Unfortunately, University of Michigan researcher Lloyd Johnston is wrong when he states in the Journal ("U.S. big customer for Mexican drugs," May 27) that "The damage done by our insatiable demand for drugs is truly astounding."
Real research shows that neither the demand nor the drugs themselves causes the damage. It is our 19th century policy of drug prohibition that causes the damage, by driving a large and powerful market underground where it has no legitimate legal protection and must fight for itself.
Only by permitting regulated drug sales to adults will this 95-year drug war be stopped. Any researcher, however, would lose their National Institute on Drug Abuse and other grant money if they come out and say this.
DR. JAMES STEWART CAMPBELL
Pfafftown
Then and now
I recall reading that Henry Ford, when walking across the grounds of his industrial complex back in the 1930s, asked the purpose of a particular building. When told that it housed the accounting department, he instructed that it be converted to manufacturing.
I have to wonder what he would think of the financiers on Wall Street today.
N. STUART JONES
Winston-Salem
Powerful cartoon
What a powerful, poignant cartoon on the May 25 opinion page! After several years of Pat Oliphant's negativity, you brought something worthwhile to share with readers. Thanks to David Fitzsimmons of The Arizona Star for something other than the drivel we have been fed regularly.
JOHN ARFMANN
Winston-Salem
Unnecessary regulation
I am sure that most people appreciate trees and the benefits they bestow. But our local government should not be dictating whether developers or property owners can cut them down. For that reason, I am concerned about your praise of Winston-Salem City Councilman Dan Besse for his efforts to impose a tree ordinance upon Winston-Salem ("Protecting trees," May 20). This regulation is unnecessary and represents a triumph of fringe special interests over fundamental property rights.
If trees have all of the benefits that your editorial proclaims, then developers or property owners will preserve and plant them. But if a developer or property owner decides to clear his own land, he should have a right to do so. National, state and city parks offer plenty of trees for residents to visit if they can't find enough of them at their local shopping mall. Looking out my office window over a canopy of oaks, it doesn't make sense why our local government should trample the rights of property owners in Winston-Salem to keep a few more trees around. Members of our local government like Dan Besse should be fighting higher taxes and criminals rather than property owners.
STUART RUSSELL
Winston-Salem
Give him a chance
The May 26 letter "Concerned with present direction" made me feel concerned with the way America is moving; however, it is a much different concern than the author stated.
He wrote, "We have elected the most radical, arrogant, incompetent man to the presidency in the history of this nation. …" I was not always a supporter of former President Bush; however, I gave him time to illustrate whether his policies would line up with my ideology. For someone to critique President Obama this quickly is a little short-sighted and shows his own arrogance in believing that he personally knows which way our country of over 300 million people should be moving.
Our country has always had problems with recognizing time periods; our driven nature has led to the inevitable instant-gratification mindset. People want politics to operate with the same speed as downloading a song to their iPods.
I am not saying that every person needs to line up with President Obama; it is, in fact, the difference of opinion and the right to voice them that makes our country great. But give him a chance. The Republicans had their chance for the last eight years, why can't a Democrat have his?
Patience is a virtue that many Americans seem to have forgotten or lost all together.
SARAH CATHERINE MORRIS
Lewisville
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