Letters 7/20/06

July 19, 2006

My drug experience
I was reading your first piece about the lady addicted to drugs, and must say you have done a fantastic job with a very difficult subject. (re: “A Mother, A Daughter & a Drug Dealer,“ 7/13)
From my own personal experience addicted to methamphetamines -- over 20 years ago now -- I can say it is one of the most devastating experiences one can go through. The problem is that you just don’t realize what you are doing to yourself, and to your loved ones.
The high is incredible, and the lifestyle, as portrayed in your piece, is oftentimes exciting. I never got to the ‘glamorous’ part of it, instead hitting rock bottom real hard after staying up for a solid week with no food -- I made one of my friends take me to a hotel so I could escape the paranoia that was overwhelming. One of the many fringe ‘benefits’ of any drug -- the come down.
Pure hell.
I think Johnny Cash said it best, and I paraphrase -- “People take drugs because they make you feel good.” And he is right -- as sad as it is to say, a speed high is one of the most euphoric and amazing things I have ever ‘done,’ and I saw a lot of folks in my day who were not only addicted, like I was, but who ended up losing everything -- wives, cars, houses, all of it. I saw the wife of one of my friends leave him and hook up with the dealer man, a very common occurrence it would seem. She wanted the dope, and when her husband ran out... of everything, she left.
After a year-and-a-half long addiction, I finally got myself off the garbage, but it took a full six months to get back to “normal.” Everything was wrong, the world did not look right, and it felt as if I was moving through some alternate reality and then it eventually wore off and I felt normal again, the way I felt before the drugs.
Since then, I think I have done it two, maybe three times, but fortunately there was never enough around to get hooked hard again.
I was very fortunate, but I can say, and you already know -- too many are not, and are forever lost to a life only addiction can bring. Thank you for writing this, the folks need to know.
-- name withheld

(Part II of Anne Stanton‘s story continues in this issue. -- ed.)

Just the FACTS
It’s funny how supporters keep telling us that the parking deck on West Front Street will not use tax money. The FACTS are that TIF or Tax Increment Financing will pay for the deck, which is diverted tax money. We also know that Brownfield Redevelopment funds will be used which are tax moneys for environmental clean-up. Seventy-five percent of this project is being paid for with public money.
The FACTS are, public money is tax money. How can they keep saying no tax moneys will be used? This is just not true.
It is also funny that the Downtown Traverse City Association (DTCA), a group of downtown business owners organized by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) unanimously support the parking deck project while the FACTS are clear (from the DDA themselves) that less than 20% of the DTCA members are voting Traverse City residents. The rest live outside the City limits. Is this not special interest or what?
Vote No Deck on City Proposal 1 - August 8.
Jim Carruthers • TC

Jumping ship
I am writing to the Express because I know that my fellow Right to Life Republican friends read the Express to use as ammunition against the “liberals.”
I want to tell them that of all the mistakes I have made in my life, I now feel that my blind support of the Republican agenda and my two votes for GW are the worst. We are now on a slippery slope: civil rights, war, giveaways to the rich and a lack of policy that considers the dire circumstances we find ourselves in today. I feel that these policies have potentially done permanent damage to our way of life. The checks and balances in our government are gone.
Without flogging myself too hard I want my constituents to consider some drastic measures to correct the imbalance. First, I am going to adamantly support a Democratic ticket for president.
Second, it is time to put aside Right to Life as a reason to support a government that puts us all at risk for the benefit of the top 1% of our rich friends. The abortion issue will continue to be debated for decades; let‘s give it a rest, there are more important issues facing the U.S.
Third, I now see national health insurance as a necessity. The trial lawyers, I now believe, are not really the cause of all our problems, nor are the Welfare Moms.
Fourth, I have watched my fellow men for decades fail to put our families and citizens ahead of weapons and nation building. It is time for a gender shift in the White House. As a Republican at heart, I am an American first and a realist. I will support Hillary Clinton for president. What could it hurt? She is a moderate Democrat and certainly qualified. We need drastic measures in a drastic time.
Last, I am ashamed of the systemic hatred campaign initiated and propagated by my party. Democrats are Americans, not Nazis. We all have right to our opinions and I am not so sure after the last six years that they are wrong at all. My eyes are open. I may not go back without a serious change in the dynamics of the Republican Party.

Matt Robb • via email

Corrections
- A sub headline in last week‘s story on Ian Anderson stated that he would be playing with an Interlochen orchestra at his concert there. In fact, he performed with the Traverse Sympony Orchestra.
- Regarding a reference in last week‘s story on drugs involving the alleged purchase by a salesman that occurred in 2003, the publishers of Yellow Book would like the public to know that their employees are currently required to undergo drug tests and drug use is not tolerated.
-- A reader called to note that Great Wolf Lodge does not have an open door policy for local visits to the waterpark. Only local groups of 10 or more are allowed access.