Pubdate: Fri, 03 Aug 2001
Source: Sun News (SC)
Copyright: 2001 Sun Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://web.thesunnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/987
Author: Chris Buors

PARENTS, NOT STATE, SHOULD BE AUTHORITY

The fly in the ointment of Leonard Pitts Jr.'s "set the boundaries" 
argument is that our parents and grandparents were wise enough to listen to 
the wisdom of the ages that expounded the timeless Shakespearean argument 
of "moderation in all things."

Parents protect children from all the evil chemicals lurking under the 
kitchen sink, but when it comes to chemicals we label as drugs, paternalism 
in the form of state dictate rears its ugly head to protect the children. 
Whew, what a load off the minds of parents. So I want to make the time and 
culture tested argument that when the state sets the boundaries, the 
parents are relieved of the responsibility. That would serve as a more 
realistic explanation for so-called "bad parenting" than the psychobabble 
offered up by Pitt. The solution to drug use in America is to restore our 
natural right to drugs.

Chris Buors

Winnipeg, Manitoba
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens