OF MAD HATTERS AND MARIJUANA PILLS

It seems that the Federal Liberal party and its Ontario counterpart
are claiming a franchise on idiocy.

First we have Paul Martin pronouncing his intent to ban handguns, as
if that will make the slightest difference to the thugs who use them
for criminal purposes.

And then, hot on Martin's heels, comes Gerard Kennedy proclaiming his
solution to reduce the drop-out rate.

The idea that students can be mandated to attend school by threatening
to prevent them obtaining a driver's licence could only come from
someone who has never taught for a living.

Those of us who actually teach know that some of the classroom
population simply do not belong there.

Saying that the dropout rate will be reduced by legislating them to
school is tantamount to saying that, because we want fewer
ex-prisoners in society we will increase the length of their sentences.

The result of this nonsense will be increased frustration on the part
of the new class of inmates who will simply not attend anyway.

It will also hinder a teaching staff whose effective time will become
even more diminished by the consequent bureaucracy that this
Mad-Hatter scheme will demand.

Perhaps it is not coincidental that in the middle of these political
banalities, there was an announcement that a pill has been developed
that will replace the marijuana plant.

One does not need to look very far to see the guinea pigs on whom this
medication is being tested.

Neville F. Newman