INTELLIGENCER JOURNAL

March 10th brought editorials concerning "Treatment plan" and "Best of times, worst of times."

The former dealt with the $1.1 billion appropriated in the Stimulus Bill "to compare how various drugs, medical devices and surgeries treat specific medical conditions." It concludes "Might this mean that some patients will have to give up the freedom to try treatments of their choice? Possibly. But the alternative may be even more bleak - a broken system that helps no one."

The latter is about all the money that the legalizing of slot machine gambling has brought to the state and local communities. It moralizes at the end "There is, of course, a downside to the February numbers. The $145.5 million earned by casinos in February came from gamblers, some of whom might not have been able to afford the losses."

WATCHDOG:

Two qualified wags of the tail!

Doctors and patients have reason to know and rely on "Best Practices" even if this reduces choice. Also limitations will need to be placed on the amount of extraordinary care available to the elderly. At a certain point in life (and our publisher is about there) and due to high cost of treatment, one has got to be willing to say thank you and good bye.

As for gambling, what has been good for Pennsylvania's revenue has been bad for New Jersey's. On the other hand, legalizing the lottery and slots displaces illegal activities such as the 'Numbers Game' that was a major illicit industry and the less prevalent back room gambling.

Taxing, regulating and controlling the use of marijuana would be consistent with legalizing lottery and slots. It would be far less harmful due to the benign characteristics of the drug (rated as comparable to coffee) as compared to the dangers of legal alcohol, comparable in addiction to heroin and cocaine. (Conclusions from a federal [NIDA] sponsored study.)

Not only would dealing with marijuana as we do alcohol bring great revenue to the state, it would likely reduce the fatalities from drunk driving and liver disease and certainly save billions of dollars in senseless law enforcement and prisons, not to mention preventing the destruction of family lives due to incarcerated parents.