THE OTHER THOMPSON

Ed Thompson - younger brother of Wisconsin's former governor - would like
to follow in his famous sibling's footsteps. Currently the mayor of Tomah,
he's running as the Libertarian candidate for governor.

"My approach will be just plain common sense," he says. "I'm no big-time
Charlie. I am a common hard-working man."

Pundits don't give him much of a chance, saying he lacks the "pizazz" of
Minnesota's third-party governor, Jesse Ventura. But Thompson doesn't seem
fazed.

He may not have a chance but some of his ideas deserve a hearing. Not the
ones about privatizing government services - his brother already took care
of that. But the one about decriminalizing the use of marijuana. Right now
we're devoting excessive money and manpower looking for - and locking up -
those who are smoking the stuff. It's not good public policy.

Thompson also wants to cut government spending by removing nonviolent
criminals - like many drug users - from prison. In many cases these are
folks who need treatment and counseling and who can be better - and more
cost-effectively - served outside prison.

Thompson may be just a common man but some of his ideas are uncommonly good.