Letters and comments for March 11, 2011

Double standard?

To the Editor:

It was reported on the news out of Portland that the OSP is randomly stopping motorists and checking for DUI.

The citizens are declaring that this is unconstitutional.

If that is found to be true, what does that ruling do for random alcohol and drug testing? Will this mean that the courts are upholding a double standard?

The federal Supreme Court overruled this argument some time ago.

Citizens, unions and state courts did nothing. We have only ourselves to blame.

Think about this: Courts uphold the rights of citizens in the Constitution, not privileges. A court can, however, put stipulations on those privileges. The main way of doing this is by withholding federal dollars — call this, sanctions.

The state cowers, unions cave and citizens bury their heads in the sand as long as it does not directly affect them.

In the end, it comes down to this: Just because it is a law, that doesn’t make it right. All the law enforcement, courts, even the military, cannot enforce a law that the majority of citizens will not accept.

We are lucky! The federal government will not enforce a law that requires all licensed drivers to submit to random testing. It is too big a job ... for now.

J.L. Nelson

La Grande

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