or, How To Settle An Internal Conflict, maybe

     Just finished watching a segment on the PBS News Hour about the perils of bath salt snorting. Sounds like something akin to smoking PCP back in the 70's. Not too smart. Poses a threat not only to the individual but to those around them.

                                                              Do Something About It

     The liberal side of me having the desire to help those in need when I can also wants to do all that I can to prevent others from suffering disaster. So yes, do something about it. Whatever it takes. Slap controls on the substances that go into these artificial drugs.

                                                                  Whoa There Nellie

     The conservative side of me says I am tired of government sticking it's nose into every little thing. If we start banning everything that can be combined into something dangerous we will end up banning everything. Enough government interference already.

           Oh, but what am I to do My mind is in a whirlpool Give me a little hope One small thing to cling to   <> 

     Having recently put down my medicine pipe my mind turned to the ever continuing debate about the legalization of pot. An area which both my liberal and conservative sides reach agreement on. Legalize the stuff. Medicinal use is already becoming common place in many areas. It has been proven to have medicinal benefits as well as mood altering effects without the side effects of alcohol giving the people a choice of what they can choose to relax with. Tax it. Require purity standards as you do in distilled spirits.Tax it. Enforce age requirements for purchase. Tax it. Create new jobs and small businesses. Tax it. Create new revenues for the budget. Know how? Tax it!

                                                                   Back To The Bath

     Try as I might, I can't find any way to justify the legal use of this weird substance. Just the idea of snorting salt of any kind gives me the shivers. Can't just stand by and do nothing. Of course getting the word out and educating people about it would be worth the money and effort. Is that the best I can do without giving the government more control over the products we can and can't buy?

     Being a Centrist is not always an easy position to maintain. You see my conflict. Give me some of your ideas to help me resolve this. Can selective conservatism and or liberalism co-exist in a logical manner? I'm thinking maybe so. Then again, maybe not?

I've got me going in circles