Tracy;

What follows is like a commentary on “social condition” - so be careful. Perhaps I took too many humanities classes in college and have my own viewpoint. Then again some of my sense of humor is there but you may find it hard to seperate from reality. :)

If we eliminate drugs, and cigarettes/cigars from our country the economy will be hurt. Think of the financial loss to the medical and pharmaceutical industries as well as law enforcement (and the U.S. Military in South America as relates to drugs), mortuaries, cemeteries, and the flower industry as well as grief councilors and television advertisement revenue! The list goes on and there will be impact regardless of what is or is not done.

I can truthful say that I “never inhaled”. In fact I never put that crap near my lips or fingers! I guess I can never be president! :) We have to find the cause of smoking and drugs and attempt to modify society to eliminate the causes, which find people dependent or even interested in them.

If everyone were engaged in working for a living – 40 hours a week for the average person – 120 hours for programmers – fewer single parent families would be evident. Give everyone an opportunity to share in a “normal” work environment and we will have less unemployment and frustration leading to use of illegal substances as well as alcohol.

I have seen too many men frustrated because of their skin color, rationalizations, and home environment tune out of normal life and into the world of drugs, etc. All of this is a vast oversimplification I know but we do have serious problems. Some people from impossible backgrounds do make it to be what we term “productive members of society”. Others tune out one way or another.

The concept is to allow everyone to work, keep them in debt (preferably credit card purchases) and enjoy the same type of life. Everyone should worry about paying his/her bills and taxes and not waste time with endeavors that are not condoned. The end result is a society that is mindless as if we were on drugs.

As the world becomes more complex I think the need for the family is even more important than ever. It seems we do little to promote the family in this country and worship individuality. Then we complain the family is “broken down”.

It would be nice if we spent more time and effort helping others to help themselves rather than dropping bombs on them in the name of peace and prosperity. However, there are cultures in the world that greatly resent any help of the type we have given or are willing to give. Trying to understand others is very important. Not everyone came from the same cookie cutter.

By the way speaking of cookie cutters – our daughter makes the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever tasted! And I have tasted more than a few from numerous sources! Now I have to lift weights for at least one hour for just thinking of "COOKIES"!

Tom