Pubdate: Sun, 24 Sep 2000
Source: Bulletin, The (OR)
Copyright: 2000 Western Communications Inc.
Contact:  1526 NW Hill St., Bend, OR 97701
Fax: (541) 385-5804
Website: http://www.bendbulletin.com/
Section: My Nickel's Worth page F2
Author: Curt Wagoner, La Pine, Oregon

BULLETIN CHANGES STANCE

In your column  ' For the record, here is where we stand ', John Costa
wrote that the only substantial change in positions from the current
editorial board and the late editor, Robert W. Chandler, was your
opposition to assisted suicide. I would like to point out another
position where you differ greatly from Chandler.  

In his ' Good-bye '  column printed in the Bulletin on July 12, 1996,
page A-10, Mr Chandler said that he believed that we should legalize
drugs.  

This is in sharp contrast to the prohibitionist propaganda I see coming
from the current editorial board.  

Albert Einstein on prohibition . . . 1921:  

" The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably
by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for
the government and the law of the land than passing laws which can not
be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase in crime
in this country is closely connect with this. "  

Those that continue to support such a racist and historically failed
policy such as prohibition are jeopardizing the health, safety and 
lives
of every single one of us. We will never get a handle on crime and 
drugs
so long as we continue prohibition.  Mr Chandler had the wisdom to see
this. And he had the guts to say it.  

How I long for that wisdom to return to the Bulletin. And if it ever
does, I hope you don't wait until your good-bye column to have the guts
to say it.  
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MAP posted-by: John Chase