THE POLICE BABYSITTING KIDS IS A WASTE OF TIME

The picture of six police officers in the Aug. 31 paper hanging out on the
Hill is evidence that Boulder has too many police officers (who,
incidentally, are grossly underpaid). Police should be fighting actual
crime (vandalism, assault, rape etc.) and not waste time and tax dollars on
college kids' underage drinking. For heaven's sake, leave the kids alone.
Tragically, alcoholism and drug abuse do exist, but they have nothing to do
with underage drinking. The obnoxious, abusive behavior by some kids ruins
fun for everyone, but we live in a toxic, vile culture with little or no
display of wisdom or responsibility among our leaders.

Then you have the misguided thinking of the "La Iguana" owner for blaming
kids with fake IDs instead of stupid, ultimately destructive laws and the
police for being a risk to her business. In my day, we could drink 3.2 beer
on the Hill. We could alter our draft cards and get a margarita at the
Catacombs. This was a pleasant experience, and we were not a threat to
ourselves or society.

Asking the police to babysit our teenage wasteland is inappropriate. These
kids should have been given a little direction, but there is none in our
"sibling society" as Robert Bly aptly calls it. The schizophrenic message
of prohibition vs. the encouragement of mindless revelry (courtesy of the
lite-beer drug-pushing industry) isn't going to bring about good citizenship.

Finally, why are police entering houses on the Hill without a search
warrant? And what kind of weirdo would wander around the hill at night as a
prohibitionist vigilante? The phrase "get a life" comes to mind, but if
not, why don't you folks go downtown, have a couple of drinks, go dancing
and enjoy some of the excellent entertainment this city is lucky to have?

DOUG RICHARDS, Boulder