OPINION THE
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2013
Drug use can’t be stopped
The most laughable part about the crusade against marijuana legalization is that, while weed’s opponents devote their time and energy towards fighting a plant, young people — particularly college students — are spending their weekends partaking in real drugs. Drugs with names that are more periodic table than the English alphabet. Ever heard of 2ci? 25i? N,N-Dimethyltriptamine (DMT)? Molly? Do you know where your kids are right now? This isn’t an exposé; you can’t expose something as blatantly obvious as co-eds’ drug consumption, whether they’re taking sketchy laboratory substances, off-the-street drugs like cocaine or pharmaceuticals as easily accessible as prescription pills. Drugs will be consumed. Since the advent of alcohol distillation, drugs have been consumed. But these college kids aren’t reckless creatures wildly putting anything and everything into their bodies without a second thought. One would be surprised to discover just how knowledgeable they are. Through a strangely educated drug culture (perhaps as a response to the negativity that narcotics and youth elicit, especially when combined) these eighteento-twenty-two-year-olds are transforming themselves into backalley pharmacists, with more savvy than the generation before them could ever imagine. They are dorm-room scientists. They are searching for spirituality and meaning just like everyone else — only, they find what they’re looking for in their pills and lines. They’re consuming hard drugs, and many of these students are navigating their vices quite well. Yet all anybody in Congress can think about is marijuana and how it will apparently send the whole nation to hell in a hand basket. Yes, certain drugs should not be legal, and yes, there should be consequences for individuals caught dealing or partaking in said drugs. A good portion of the narcotics drifting around campuses are dangerous; however, some, like weed, are not. Drug usage will always be prevalent and certain narcotics will always be punishable by law. But if law enforcement and America’s legislative bodies want to get things right, they need to become as sophisticated as the college students they’re persecuting. They need to stop dedicating energy to penalizing weed smokers and halt living in a cloud of misinformation. America’s War on Drugs, amongst other issues, needs to enter the twenty-first century. Kate Watson can be reached at kmwatson@loyno.edu
PAGE 15
Biden is unfit to be a leader PATRICK LYNCH On the Record
KATE WATSON It’s Elementary
Maroon
The “Weekly Standard” reported on March 22 that Vice President Joe Biden stayed one night in Paris, at the five-star Hotel Intercontinental Paris Le Grand, during his first European tour of his second term. The hotel bill was $585,000.50. He and his traveling party then lodged the next day at the Hyatt Regency London, which cost the taxpayers $459,388.65. Biden, his wife, Jill Biden, and his entourage spent three days in February traveling Germany, London and Paris. The Justification and Approval For Other Than Full and Open Competition, Price Justification (JOFOC) form was approved by Jeanne F. Bull, director of Presidential Travel Support, on Jan. 28, 2013. This document notes that the vice president’s
group required “approximately Mr. Biden’s tax returns for the 136 hotel rooms for 893 room years 2008 through 2011, he nights.” Based on these figures would not pay this amount for and the total contract price, each his hotel accommodations if he hotel room at the Hyatt Regency was spending his own money. Remember, Biden London cost us, said in a Sept. 17, the American 2008 interview taxpayers, with Good approximately Morning America, $500 per night. A leader never “… paying more Has this man in taxes is the ever studied asks his or her patriotic thing to leadership? do for wealthier A l t e r n a t i v e l y, charges to do Americans (those did his parents what he or she earning over ever teach him $250,000).” anything about cannot He explained leadership or statement, ethics? Patrick Lynch his want to take A leader assistant professor “We money and put it never asks his of accounting back in the pocket or her charges of middle-class to do what he or people.” she cannot do. However, let’s Also, a leader see how freely does not eat, travel, etc., in a fashion superior he spends his money to benefit to that of his or her men and others. Below are excerpts from women. Biden is not a leader! He Mr. Biden’s tax returns. His is a parasite, and he never will charitable contributions, which garner the respect of the self- include contributions to his reliant men and women of the church (he claims to be Roman Catholic), have been less than United States. I believe, after studying 2 percent of his adjusted gross
“
income. So, it appears that he is quick to tax American taxpayers and spend our money for his lavish trappings. Nevertheless, he is not so quick to voluntarily give his money to help others reach their God-given potential. Seems to be a paradox of actions and words! It is a sad commentary considering the privileges we have inherited as a result of our fore-fathers’ sacrifices that we, the American taxpayers, are too apathetic to hold these elected officials accountable. John Q. Adams, the second president of the US, said: “I must study politics & War that my sons may have the liberty to study math & philosophy in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry & music.” Patrick Lynch is an assistant professor of accounting and can be reached at pmlynch@loyno.edu On The Record is a regular column open to all Loyola faculty and staff. Those interested in contributing can contact letter@loyno.edu
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. & Jill T. Biden’s Tax Returns Year
2008
2009
2010
2011
Adjusted Gross Income
$269,256
$333,182
$379,178
$379,035
Charitable Contributions
1,885
4,820
5,350
5,540
% of AGI
.7%
1.45%
1.41%
1.46% SOURE: WHITE HOUSE
Abortion experience provides context
Stewart Sinclair Left of the Neutral Ground
When I was younger I believed abortion was against my religion. Though I did not understand much, I believed that abortion was not a viable option. Even so, I could not condemn anyone else for making that decision. They were entitled to their beliefs. Growing up, I witnessed the chasm between pro-life and pro-choice, and my place on the spectrum did not sit well with my church or my liberal friends. My post-Roe v. Wade generation had been raised entrenched on either side of the argument. I eventually found myself firmly on the choice side of the fence, open to abortion in my own life, but hoping to avoid that decision. Year after year, I witnessed legislators and judges pass
and approve laws eroding Roe Louisiana. Meanwhile, I went v. Wade. Many states banned out on Royal Street every day of the use of public money, land Spring Break, juggling to come and buildings for clinics that up with the $550 it costs to have an abortion. offered abortions We waited or for doctors who the mandatory performed the 24-hours, and procedure. she took the Simultaneously, Mifepristone protesters stood No man . . . pill on Good outside of my high school with Friday. There could possibly was no time to pictures of fetuses understand the cry. We both and signs damning knew we were women to hell who decision my making the had abortions, calling them decision to end partner was a potential life. whores for being faced with The way my irresponsible. girlfriend’s body These acts only contorted and affirmed my belief the screams in a woman’s right to choose. Stewart Sinclair of agony that her However, they did English writing junior escaped were reminders not prompt me to of the severity take action. It was only a few of our decision. weeks ago, when It was also a reminder my girlfriend and I stared at the two lines that meant to me that, although this was she was pregnant, that I fully a conclusion we had come to understood the ramifications together, it was about her. Not of the national debate. My only did she have to decide if she girlfriend had to go through wanted to be a mother at this tests, interviews and ultrasounds time, but she also had to decide all while being harassed by if she wanted me to be the father protesters outside of one of of her child. It was her body only seven clinics in the state of squirming in pain, numbed by
“
Vicodin, forcing a life from inside her. I could have threatened to leave her if she had an abortion. I could have told her I wouldn’t be there if she kept the child. But I wanted to be a good man. I wanted to support her at a time when she needed me most, and be there for whatever decision she needed to make. I will never fully understand her decision. No man could. No man picketing outside of a clinic, no man in a black robe sitting on a bench, no man positioned on an oversight committee reviewing a bill for reproductive rights could ever possibly understand the decision my partner was faced with. I regret that by writing this I risk being threatened by people who disagree. I regret that people who profess individual liberty think it is OK in a free country to write out scripts that doctors are required by law to read to women seeking abortions, whether the doctor agrees or not. But I do not regret the decision my partner made. Further, we came to the decision together, but it was her right to decide. Stewart Sinclair can be reached at slsincla@loyno.edu