ASHCROFT'S WAR

Re "Death and dying and Ashcroft's handcuffs," Op-Ed, Nov. 20: Attorney
General John Ashcroft's order for the FBI to arrest doctors in Oregon who
help terminally ill patients die with dignity points out the glaring
hypocrisy of the far right.

Historically, "let states decide for themselves" has been the
conservatives' battle cry. But it seems that principle only applies when
the federal government is trying to ensure equal rights for minorities or
women, or to prevent the destruction of our environment by rapacious
special interests.

When it comes to the simple right of individuals to choose how they die, to
reduce their suffering, suddenly the extremist "states rights" mentality is
conspicuously absent. What a despicable double standard.

- - Ed Hall, Sacramento

When my mother received her death sentence from her physician, he gave her
the possibility of two years. She talked about her fear of horrible pain.
He repeatedly reassured both of us that he would be able to relieve her pain.

Real life was totally different. The doctor seemed to disappear, unwilling
perhaps to risk the wrath of the government in prescribing pain
medications. The nursing home blamed the lack of medication on the
physician. But hospice was not allowed inside the facility because the
contract had not been signed.

I was in the process of crashing the facility with a kind-hearted hospice
worker who said she could obtain the necessary drugs when my mother escaped
her horror and thankfully died. Never would I let my animals end their life
in this hell.

I ask Ashcroft and all his many supporters to explain themselves.

- - Alfreda Weiss, Fair Oaks

Re "The feds crack down -- on medical marijuana," Peter Schrag, Nov. 7:
While the president, secretary of state, and secretary of defense all
vigorously maintain we are at war against terrorists, Ashcroft has gone to
war against dope, sending federal agents to police Oregon doctors "who
prescribe federally controlled drugs to help terminally ill patients die."
They have also expanded their war against marijuana in California for
terribly ill people who benefit from its use by reducing pain.

I loathe the word "prioritize," but that is what Ashcroft has to do. We
need more agents to fight the terrorist war, not the dope war.

- - Thomas J. Adams, Fair Oaks

I can't believe Ashcroft, in this time of "war," is messing with assisted
suicide and medical marijuana laws on the West Coast.

How is it we have the time, desire or resources to challenge state laws
while international terrorists are targeting our skyscrapers and home-grown
terrorists are targeting the Democratic leadership and the "liberal biased
media" with anthrax?

Ashcroft has said his office will be unable to do all the things it
normally does because of the "war on terror." I guess he thinks these state
laws are just as much of a threat to our way of life as Osama bin Laden and
the nut balls trying to eliminate the Democratic Party.

- - Kevin K. Tarbell, Sacramento

The Taliban have their religious police. Now, thanks to Ashcroft and his
uptight law enforcement community, we are establishing our own medical
police counterpart.

Let's go round up all the doctors who ease pain and suffering with humane
methods for those at death's door or those pulverized by pain and loss of
appetite in need of medicinal marijuana. It seems as if ignorance has no
boundaries.

The Taliban don't have a lock on medieval ignorance, as there is plenty of
that to go around.

- - Eldon Brandenburg, West Sacramento