• Drug problem alternatives Drug problem alternatives ; Richard (Moll) Diamon Recently, the Garden Island reported that the “first shot” of the coming election campaign was “fired from O’ahu” by Maryanne Kusaka. The basis of the charge, that Senator Hooser
• Drug problem alternatives
Drug problem alternatives ; Richard (Moll) Diamon
Recently, the Garden Island reported that the “first shot” of the coming election campaign was “fired from O’ahu” by Maryanne Kusaka. The basis of the charge, that Senator Hooser is soft on drugs, paints a picture that will take on more clarity as this campaign wears on.
A proposal now in the legislature would widen the government’s rights to use wire-tapping as a means to fight the drug “scourge.” The drug problem is very deep, complicated, and blankets every strata of society. In an era where the drug – alcohol – is used freely by youngsters and adults alike, while antidepressants like Prozac and other drugs, such as Ritalin, are routinely dispensed to children, the use of ice is not an isolated occurrence; rather, we are facing a much wider drug challenge to our civilization. Knee-jerk reactions such as wiretapping merely increases suspicion in all of us about widening governmental powers while providing a questionable solution to the problem. I should hope that we can find other ways to ease the ice epidemic rather than darkening the shadow of fear that already covers much of our community around the drug dilemma.
How much thought has been given to the home environment of young people who use ice? For example, are their parents employed? Are they suffering the hardships associated with economic burdens brought on by rising taxes and shrinking housing, by-products of developmental mania? And what about alternative activities and gathering places on this island for teenagers? Once again, tapping phones of private citizens is a shallow attempt to treat the symptom while ignoring the cause.
Yes, there is no doubt that we have a big problem here. Apparently, Senator Hooser supported a drug bill that widens the authority of the police but without the right of random wiretaps. I fail to find a link which equates softness on the drug problem with Senator Hooser’s support of government that protects rather than violates the rights of its private citizens, as guaranteed by our Constitution. Let’s leave the phone lines of private citizens alone and preserve what little privacy we have left.
It would be safe to say that both Maryanne Kusaka and Senator Hooser perceive the drug problem as a scourge. The difference lies in the means by which they propose to deal with the problem. As this campaign progresses I am sure we will see strong positions not just about drugs, but about other challenges facing our tiny yet beautiful island of Kaua‘i. It should be interesting to see who presents clear positions based on real facts and whether either candidate resorts to inaccurate assaults which are, unfortunately, so typical of election campaigns. Hopefully, we will experience a campaign based on integrity, truth, and creative vision rather than mere politicizing, obvious campaign rhetoric, mudslinging, and attack. What’s wrong with that?
Richard Moll (Diamond) is a resident of Kapa‘a
