January 24, 2006

Dear Sir,

The NDC's recent radio ads about the effects of ecstasy use contain false claims about the drug. By spreading disinformation about ecstasy, the NDC fails Bermuda in two ways.

Firstly, they create mistrust between themselves and potential users of the drug. This leads to all information from them being perceived with scepticism and an undermining of their own authority.

Secondly, they create a false atmosphere of peril that sees Bermuda willingly spend public funds on tactics that do not work, and on perpetuating the current structure of unjustified authority that they and Government offices hold.

One claim made in the ads that is easily refutable is that ecstasy causes long-term brain damage. While it is known that heavy, sustained use of the drug causes short-term memory problems, the long-term effects are unknown. Interestingly, it is also known that infrequent use of the drug at lower levels causes no harm and this type of user shows no deficiency in cognitive performance. (Gamma A, Buck A, et al. (2001) No difference in brain activation during cognitive performance between Ecstasy (MDMA) users and controls: a [H2(15)O- PET study, J Clin Psychopharmacol, 21(1):66-71). From this we can see that responsible use of ecstasy may not be harmful at all. The next claim is that ecstasy is an addictive drug.

Ecstasy is not physically addicting, like crack, nicotine, or caffeine are. Some users do become psychologically addicted to ecstasy. It is thought that this is due to the drug's regulation of serotonin levels and that people with such an addiction are treating undiagnosed depression. If somebody should find themselves taking the drug with the same regularity as one girl in the radio ads (several pills a day) they should seek treatment for depression. It is irresponsible of the NDC to keep this information from people who may have this type of serious health problems.

Another claim is that ecstasy can lead to death. There have been no known cases of ecstasy overdose, period. Some common side-effects can include dehydration, dizziness, and fatigue, but not death. It is true that people taking MAOI's (a type of drug used to treat severe depression) should never take ecstasy as there can be serious and near-fatal problems associated with taking both of these drugs simultaneously. Again, the NDC fails to give this information to the public, which could be crucial in keeping our kids safe.

The final mistruth I will address is that ecstasy is "gateway" drug. The NDC doesn't say which drugs it considers to be 'harder' than ecstasy, so I will suppose they mean crack and heroin. An analogy of this logic is that most robbers are also jaywalkers, therefore jaywalking is a gateway crime that leads to burglary. The truth is that many of us jaywalk, few of us are robbers. Of the many users of ecstasy, very few go on to smoke crack or shoot heroin. The gateway theory of drug use was discredited at least ten years ago.

In fact, most of the 'truths' on the radio ads are either misleading or flat-out wrong. This is irresponsible at best and criminal at worst. Worldwide, research has shown that if we educate our children on the truths of recreational drugs, they will make informed decisions and that user rates will go down. Prohibitionist attitudes, on the other hand, create an environment of mistrust and an allure to drugs. In the end, children in this environment will make poor choices about if and how to use these drugs.

The only people who benefit from these deceitful ads are those who are currently in positions of authority. User rates increase, so more funds are diverted to the NDC and to the Police. This of course makes them happy as a pig in you-know-what. The public becomes distracted from real issues, such as Government accountability, and focuses on the exaggerated problem of drugs.

The irony is that we are diverted from the fact that Government is largely accountable for the drug problems that we do have. This allows Government to keep the public at an arm's-length and to maintain its authority over us, and the cycle continues. Eventually, this will catch up to us, but by then it may be too late. I urge the NDC to be truthful in its ads and to help us work towards a more responsible, safer future.

Aligned with fat cats

January 24, 2006

Dear Sir,

I hope you will allow a reply to Philip Cracknell whose letter 'Mirror the PLP? No way!' was published in your Friday, January 20, paper. In this letter, Mr. Cracknell writes to critique the current PLP Government and extol the virtues of the 'New' UBP, detailing why we should elect them back to power. He gushes forth the following virtues of a UBP Government: They would be '?the true article, with the added bonuses of class, breeding, decency and fiscal competency.' What a delightful description of a UBP reign.

In fairness let us review Mr. Cracknell's critique of the current PLP Government. In short he describes them as a wolf in sheep's clothing, much like the British Labour party under Blair's leadership. I will not quarrel with you here. I agree, just as Blair is the true heir of Thatcher in the UK, Smith-Scott have (so far) been the true heirs of Swan in Bermuda. The current leadership has essentially carried on the same programme of the UBP, cloaking it in the rhetoric of social democracy and racialism.

There is however an important difference between a UBP-esque PLP and the UBP itself. The PLP is organically connected to the working class of Bermuda, it grew out of the labour movement, it is dependent on it for its very existence. The leadership may have adopted the trappings of the old Masters, with copious champagne, first class travel, and honorary awards from Her Majesty, but it cannot ignore its dependency on the labour movement. It may try to pull the wool over the eyes of the grassroots with its empty rhetoric and racialistic nonsense, but unless it actually acts in the interests of labour, even if only slightly more than the UBP, the wolves' deception is fully exposed and the rogue defeated. The PLP must by its organic dependency work more in the interests of the workers than the UBP or it ceases to exist.

Likewise, the UBP, the party of the bosses, cannot help but act in the interest of the bosses, interests that are seldom, if ever, the same as the workers. Though the leadership may have wandered astray, they cannot totally escape the power of the grassroots, and the party branches might yet be the 'Akeldama' for these Judases. (Repent, Peter, the cock has not yet crowed!)

But enough with the PLP leadership, what can one say about Mr. Cracknell's great expectations of the new UBP? An added bonus of class? Rule of the bosses' class is no added bonus to us workers. We had such rule for centuries and learned well to dislike it. The current leadership may wish to fill that role, but for how long do they expect that to last? An added bonus of breeding? The PLP is said to be racialisitic, but what is one to make of this statement? Away with your eugenics and spectres of swastikas! An added bonus of decency? If by this you meant greater experience at cover-ups and spin, perhaps one must agree here. Fiscal competency? We well know what this means coming from the likes of the UBP. The laid off workers of Ford know it well also. The bottom line and nothing else ? Apres moi, le deluge! Decades of fiscal competency meant neglecting long term consequences and we are now reaping a healthy crop of social and ecological crises today. Return the UBP to power? I think not.

The present PLP leadership may well be a wolf in sheep's clothing, but the UBP was, is and always will be nothing more than a clutter of big fat cats. It matters little to us if they are lions, tigers, panthers or pumas. Just as the saying goes, a leopard can't change its spots, and so with big fat cats, they can no more hide their teeth, claws and natural instincts than grow wings and breathe water. It is said truth is like oil and floats on the water of lies. The same is true of the UBP, new or otherwise. The UBP is the party of the bosses, it cannot be anything else. A wolf in sheep's clothing is better than a pride of lions, for the wolf must be careful not to expose itself lest it be ejected from the midst of the sheep. That day may not be far off, but vote for the UBP? No way!

J. STARLING

Hamilton Parish

Falling on deaf ears

February 25, 2006

Dear Sir,

"Enough is enough". "When is the madness going to stop?" "Something has to be done". "Somebody has to do something." "What is going on?" How many times over the past 20 years or more have we heard these words coming out of the mouths of the responsible citizens of this land? Yet in all this time it has only fallen on completely deaf ears. Every time there are a number of accidents a Police spokesperson will "beg" the community to "use more care and caution", and again, this falls on deaf ears. The only words that will be heard loud and clear are "You will lose your licence for the next number of years!" or, "Your new address will be Westgate!"

It is not only the speeding, it is the complete indifference to the laws of the road, going through red lights, pulling out from the kerb or making turns without indicating, double parking, and the list goes on and on, and the worst offenders are on two wheels.

When you go for a licence for the first time you are given a book telling you the rules of the road, so why are they not enforced? When you go away for several weeks you come back and see clearer how really, really bad the situation is here. In Florida there are little 90-year-old ladies hopping along in their Lincoln Continentals at 50 mph with more savvy than most of the drivers on this Island, and they don't have to be re-tested every few years over 65, they can renew their licence through the mail.

A caller on one of the talk shows stated that Bermudians have always driven like this, it's the higher volume of traffic causing the problem. On this I have to disagree. Yes, there is a lot more traffic, but the rules used to be stricter. There were more radar traps for one, although these were only effective for short periods because the taxi drivers would tip everyone off where the traps were located, and there always seemed to be more police around, bikes making their own lanes was definitely not tolerated.

The disappearance of the Parish Constable is a good example of the lack of Police presence, which is probably why there is an increase in break-ins also. I remember in 1954 being stopped by a policeman driving a Morris Station Wagon and cautioning me for travelling at 24.5mph on my Mobylette along the South Shore in Devonshire!

SEEING IT AS IT IS

Pembroke

Food was fabulous

January 26, 2006

Dear Sir,

I have something good to say about our hospital. I happened to be a patient for five days last week and every single meal was superb. I got what I asked for and it tasted like good, home cooking.

I think often when people have bad reports about the food, it is because they may have problems like a cardiac condition or diabetes which means you cannot have regular food. My organs were healthy and I had regular food and it tasted good!