Letters to the Editor for Jan. 14

Argument against legalizing drugs actually supported it

Lew Cook’s Jan. 4 letter is interesting, in that it makes Michelle Cohen’s earlier point [Dec. 29] to legalize drugs perfectly — even as it tries to argue the opposite position.

It is true that a large proportion of crime and violence in this country involves drugs. But crime and violence are not caused by the drugs themselves, rather by the fact that these extremely high-demand substances have been arbitrarily decreed to be illegal. This causes the price to [become] artificially high enough to attract serious and violent criminal activity, exactly as alcohol prohibition did.

If drugs were legal, prices would fall dramatically, and there would be far less incentive (perhaps none) for criminals to become involved.

Mr. Cook’s purposely absurd point about legalizing other crimes because they are not being solved is based on a false comparison. Individual drug use does not involve force and/or injury to persons or their property, as do murder, assault and burglary.

So if drugs were legalized (and not excessively taxed), violence and criminal activity around drugs would mostly disappear and police would have plenty of time and manpower to improve the crime-solving rate, as Mr. Cook (and all of us) would like. There would also be more than enough jail space to house violent criminals for their entire sentences.

We also should ask ourselves a larger question: Why should anyone, or any government, have the right to tell adult, free citizens what substances they can ingest — be it nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, dietary fat, sugar, salt or other “drugs?”

Tom Keller

Clifton Park

Public nursing homes are worth keeping open

I have been reading many articles about counties wanting to get out of the nursing home business and the many financial issues that touch all taxpayers. After much soul searching, I need to speak out for all county nursing homes!

Our government closed mental health care facilities, promising better places for our residents, but instead has let our population get lost in the cracks. Our county nursing homes are unique because we care for those left behind. We shelter and nurture those who other facilities do not want or cannot care for.

Families that have nowhere to turn in times of health crisis should still be able turn to county facilities. They need us to help shoulder the burdens of caring for loved ones, while still allowing them to be productive members and taxpayers.

Do not let anyone make our facilities private. We need to maintain our uniqueness, we need to keep on helping those who need us. We need to ensure our workers that their jobs are safe and their work is appreciated. We need to maintain a safe staff number at all times. We need to weed out the blatantly uncaring people and prove that honesty and caring will be our way of the future.

June Maniscalco

Colonie

Don’t blame Caroline for other Kennedys’ foibles

Re Jan. 9 column, “Caroline Kennedy trying to cash in on her family’s name,” by Daniel Weaver: Mr. Weaver’s piece is awfully thin gruel: Joe’s disreputable follies from Nazi sympathies to rum-running to Jack’s amorous affairs; even Caroline’s favorite uncle Teddy’s bad show as a young man in Chappaquiddick.

Weaver’s laundry list of the unsavory is rather old hat, and hardly the legacy of the Kennedy family. Mr. Weaver’s insight is that of a 9-year-old finding out his father is not the hero he bragged about, but made of clay feet. It’s about growing up.

Gosh, we are breathlessly told, citing authority of Mr. Seymour Hersh, the legacy wasn’t even of Camelot. Well, have ya evah? Talk about a smear job.

It is fatuous to claim Caroline is cashing in on anything, as she is not in need of money. And to judge her on her grandfather’s peccadilloes or an uncle’s is more than silly.

Michael O’Neill

Wainscott

Sch’dy golf course is safely skiable

After skiing for five consecutive days in ideal conditions on the golf course (along the tree line, not the greens) it is most bizarre to read in Kathleen Moore's Jan. 3 article that "no one can ski there now, for fear of being hit by falling branches" and that the weather has "shattered Schenectady's plans for winter activities."

Plenty of skiers and snowshoers are enjoying the great snow. The restaurant is inviting and affordable. You could probably find a precarious branch, but you'd have to go looking. Those that have fallen are easily avoided.

If you're interested in outdoor activities, this is a great winter — one of the best early winters in years. The sledding is excellent and Central Park is exceptionally beautiful draped in snow. Why focus on the empty half of the glass? The skating ice will come and I'm sure the winter carnival will be even better than last year, but don't wait until then to get out and enjoy the wonderful opportunities that abound in Schenectady's great outdoors.

Darius Kirstein

Schenectady