AMERICA HAS TOO MANY LAWS NOW, NOT TOO FEW

To the editor:

In his letter of Dec.3, "A vote for Ashcroft," Jim Watkins perpetuates the
myth that America is somehow reserved only for those who handle snakes,
speak in tongues and are so weak-minded that they must be controlled by
some power greater than themselves, be it government or some mythological
being.

Apparently our government and these self-appointed morality police have
convinced Americans that the recent terrorist attacks were the result of
too few laws and too many rights, but I honestly believe the opposite is true.

Had our citizens and our government not expended so many resources trying
to dictate what our fellow citizens ingest, be it illegal plants, pills,
powders and the like, and had our government bureaucrats not been so
concerned with concocting catchy acronyms and sending our people "correct"
messages, the recent tragic events might never have occurred.

While they worried about how we choose to die, our urine content, our
people's sexual proclivities, how much we eat, smoke or drink, how many
bullets our guns hold, whether we buckle our seat belts or wear our
helmets, do we pray or do we bet, and how much money we might get, the
World Trade Center burned.

Since Sept.11, federal law enforcement has found time to roust legal
medical marijuana patients in California and go after doctors and dying
patients in Oregon for abiding by state law. All the while, the Justice
Department announces imminent terrorist threats.

Not enough laws and too many rights? No, our public servants just have
their priorities wrong and Americans suffer the consequences. Ashcroft
would make emperor Nero proud.

Mike Plylar

Kremmling, Co.