Legalize or Penalize

I am, by trade, a substance-abuse-counsellor and life-coach for recovering addicts, and for the past twenty years I have seen first-hand the effects that substance use and abuse can have on people's health and life.

Studies on the costs of substance abuse have shown that they are not only significant(40 billion in 2002 for example), but also that most of these costs were incurred by use and abuse of legal substances, with tobacco leading the way and alcohol second.

A study by a group of Canadian experts in the field of addictions and published in the "Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs" ( Issue #6 November, 2007), had these impressive figures:

- More than 40,000 people died in Canada in 2002 due to substance use.
- 37,209 deaths were attributable to tobacco
- 4,258 deaths from alcohol.
- 1,695 deaths from illegal drugs.

So, what then, is the criteria that we use to pick and choose which substances should be legalized and which should be banned? Presently we are permitting the legal use of the most 'lethal' substances and the most costly on every level, while proposing more laws to fight the 'least' of these. Any drug law that focuses on the symptoms instead of the causes will only continue to impose an ever increasing cost to society.

Isn't it time we stopped the hypocrisy and legalized all drugs? We can then begin to take responsability for the causes rather than punish symptoms. Or perhaps the opposite solution is a more viable one, the illegaliziation of all drugs, starting with the most lethal.

Not the Worst, Just the Neediest

The new bill proposed by Bloc Quebecois MP Francine Lalonde, has created a situation in which a people that has decided to not kill it's worst offenders is now preparing to debate killing it's neediest citizens. Apparently there is no room for a faint hope clause when it comes to the elderly or the depressed. No mention of rehabilitation or quality palliative care for the suffering and the handicapped.
Just a death sentence.

Civilized Progressive Society: Man On Life-Support Wanted Dead!--Not Alive!

Civilized Progressive Society: Man On Life-Support Wanted Dead!--Not Alive!

The Commentator: Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia: Preserving The Sanctity Of Life Part 2

The Commentator: Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia: Preserving The Sanctity Of Life Part 2

I am Ready

Fiscally it is in Canada's advantage to stop handing out money to a province that in return provides ongoing strife and conflict. Not to mention discrimination against the majority of the people in this country with it's language laws.

I, for one, am ready to say good-bye to the constant threat of referendums.
Goodbye to the petty language laws and their agencies, that spend time and money over the size of lettering on menus and cafe signs.
Goodbye to official bilingualism. I speak three languages well, and two more well enough.
Goodbye to open disregard for peoples rights and property.

If you want to leave, I say go and no hard feelings. Really.

Happiness is a By-product

Happiness is a word that describes an abstract concept, a sort of ever-changing ideal. What makes me happy at two, will not make me happy at twelve, nor at twenty two or thirty two.
Happiness cannot be the objective or goal of life since it is elusive by it's very nature. This explains why everyone is constantly searching for happiness.

Instead, I view happiness as being a by-product of life much like gas is a by-product of eating. No-one sits down to a meal with the intent to produce gas. It just happens as part of the process.

In the same way, when one goes about the business of living, i.e. pursuing careers, finding love, buying a home, children, milestones etc., we produce moments, instances of joy, grief and sadness. It just happens as part of the process.
Poof....ahhh happiness.