Across the water

Re: "Matty sinks lower" (Nov. 9), all of what you have said may be true, but as a Canadian I can say that we have a tendency toward socialism (health, transportation, communications, etc.). Whether the location is right or not, for the governments of Canada to intrude into the private sector competing with existing businesses is not the way it should work. I am tired of the mantra about bridge traffic going through the center of Windsor — not so; it's way out on the west side. Jobs will come with whoever builds it. Economic prosperity comes the same way. As for it being a terrorist target? Downriver won't stop or prevent that. Seems to me the $550 million given to the U.S. side in order for them to join the party, is a payoff, bribe, "contribution" as much as Moroun is accused of.

If Canada wants to build a bridge, first buy out Moroun at a fair price arrived at by negotiation, not expropriation. —Dick Robarts, Windsor

Positive vibes

Thank you for focusing on those who are improving Detroit and work to create a positive image for the area like Jack Lessenberry's column ("Aiming at Goliath", Oct. 26) on state Sen. Bert Johnson, and John Carlisle's story ("Brush with fate," Oct. 26) about Robert Watson. While we may gravitate to stories of corruption and impropriety among some highly visible area leaders, it is important to provide examples of positive role models who inspire and set a higher standard for us. —Bill Hahn Jr., Birmingham

Diablos forever

Re: "The basement chronicles" (Oct. 19), I read the feature with happy memories of Detroit, rock 'n' roll, the amazing music scene that evolved there, and the happy thought that rock and the musicians that gave it to us will never go softly into that dark night but keep the fires burning to warm us always. Thanks for painting those pictures! —Kathy Evangelista, Pasadena, Md.

POST MORTEM

In response to last week's letter from "drug recognition expert emeritus" Thomas E. Page, M.A., the GCW posted:

Thomas E. Page wants to compare the relatively safe God-given plant cannabis with LSD, cocaine, methamphetamine and PCP. Shame on him. They are worlds apart and expose the failure of caging responsible adults for using the plant. And driving? Cannabis is far safer than driving with alcohol. If a person can legally drive after drinking a glass of wine or beer, then people can drive while using cannabis and be less dangerous on the roads. When rational citizens research the cannabis issue, cannabis prohibition's support goes down the drain. Sorry, Page, people are no longer buying the lies, half-truths and propaganda that cannabis prohibition requires.

And Tony Aroma posted:

Interesting that Mr. Page doesn't want his doctor, dentist, police officer, child-care worker or professor to use marijuana, but he's OK with them using alcohol, another mind-altering drug. Am I missing something here? The implication is that if marijuana becomes legal, everyone will be using it on the job and pretty much all the time. So, logically, it follows that if alcohol is legal, those same people would be using it all the time. I'd think Page would be equally bothered by the current situation as he is with his theoretical future scenario. 

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