Congressman Radel's "Problems"

How about tossing Trey Radel out of Congress, for life?  He failed a drug test, badly, and so he should be recalled immediately and prevented from ever running for Public Office again.

Does that seem too harsh?

That's exactly what Radel voted for, with regard to Food Stamps.  Fail a drug test and you're disqualified.

Ironically, there is some logic to the idea of giving drug tests to those applying for Food Stamps, as long as it isn't a disqualifier.  The costs of giving those using drugs a course of intensive therapy would be far, far less costly than imprisoning them in a street bust.  You know, like the one that nabbed the Congress-critter.  Who was all drunk, so he had to repeatedly score coke in order to...   in order to what?  Sober up?

The logic of the "Rob Ford" defense is dubious, at best.  Can Radel point to any incidents of public intoxication?  None have been mentioned.

The idea of buying a highly illegal and addictive drug in order to self-medicate one's alcohol problem is...   what would you call it?  Astoundingly poor judgment?

A childhood friend's father was a Doctor who apparently had a drinking problem and attempted to deal with it by taking Morphine instead.  How's that for questionable judgment?  Apparently that is a fairly common phenomena among Physicians.  One could even suggest that working in a hospital was as dangerous as living in a bad neighborhood where drugs were readily available.

Let's start talking about drug abuse, instead of letting it be the cash cow of the Prison/Industrial Complex.  Poor guys without good legal representation?  Send 'em to the local Prison, which incidentally is run by a private corporation, who in some cases are giving Judges "back-handers" for sending them healthy inmates, who can be put to work at slave labor wages in order to enrich the parent Corporation.  Seriously, isn't that a gussied-up modern form of slavery, with about ten or twenty moral shortfalls involved?

How on EARTH can we permit bullshit like that to continue to thrive in our "exceptional" country?  In Bangladesh one might expect it, or in Romania or Zimbabwe.  But here?  In our country?  in 2013?

Can some tech guru divert their attention and resources from the exploration of an endless lifespan or space and please set up an organization to focus on the plight of the hundreds of thousands who should NOT be in prison, but instead should be out in the community, under close supervision and counseling.  Oh gosh, just like Congressman Radel says would be appropriate for him.

I'm going to give Radel the benefit of the doubt.  It is possible that he will come to his senses and realize what a hypocritical dick he has been, with his vote against Food Stamps.  He may also (let's hope) become a voice for less imprisonment.  If he was poor and black, he'd be in prison right now.  Guaranteed. If he grasps that truth, and has an ounce of moral sense, this could in theory turn him into a far, far better and more principled man.

Or else he can continue to be a Republican Tea Party douche.  He has an opportunity to become a better and decent human being.  What he does with that opportunity will be worth watching.  But in the meantime, resignation would probably be the most appropriate step.  That should give him a lot more time to get therapy and reconsider his views on life, instead of him rushing through an upscale "rehab" clinic and rushing back out to try to cling to his Congressional seat.  That's a recipe for disaster.

Arthur