Mike Barnhill
Ashland
Dear Editor:
Change is a difficult subject for most of us. We like our selected TV programs, news services, foods, drinks, time we go to bed and so on. Small wonder, the challenge of changing our mindset seems so difficult. Change is usually made by attempting more or less of what we've tried previously to solve a difficulty. With that in mind of either doing more or less of the same thing, please consider the subject of law enforcement.
In the past, we've tried heavy fines or jail time to limit marijuana use. Many states are now allowing the use. So you see again the heavy and light answer to drug addiction. We are now hearing the suggestion that law enforcement agencies, namely local police forces, are to have funds cuts. Before, we did not have enough police to enforce law in our urban centers. Now it seems, because of documented police brutality, that their funds may be curtailed. Will that solve the problems of enforcing law and order in our country? I suppose we can only give it a try. Real change needs to be tried instead of the old more or less of the same thing. What that type of change requires is anybody's guess, but the same old ways don't seem to be working.
We could use some good ideas from our political leaders, namely our current president and his advisers. However, he's still humming the tune to "Lock Her Up" made famous in his Toledo, Ohio, campaign rally almost four years ago. So I doubt we'll receive any worthy suggestions from him.