" Funny. This was roughly the same argument used to try to legalize drugs. Thank God they didn't listen then. And they shouldn't listen now. Maybe what I am hearing are the "suggestions" of a bar owner tired of being held accountable for making sure all his/her patrons are legal while hearing the ka-ching of the future sales to be had from the flood of eighteen, nineteen, and twenty year olds.

But wait, this article was written by the editorial board. Nice way to hide.

And on the subject of voting, we do still live in a democracy. All those eighteen, nineteen, and twenty year olds could put their money where their votes are. But I think you will find that a large number of them agree that they are too young. I think that you will find that most of them are rational, thinking human beings who see the problem for what it is: too many people who believe they should be able to do what they want, as much as they want, as often as they want, and to h--l with everybody else.

Hey, I've got an idea. A fifteen year old who commits a major crime can be tried and sentenced as an adult. If they can be treated as adults, maybe the legal age should be fifteen? But didn't I read recently about two young gentlemen, eleven and twelve years old burning down a house? Oh well, let's solve the whole problem and make alcohol legal for everybody.

Lines have to be drawn somewhere, and the ones who are on the no-you-can't side will feel slighted. I believe that the line is best left where it is. If they aren't drinking responsibly now, what makes you think being able to buy as much as they can afford with no effort or legal entanglements will make them responsible.

The only ones who really stand to gain are the sellers. "

" Good response, techo-less. "

" Unfortunately no one appears to be willing to sit down at a table to consider the issues. "

" This argument was settled a long time ago. Are there still problems? Absolutely, but lowering the drinking age to 18 is about the most asinine idea to come along in quite a while. It would solve nothing, and would only result in more drinking, property damage, vandalism, etc and deaths on the highways.

Keep in mind that a lot of 18 year olds are still in high school.

High school kids legally buying alcohol is a very frightening thought.

I suspect those college presidents pushing for it are merely trying to push their problems off onto the communities surrounding their campuses.


From everything I have read, alcohol is the biggest drug problem in this country. Just because it's legal, will not alter the fact that it's a drug and allowing immature teenagers to buy it legally would only compound the problem.

I guess the local paper has forgotten all the problems the good folks of Charleston put up with when they had the underage admittance policies in their fine town.

Charleston, like all small towns will always have an underage drinking problem, but at least with the 21 year old entry age the problems aren't epidemic like they were at one time.

I was glad to see that the new Prez at EIU seems to understand the issue, and isn't ready to jump on the bandwagon and call for this idiotic change in the law.

Perhaps instead of just throwing their hands up to the problems those schools should take a look at EIU and other schools that have actually tackled the problem and see how they have become proactive and are actually addressing the problems with alcohol. From what I have seen EIU's proactive programs have paid dividends. "

" I think it is time for these so called college presidents (excluding EIU,Lake Lands) to go back to school and get re-educated in common sense, binge drinking isn't age related it is partly in due to societies new found forms of entertainment thanks in full to technology boostsof the current century, lazy and sluggish best defines this generation of students that needs to get up and be adults, parents coddle to every whim and spoil,spoil,spoil these kids without any regard to making them be an adult because the world isn't as rough as it used to be or whatever, it's all hog wash nonsense, and of course "they" want the money, it's almost like cigarettes, they sorta complain but love the amount of taxes received from them "

" It isn't just time to have a serious discussion about the drinking age, it is time to have a serious discussion about the alcohol and drug abuse problems. The EIU officials say that they support educational programs. That is important but there is more to stopping the abuse than informing students about the problems with alcohol. Also are those programs in area high schools? Why is it that there are so many repeat offenders and why do so many celebrities fall "off the wagon"? Why do some detox programs work and some programs don't work? Why is AA successful for some and not for others? There are many points that need to be discussed, seriously. "

" Well said nj85

The problem is not an age issue, it's an educational and hard-knock issue. Let's stop trying to put simple band-aides on our problems and get to the meat of the issue. When I went to college an adult 22 years old died of alcohol poisoning after drinking for 48 hours straight during rush week, granted this was merely one event but it at least shows that no age keeps a person from acting immature.

When push comes to shove the issue is about our kids and who we want them to become. Teach them responsibility and stop coddling them or they are going to think they are invincible. It sounds really mean in this era, but let them know the ground hurts when they fall on it. "

" Harry Potter wrote that "Perhaps instead of just throwing their hands up to the problems those schools should take a look at EIU and other schools that have actually tackled the problem and see how they have become proactive and are actually addressing the problems with alcohol. From what I have seen EIU's proactive programs have paid dividends."

Do we have any way to measure the success or "dividends" of those programs, other than the results of student answers on drinking surveys? Is that really accurate and reliable data? Or could students just be answering the way they think they should be answering, because of the programming they've been through as required by the EIU administration.

I'd be interested in seeing whether the Charleston Police and EIU Police also corroborate the claim that drinking is on the decline. Have there been fewer underage drinking, possession, and DUI arrests, and so forth? Fewer house parties? Fewer cases of date rape and other crimes in which alcohol often plays a part?

Let's not get too excited over 2 years worth of survey answers. "

" I would also be curious to know what the local statistics are. I have the impression that there has been more than one drunk driving fatality in this area recently but I don't have the newsarticles to back that up. How does this area compare with other communities of this size with alcohol abuse problems, domestic abuse and child abuse problems which are sometimes alcohol related? "

" Contact Gaye Harrison at the local "I Sing the Body Electric" office (it's in the phone book) for a copy of the extensive survey done each year that shows a decrease in youth drinking over the last several years. I believe this survey covers about 10 counties and is broken down by county, so the various counties can be compared.

As far as EIU information, contact Eric Davidson at the EIU Health Department with your concerns. I'm sure Eric has the numbers to support this.

The information regarding alcohol related incidents can be obtained from the local police departments using the freedom of information laws. "

" With all due respect Mr. Potter, you're merely suggesting that we look at more surveys. How accurate is student self-reporting? Is it not possible that students having been through programs like I Sing the Body Electric or EIU's Alcohol Education Training might feel pressure to report the "correct" behavior in themselves? (And with the I Sing the Body Electric, who is participating -- the average student, or highly-motivated, "good" kids?)

Further, no offense to Ms. Harrison or Mr. Davidson of EIU, but isn't it also possible that these people would have a vested interest in showing positive results of their program? After all, in our current economic climate, if these programs fail to show progress, don't they risk being cut? Wouldn't these folks lose their positions if that happened?

I'd be more interested in hearing from parents, teachers, coaches -- at the high school or college level, who have to deal with the direct effects of alcohol abuse by the underaged. Do they report fewer students showing up to class drunk or hungover? Fewer students missing class/better student attendance? Etc.

Surely there are more accurate ways to measure the depth of the problem or the success of interventions than to rely upon self-reporting of students. "

" To Hahvahd I think you hit part of the problem right on the head, we don't really have accurate or impartial ways to measure success or failure. Self report surveys are always suspect, or should be suspected! Even the surveys that show religious leanings, drug usage, smoking behavior. Sometimes kids report what they think the adults want/expect to hear, that they have smoked marijuana and that they don't drink alcohol! "

" I think a call to Gay Harrison at the ISBE office would clear up some misconceptions about how that program works and the validity of their surveys. I have seen this survey and it is a scientific, well researched instrument, which is administered through the ISBE program and processed by the folks at the U of I. I doubt that it, like any survey is perfect, but this is probably about as accurate as you can get when it come to self disclosing surveys. I have heard Ms Harrison speak and she can do a much better job of explaining her program, and the validity of their survey, than I can. I encourage both of you to contact Ms Harrison for a better explanation than I have provided. I'm not sure, but I think some of this info is on line too.

In addition, I would take exception to the idea that we don't have valid ways of measuring success or failure when it come to alcohol and other drugs problems.

Just one example would be the drastic decrease in incident reports related to alcohol abuse that followed the higher bar entry age that was enacted several years ago in Charleston.

Do some research into this issue and you might be surprised at what you find. "

" To Harry Potter, you are also right, I over stated my point. What is needed is not that I do the research for my own edification, although that is a good idea, BUT that the information be presented to the public. Perhaps this would be a really good time and a good topic for a journalist to do a serious and detailed story about.What are the programs in Coles County, what are their success rates, how does the county compare to other counties? "

" surveys or no i'm sure police statistics will prove worthy "

" So the underlying View in Our View is to lower the drinking age? Charleston used to have a mayor and others that would escort underage women in and buy drinks for them, in bars. Selective inforcement, and respect for some laws is why they go un checked. For the paper to foster further disregard for any law is irresponsible.

Has raising the speed limit had any reduction, in speeding, or traffic accidents? Will reducing them, have any? Consequences, drive someone following laws or not. Education and discussion, only goes so far. Business selling to minors facing compliance checks, has increased. Most alcohol is obtained by someone of legal age, getting it for them. Only part of the problem gets looked at, and constant reasoning as to why it just isn't right 18 - 20 can't drink, gets repeated. Suppose some don't drink because it is illegal. Removing that barrier, and encouraging them to do so is going to reduce problems? Some kids don't graduate high school until 19 or 20. Having it legal for some schoolmates to imbibe, is going to discourage the 14 to 17 year olds more.

The editorial board, anonymously has proposed serious discussions about drinking age. What has it done properly to do so? It presents a biased piece that points to needing to lower the age, yet again. This is not a new topic. This is not a suddeny thrust upon us problem. What steps, proposals, or forums does the meeting of minds behind the Our View put forth or sponsor to delve broadly into underage drinking solutions. Lowering the age, seems to be their only thought on it.

Making the bar entry age the drinking age, has affected positive change. Proper inforcement, consequences, and respect for laws would take further steps to enact more reduction. A bar had 80 minors in it, and still has a business. That has been going on for 20 + years, much of which was with Mr X sitting right there, in his bar. Far from being the only establishment, that has had an underage rep, in that long a time, and rumored long before. Enforcement lacking is why it has gone on for decades. Some "Adults" choosing to turn a blind eye, or to allow or provide alcohol, is a different shade of the same problem.

Would the paper like high school graduation parties to legally have a beer tent, to be put on at local bars, or what exactly is it trying to say?

Reducing the age, will not reduce the problems. They will increase times 10, if not more. To think that making it more accessable, would make it more responsibly used, is completely lacking common sense.

Did the meeting of minds dig into who sponsors or supports the Amethyst Initiative and its activities, before citing them in the article, or is just because it was in an AP article, substance enough to present them and their activities. It seems the paper kinda blames MADD and other like goaled groups for underage drinking, since it proports that the drinking age which they had a hand in enacting, is having no effect. If it isn't discouraging it, it is the lack of enforcing it, not the law that is the problem. As is the case with many laws.

New or more laws, is rarely the answer, especially when enforcement and consequence are so broadly lacking in the first place. "

" A thoughtful comment Mike P. Those that choose not to enforce laws, look the other way, are part of what I am talking about with my letter "Voices of Evil". It is a harsh word, evil, but those that enable destructive/unlawful behavior, are in my opinion just that and should be held accountable and accept part of the blame when tragedies occur. "

" Wiki page on Amethyst Initiative, and their sponsor Choose Responsibility, shed some light on where most of the anonymously compiled thought derived from. Comparing apples to oranges, to produce favorable results is the bottom line. Studies on other societies say that "21" limits how they can respond to underage drinking. Other countries don't have the mix of issues tied to their 18 to 20 year olds. Most societies aren't as widely personally mobile, first and foremost. I will leave more interpretation to those who read the wiki on those two groups. Note the paralels to this piece while there. Unfortunate journalism, I would say but then again this is an anonymous OP ED piece, so wiki might have been one of the groups represented at the meeting of the minds. "

" To Mike P. the wikipedia article I found argues that only 38-58 percent of the MADD articles actually support the claim that the 21 drinking age is effective. (I paraphrase) But then it doesn't say what the other articles support, are they just neutral and not conclusive? I'd guess quite possibly if they showed proof that lowering the age was effective wouldn't they have stressed that point? I think that there needs to be a serious look at substance abuse, treatment and corrections programs. It seems to me that nationwide programs aren't working with young folks since abuse statistics are on the rise. "

" To Mike P I have been thinking some more about your comment on the other thread about the issue of using a psedonym when posting. You mentioned that people need to feel safe, free from threats of violence for expressing their opinions. That really is a very sad indictment of the state of our society. When people are afraid to speak up in a free state we really aren't any different than a society where people are afraid to speak up in a totalitarian or Communist state. I think this issue is one that our society should address. "

" 1. Being old enough to serve your country should have no impact upon one's right to drink...that is comparing apples to oranges.
2. Where are the examples of responsible drinking today: on t.v. and in movies, I don't think so; from parents and other adults, not likely, because they are of the generation when hard drugs was chosen over alcohol.
3. By changing the legal age to 18 you are saying people with 2 years driving experience should be allowed to help increase the number of drivers under the influence.
Also, drugs and alcohol have become more accessible to teens, let's solve that problem and many others first.
There is plenty more to be said...but the focus should be on providing hope, better alternatives, more jobs and development of legitimate responsibilities before we lower the drinking age. "

" "When people are afraid to speak up in a free state we really aren't different than a society where people are afraid to speak up in a totalitarian or communist state."

Actually, there is quite a large difference, thank you very much. Here the speaker may be afraid to allow their friends and neighbors know what they think if it runs contrary to those peoples views. They may also be afraid of attracting the crack-pot element to their front doors. The government does try to provide some defense, but their officers cannot be everywhere at all times.

In a totalarian or communist state, the government knows who you are and their henchmen are the ones to turn up at your door some lonely night. People have a habit of disappearing there quite frequently, and often quite permanantly.

I agree that we could be much better at accepting other peoples opinions, but to make such a comparison is going a little bit to the extreme. We will never be able to solve any problem by making it appear worse than it is and then challenging people to correct it.

In this country we are free to be totally upfront or totally anonymous, depending on the level of personal comfort. I only made my comment about the writers hiding because they are speaking of the problem not from a sole individual perspective but as those speaking for the newspaper. Had this letter/article been sent in by an average citizen, they would have required their identification and would have published it in bold type. I believe that the "editorial board" should be polite enough to do the same.

I would like to call attention to an even larger problem, as already mentioned. That would be extremism. I often read the comments on many of these sections, and do not often choose to comment. However, lately I have noticed an overabundance of the use of the word evil, in many cases applied to those who only think differently from the user of that word. Humans can behave well, or they can behave badly. They can even behave very badly. But to be evil requires a belief in a God and a Devil, with the latter in control.

Humans are capable of great evils, but to call every example of poor behavior evil is somewhat arrogant. Hitler was evil. The guy next door who didn't know that his neighbor was molesting his children probably couldn't conceive that anyone within his circle of people were capable of such actions. To expect him to spend his life peeking into windows just in case the neighbor is committing such vile acts is a bit of a stretch. Most people do not even consider committing vile acts. To not see that their friends and neighbors are isn't evil. It is human nature to believe that the people you know and respect are just like you.

Most people are the way that they are because of the times and the training they were put through as children. We may dislike their ways, and we may wish to change their ways, but unless we approach them about it with compassion and understanding we are not really all that much better. And to point fingers and scream "its their fault, lets get them" is a communist/totalitarian tactic. It worked for Hitler very well. "

" For everyone's information: The JG/T-C Editorial Board is made up of Carl Walworth, publisher; Bill Lair, managing editor; Harry Reynolds, opinions page editor; Beth Heldebrandt, features editor; and Penny Weaver, news editor. This information is printed on the Opinions page, A5, in each day's newspaper. Like most editorial boards, traditionally, at most newspapers, the editorial board is made up of top managers and its opinions represent the opinion of the newspaper as a whole. The opinions expressed by an editorial board traditionally are arrived at through discussion of the board, and one member writes the editorial on behalf of all. I just thought clarification on the role of an editorial board might be helpful. Thanks. Penny Weaver, news editor. "

" Clarification of many aspects of roles when it comes to a newspaper, might be in order. Lets get the Our View on what exactly responsibilities are, in the responsible rolls. Coverage, and depth are lacking. Content is more of released information, than actual asking questions to determine unbiased facts. From the coverage in springfield, to right here at home, readers deserve more than has been done. Is this going to remain the standard, or can we expect better? "

" Techno-less if you are beaten up by a neighbor or the gestapo doesn't make much difference to the one who is beat up. Free speech requires a sense of security if it is to be free. It may be a difficult concept for you to grasp but you can't have one without the other. Now as to "evil" I suggest you read the definition given in my letter which is the definition given by Peck. That is also a difficult concept to grasp, that evil isn't connected with demons and devils other than what is within each individual. To save you the trouble of going to the source, "Evil is that which keeps someone from reaching their true potential". In this context I think there can be many degrees, levels, you might say that evil is a continuum with extremes of goodness on one end and extremes of evilness on the other. Most of us vascilate back and forth in the middle, neither all good or all bad, but a little of both. Until we can see "evil" for what it is many of our problems will not be solved. Part of seeing "evil" for what it is involves what Ms. Weaver said in her column, learning to accept full responsibility for your actions. I might insert "consequences" of your actions. Something that is very difficult for most humans to do. "

" Told ya I give it within the day.
LOL! "

" The difference is that in a free society you can go to the authorities for help, since the act of the neighbor is against the laws established by the government. When you are beaten up by the gestapo you have no where to go. They are part of the government. You can call a hot dog a tuning fork, but you still can't use it to adjust your piano.

Maybe I should clarify my statement. Many may be embarrassed to reveal their true feelings/ideas for all to see (there are many levels to fear, and not all of them involve bodily harm.) I stand by my point. In a free society people are free to express their opinions either openly or anonymously as their level of comfort allows. And in a free society, they can express these opinions (as long as they are not slanderous) without fear of government back lash.

Maybe they believe in the old axiom: Fool's names, like fool's faces, do oft appear in public places." "

" Lowering the age will allow my 46 year old ex in bar to date younger females.
I dont think many dads would want him dating theirs, he is drunk daily, plays slots til broke, no gas in truck get to job and want cigs if finds some woman with a job, and bipolar. I do think before lowering, this type person should be considered giving access to the barely legal gals who deserve better. "

" Techno-less in a free society you can't go to the authorities for help you can go to the authorities to SEEK justice. Help comes before the act is committed. It is well known that police can do very little until a crime is actually committed. Restraining orders are also not very effective. But to think that someone might have to get a restraining order against someone else just so they can speak freely is a severe indictment against our "free democratic" society. "

" I should have added to the last line: to think that anyone should have to seek a restraining order or use a pseudonym in order to speak freely is a severe endictment of our democratic society. "

" One other concept to consider. In my book I devote a section to the problems facing our society. In the introduction to the section I mention four major problems. If I were to do a rewrite I would add a fifth. The first two problems are Over Population and Environmental Degradation. I won't go into those. The next two problems are a general lack of Civility and Fanatacism. Civility is/are those unwritten rules of polite behavior that allow people to somehow live together in some form of harmony for the benefit of all. They aren't binding legal laws enforced by police and military forces, presidents and dictators. They are rules of polite behavior. Such rules include address concepts of civil discourse so that people can feel safe and feel encouraged to voice an opinion and speak up in public forums. Fanaticsim is different from extremeism. You can be an extremist and not be a fanatic. The fifth problem that I would add to this list is Hubris. "

" Well, you have been running off at the mouth for what sounds like some time now, and you're still out there running around. Sounds pretty free to me. "

" I think that a lot of the drinking binge problems of our youth stems from years and years of having to be #1. In today's society, if your not "the best" at whatever it is you are doing, you are considered a failure. For 12 to 13 years, these kids have been told to compete, compete, compete but only #1 counts. The pressure is immeasurable. Once they can get out, get away from that kind of pressure, they blow off steam and take it way to far. We need to go back to teaching them for the sake of learning itself. Not just being #1. "

" Techno-less that is because I have made the commitment to address issues under my own name, if I have to do so in a written Letter to the Editor there really isn't any reason not to do so here. Considering the population of this area, what proportion do you think are actually speaking and getting involved? Less than 1/2 of 1% or 1/10 of 1%? Democracies can't be sustained in silence. "

" Mama says wrote on Aug 27, 2008 1:37 AM:
" Lowering the age will allow my 46 year old ex in bar to date younger females.
I dont think many dads would want him dating theirs, he is drunk daily, plays slots til broke, no gas in truck get to job and want cigs if finds some woman with a job, and bipolar. I do think before lowering, this type person should be considered giving access to the barely legal gals who deserve better. """"

i probably know what drove him to drink. "

" Neither can a democracy survive if everyone is being brow-beaten into tackling one person's pet set of issues as if they are not free to select their own. But then again, you do not recognize anyone's accomplishments in this area if those accomplishments do not follow your personal agenda. Nearly everyone that I know is involved in something, but you would discount this because you only see your own involvements as having value.

But what was it that I read. You have written a book. Now I understand. Letters to the Editor aren't just stomping grounds to air views. They are also a source of free advertising. Trying to stir up a little interest there are we? Whet people's appetites for more? I can't speak for others, but I can say that I have certainly heard enough. I think that I will follow the advice offered in that other set of comments following your last letter. Silence. I am done listening and talking to you, kid. Good luck with the sales. "

" Techno-less am I "brow beating" you because I express a different viewpoint in an attempt to explore an issue in depth? Or should I just listen to your wisdom and not make any response? This format is to be two-way, it isn't a place to pontificate. Every statement I make leaves open an opportunity for response, development of further questions and concepts. Has the concept of true dialogue, a back and forth exchange of ideas been truly lost, because someone is intimidated by someone who is articulate, or someone isn't intimidated by a challenging statement and responds? If all we ever do is state our opinion and ignore what others say without responding, we don't get any where do we? We are then talking AT each other not WITH each other. "

" Hillary did not win the popular vote!!!!In the democratic primary, raising your hand in a caucus counts as a vote. More people chose Obama than did Hillary. This is why we have all these disgruntled people. She stayed in after it was impossible for her to win. The lie she kept repeating was that she had the popular vote, and the media didn,t even dare correct her. She was not counting the caucus wins by Obama and they MATTER. So please quit repeating her lie. "

" Ms. Susie Soapbox loves to suck people into her world of mental malarkey under the guise of goodness.

Beware, Techno-less!
LOL!

Great post at 3:10 pm! "

" Thanks Rotty. I discovered that a little late.

The irony is that I just read this response to someone's apology for bad humor in a book:

"You haven't spit on dogs or cussed Christians, so I guess it's all right."

I have also been thinking about that line from "Steel Magnolias."

"I ain't crazy, May Lynn. I've just been in a bad mood for forty years."

I am new at these postings. How long has this been going on? I once watched someone keep a rather annoying criminology student ranting for hours just by using the same two words over and over: "you're wrong" and occasionally "you're still wrong". Sounds to me like this one has been ranting for years! That's a record breaker! "

" Ole No-Clue-Sue has gone on for far too long with her too good to be true blue stories, & her mountain top enlightment madness.

But that's OK, she's atleast good for a few cheap thrills & some comedy relief.
LOL!

Oh, she's a tongue twister alright, if you say one word, or a thousand, Mayhem Mary will always twist-n-shout until her fingers are worn to the bones.

She may be a spunky little spitter, but as long as she keeps it up, I'm sure plenty of others will do the same.

It's the nature of the beast.
LOL!

Take Care & Have A Good One, Techno-less

Welcome Aboard To The Forum Follies!
LOL!
:-) "

" father bob,,,,,,it was his small brainhead and his guilt. After 15
years I gaveup. He has 100 lb methhead now and I have younger man than he, and
this one doesn't drink and lots of fun.
I AM NOT PAYING FOR ANYTHING, and hope the methhead makes enough money support them both. hehe. "

" State Age-21 laws are one of the most effective public policies ever implemented in the Nation...I am chagrined to report that some supposedly responsible officials would like to repeal them.


Jim Hall, Chairman
National Transportation Safety Board "

" May I interrupt this gab-fest to wish everyone a fun holiday weekend.

And for the public service part of the announcement.....Don't forget to ICE your cell phones!

For the uninitiated, this means adding the letters ICE in front of the names on your phone lists that you wish to be your emergency contact numbers. This will put all of your emergency contacts in the same area of the list. If you are ever too sick or injured to give out that information, the paramedics can check your cell phone to find out who to call.

LET'S PUT EVERYONE ON ICE!!!! "

" HP, Your suggestion about contacting Gaye Harrison and getting some worthwhile information about the underage drinking problem is a good one. I've been a friend of Gaye's for about thirty years now. She is a person of the highest integrity and would never "pad" a report with stats that weren't accurate to keep the grant money rolling in. It's just not in her character to do so.

She is genuinely concerned about her fellow human beings and ways to make things better. She has a heart as big as all outdoors. I know that sounds like a tired old cliche, but it describes her. She can be tough too when a situation calls for it.

By the way, she plays a "mean" fiddle and mandoline too! :-) She's a woman of many talents and her musical and artisic talents have helped open doors to young people by encouraging them to explore their talents in productive ways instead of wasting them on self-destructive behaviors. Go Gaye! "

" National Traffic Highway Administration finding that the raised drinking age policy saves around 900 lives a year. Traffic reports show a 62% decrease in alcohol fatalities among teen drivers since 1982. Raw numbers show that drunk driving fatalities have definitely dropped since the early 1980s; despite an 88% increase in the number of miles driven, 2007 saw over 8,000 fewer total alcohol-related traffic fatalities than 1982. "

" You're right Billy, I have met her and she is a class act, her enthusiasm for helping kids is quite apparent. People who pour their heart into what they do are a joy to be around. I would imagine she puts the same effort into her music. I'll have to check that out sometime. How did the move go? No more moles for you to fight, huh? LOL! "

" HP- All moved and settled in. I still have some work to do in the new digs, but most of it is done. Yea! No more moles! Now I just have to get used to the noise in town! lol!

As far as Gaye's music, it isn't an effort for her. It just "pours" out of her "pores"! I've had the pleasure of playing and singing with Gaye many times over the years. She and I were even in the same little band at one time. She, Althea and Wendy still give me great pleasure when they let me do a number or two with them. Gaye's talent sure has been passed on to her wonderful daughter. That lucky young lady got a double whammy of talent! Her dad is an exceptional musician too!

You bet Gaye's a class act! She's a "people person" of the highest order! She's been on my "favorites" list since the first time we met. "

" WELL NOW......I wonder how long it will be before it will be considered to legalize any and every kind of drugs??????????? "

" techno less your back???? I can't believe how off topic things become in here "

" Compost happens, injustice85.
LOL!
:-) "