Many issues in today’s society?

Dear Editor: What is happening to our society? First, the drug problem. It’s pretty clear that the politicians, leaders and judicial system are unable to solve the drug epidemic and deaths from drugs.

Why can’t they go after the dealers and pushers? In lots of countries, the punishment is the death penalty or a very long prison sentence for anyone caught with more than enough drugs for personal use. We don’t have the death penalty here, but what about bringing back hard labour?

This is cruel and unusual punishment the “do gooders” will say. What about all the deaths they have caused? Our society (the judicial system) punishes the victims more than the criminals.

The criminals go to jail and get treated better than most seniors and veterans. That is a bloody shame. The dealers get a slap on the wrist and the victims are dead forever. The police arrest the dealers, they go before a judge, released on a promise to appear and are selling drugs the same day.

It’s frustrating as hell for the cops, I’ll bet. It’s time our law makers got some spine and backbone and make laws that will deter the dealers.

Secondly, the needle exchange is a joke. Give the addicts needles to inject the drugs that they use funded by money stolen from good law-abiding citizens. Doesn’t make sense to me.

If things do not change, the carnage will continue. Will this fall on deaf ears?

Third, the homeless. I do feel sorry for most of the homeless, especially those with mental illness. Sadly, everywhere they stay, they leave those places in a shambles with needles everywhere. Will that suddenly change if housing was built for them? Any place that would be provided would have to be supervised or it would be in shambles before not too long.

Fourth, and probably the touchiest issue, I believe everyone — and I mean everyone — in our society should pay their fair share of taxes. The money just keeps pouring out, but then again, the taxpayers have an unlimited supply. Or, our political leaders could just conjure up another tax.

The many passive Canadians will never complain.

And lastly, one I’ve written in about before. We are paying the highest gas prices in North America because of the taxes our politicians have imposed on us. I have never seen one of our so-called elected MLAs respond to any letters that readers have sent in in the past.

Politicians can afford the high cost of gas because we pay them well, too damn well, and with a gold-plate pension. Bob Harris Kelowna