RANDOM DRUG TESTING THREATENS FREEDOM

I respond to Robert Sharpe's Nov. 24 letter on the Drug Policy Alliance.
His letter, "America can be either free or drug-free, but not both" made
some interesting and valid points on the war on drugs. I agree when Sharpe
said that random drug testing has led to loss of liberties, having
experienced it myself.

When corporate America joins the war on drugs using random testing as a
guise for public safety, while polluting the environment, it is hypocrisy.
They have instead used it to dictate moral ethics to employees on what they
can and cannot do during their private time off.

Living in a hypocritical society that is quick to judge, some companies'
moral values leave little room in their drug policy for human mistakes.

I worked at a Nitro chemical plant for 24 years without having an unexcused
absence or ever being reprimanded. I failed a no-tolerance drug test
without having medical help or counseling (so much for my human rights),
and was fired -- not for my work ethics or job performance, but for
righteousness sake.

Sharpe is right when he says it's not possible to wage a moralistic war
against consensual vices unless privacy is completely eliminated, along
with the Constitution.

Homer F. Hawley Jr.

Poca