Marijuana plants seized
in 1994. DTF needed to expand budget because " a large demand at the
collages" [Sept 19, 1995].

80,000 Marijuana plants seized in 1995 [that crop was worth $120
million]. Again a DTF budget meeting for increase. Progress
report:"1996 won't bring in as many plants as 1995" [June 2, 1996].

105,000 Marijuana plants seized in 1996. DTF budget needed increase
because "cocaine, heroin, hashish, and hallucinogenic mushrooms are in
County" [Jan 14 1997].

If marijuana seizures have been controlled over the years, what about
cocaine round ups? [More Arrest Likely From Ogdensburg Coke Sting,
July 27 2003] "Under cover police officer sells six ounces of cocaine".

Crime's at it's lowest in 30 years, enforcement budgets at it's
highest in 30 years, means we are paying for more cops to chase less
criminals.

Useful idiots [Sept 9]? A very poor term to use on proud American
taxpayers Mr. Wilson!

Larry Seguin

Lisbon