Pubdate: Thu, 01 Jan 2004 Source: Charleston Daily Mail (WV) Copyright: 2004 Charleston Daily Mail Contact: http://www.dailymail.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/76 Author: Scott Russ DRUG TESTS IN SCHOOLS DISGRACE THE NATION I guess a urinalysis is the new pledge of allegiance? Why don't we just allow the government to brand us with bar codes and insert computer chips under our skin so it can monitor everything we ingest? America is no longer the land of the free. This is a disgrace to everything our country was founded upon. The war on drugs isn't about justice or protecting our children. We've spent over 50 years under that pretense. And what have been the results? Corrupt law enforcement and judiciary, increased crime, death, disease, budget deficits and increased spending on prisons instead of education and other critical programs. Current and past presidents have used some of the very substances that these kids will be tested for, so what message are we really sending our kids? Our senators and representatives have conveniently exempted themselves from drug testing while Drug Czar John Walters tours the country pressuring school boards to implement drug testing for our children. The hypocrisy of this is so thick it stinks. Our leaders need to find the courage to end this insanity before another generation is forced to endure the loss of life and liberty in the name of the drug war. If our leaders can't find that courage, then they need to be voted out to make room for those who have the conviction to do real justice and end this domestic policy disaster. I urge all Americans to contact their representatives and let them know that we will not support this fraud any longer. Scott Russ Baton Rouge, La. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom