I feel I spend far too much time in this space poking holes in foolish, ill-conceived ideas.
I hate that. I don’t want to be a grinch, but I can’t help it. Someone has to defend against constant assaults of insanity unleashed on us by those who, apparently, have more idle time than good sense.
You would think that some proposals are just so preposterous, on the surface, that they wouldn’t get much support anyway. But it never fails to surprise me the praise some of the most idiotic proposals can receive once they roll around in the minds of those who make decisions based more on emotions than reason.
The latest comes from some group called the Kentucky Narcotics Officers’ Association. Essentially, they are asking the state legislature to support making over-the-county medications that contain pseudoephedrine available only by prescription.
The whole idea here is to make it harder for criminals to make methamphetamine. Pseudoephedrine is an essential component in the manufacture of illegal drug.
But so is lantern fuel, anhydrous ammonia, coffee filters, the list goes on. Are we going to make people get special permits or something to buy those items?
What if some chemist comes up with a way to turn toothpaste into the newest form of hillbilly crack? Are people going to have to get a prescription "drug" so they can brush their teeth?
On the surface of it, to any reasonable person, this is an insane idea by the KNOA. I never underestimate, though, the credence people will give ideas that spring from a desire to bolster law enforcement efforts, no matter how inconvenient they make life on the average person or circumvent our liberty.
This one is so bad on so many levels.
At last check, only about 33 percent of the workforce in this country has affordable health insurance provided by their employer. Everyone else is either on their own or they get it from the government. I looked at my last doctor bill from a year ago and the office visit alone was $80. And that was to see a physician’s assistant, not even a real doctor! So it’s going to be $80 out of someone’s pocket to get a prescription for a $5 sinus pill. Is the KNOA trying to make sure we all go bankrupt in our efforts to breath free?
The ironic thing about it all is that arguably the BIGGEST problem in the War on Drugs is with PRESCRIPTION painkillers. We know how effective that effort has been.
I know some doctors now that are hesitant to give prescriptions for some very effective medicines for fear they will run afoul of the law.
There is also just the inconvenience factor there too. Already, you have to sign a log when you buy any products with pseudoephedrine in them. If you go over a certain amount in a month’s time, you can be arrested, even if you NEVER made meth in your life. This almost happened to fellow News Journal reporter Mark White who was the target of police suspicion because he was taking advantage of a sale on Claritin a few years ago.
I think the Methcheck database is an effective enough tool for law enforcement agencies. No sense in making life harder for busy people just trying to scratch out the best life they can.
I don’t think we should craft our laws to cater to what the dumbest of our citizens will do, at the expense of everyone else.
I hope legislators take a common sense approach to this proposal if it ever makes to the form of a bill.
