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by Pater Jaworski Said Peter Me William's, "the Drug War doesn't need another martyr -- it has too many already." Then he promptly died a martyr's death. Peter McWilliam's died on June 14 of this year by choking choking on his own vomit. The medication he was taking for his AIDS would make him rather nauseous and he had to come up with ways to keep from gagging it up. You see, it takes a couple of minutes for the drug to take any effect, if he threw it up before that time it would be entirely useless. useless. After testing various different different things to prevent nausea, nausea, he found one that worked: marijuana. Peter McWilliam's was a New York Times #1 bestseller and author of the libertarian classic "Ain't Nobodies Business if You Do." He was on John Stossel's 'Give Me a Break' segment on ABC's 20/20. There he said, "keep in mind that you're asking the government to control individual individual morality. This is a government that can't buy a toilet seat for under $600." At other times he's said things like, "...consenting adults should not be put in jail unless they physically harm the person person or property of a nonconsenting nonconsenting other." Or, "the gov-, emment has no more business being the enforcer of social policy than it has being the enforcer of religious belief." And, "Much of what passes for'drug education, for example, example, is not education at all, but simply scare tactics; terrors for children. The idea...that snorting cocaine is the same as sticking a pistol in your nose and pulling the trigger is , absurd... [that commer cial]...'This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs.' * Come on. This is not only untrue and misleading; it's,a waste of good food." ■ And so on. At some point his 'do- what-you-want-without- harming-others' motto came into sharp conflict with the governmental 'we-are-much- smarter-than-you- are- so-you- shou Id-do-what-we-say' motto. The resultant conflict turned into a court mess (as it typically does) which quickly escalated into something absurd. California had a medical marijuana type of idea in place. Some folks, unlike Clinton, were allowed to inhale (or, at least, it was fine • Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday. October II, 2000 -15 for them to say so) for medical medical reasons. The judge somehow somehow decided thait McWilliams' medical condition, condition, his attempts at using herbal alternates to pot for sublimating the nausea, and the vast evidence for the anti- nauseous qualities of pot, would not be allowed as défense. In other words, he had to say, "yeah, I smoke pot" but couldn't tell them why, or the circumstances that led to it. This is akin to landing landing on that 'go directly to Jail, do not pass Go" card in Monopoly --- no plausible chance at defense, guaranteed sentencing. When, exactly, are the plenipotentiaries going to realize the stupidity of telling adult citizens that they cannot consent to certain things? What is it, exactly, about the Chretien's, Day's, Bush's, and Mulroney's that makes them such wonderful judges as to what constitutes your best interests? And by what right do they get to tell you what you can or cannot inject, ingest, inhale or do to your own body? Never mind. You . can check out McWilliams' books and an explanation of the entire ordeal on his still-running still-running website (www.mcwilliams.com). I leave you with a quote from McWilliams, "Moral is based on free choice. You have a series of choices, and you make the right choice. Any 5 - year - old can understand this. Don't mess with their stuff, they won't mess with your stuff. Really? Yes. What's the catch? The catch is, you have to tolerate what they're doing over there with their toys, and they get to tolerate what you're doing over here with your toys. So with our tolerance, we buy our freedom." announces Durham Region - Durham Region MPP's announced that $140,797 is going Into their communities for the expansion of Alzheimer Disease adult day/respite services. The announcement was made by Janet Ecker, MPP for Pickering-Ajax- Uxbrldge, Jim Flaherty, MPP for Whitby-Ajax, Jerry Ouellette, MPP for Oshawa and John R O'Toole, MPP for Durham on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister Elizabeth Witmer. "Alzheimer Disease has touched many lives in Durham riding," commented John R O'Toole, MPP. "Last year, I held a roundtable discussion discussion with several organizations organizations in the community on this issue. The healthcare sector has played a key role in helping to develop the province's Alzheimer Strategy," said OTdole. This announcement builds on the more than $2.7 million million provided to organizations last year for the expansion of day programs and respite services. Today's money is part of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care commitment commitment made last September to invest $68.4 million in a 10-point strategy program for Alzheimer's and other related dementias over the next five years. There are 80 agencies across Ontario, serving 4,000 people that will benefit from these funds. "Alzheimer Disease often has a devastating effect on the entire family. Respite care then becomes a service that can benefit not just the patient but those who care for them at home," said Jim Flaherty, MPP for Whitby- Ajax. "Funding for programs and respite services in the community are a much welcomed welcomed announcement and will allow the services to be accessible for the people in Durham Region," "Knowing individuals with Alzheimer's, I feel this funding funding will go a long way towards helping those with the disease," said Oshawa MPP Jerry Ouellette. "This funding will help those who suffer from the disease and those who care for them," said Pickering- Ajax-Uxbridge MPP Janet Ecker. "The partnership between the government and local health organizations is vital as we work together to provide necessary services to this rapidly growing segment of our population." "We are making sure that comprehensive health care services are in place to meet the needs of people with. Alzheimer's Disease," said Minister Witmer. (continued from page 1) 50% cost sharing arrangement arrangement with the community on capital projects. The Ministry will fund 100% of hospitals operating costs, once the facility is built. In a letter to Regional Chair, Roger Anderson, Minister of Health, Elizabeth Whitmer states: "For many hospitals, community fundraising could include support from municipal and or regional governments. This has been a very important important source of capital for most Ontario hospitals." This is a multi-year plan, with each stage built on the other, stated Lake Ridge Health Chair, Bev Oda. "We need to start work in the spring of 2001. We need to. be at the budget table this year, delays not only increase cost, but raise the risk," she stated. "We are here to tell you that we are facing a crisis," stated Bruce Cliff, Chief Operating Officer of the Ajax Hospital. , "You've been very successful successful in attracting new businesses, new employers and growth for Durham. But where are these new residents going to get their healthcare?" healthcare?" he asked. "Our hospitals were opened in the 50's and 60's , when the population was around the 200,000 ; mark. Already we are responsible for providing care for nearly 500,000 people, in what I would call, inadequate facilities. facilities. We are here to tell you that we are facing a érisis," he stated. Lake Ridge Health CEO, Brian Lemon says, "We have solid evidence that Durham residents would support a. household cost of $10 - $12 a month oyer a number of years to raise the $100 million. million. An Angus Reid survey, undertaken by the Hospital Board indicated that 65% of the 1000 Durham residents » surveyed, would support a tax increase of approximately $140 a year, over a five year period. Shovel won't go in the ground The $409.5 million restructuring project would see a new hospital in Uxbridge; more space for inpatient and outpatient services services in Port Perry and Bowmanville, a 70% increase in space at the Ajax site for a new Emergency Department. The Oshawa Hospital will be expanded to provide a larger X-ray Department, additional medical medical and surgical floors, more equipment and expansion to house Regional Pediatrics, larger Emergency Department and the new Cancer Centre. The Hospital Board needs evidence of commitment for the community portion of the projects which have Ministry approval; the Cancer Centre and the Emergency Department at Ajax by the end of this year. If they miss that target the Ministry will not grant ..approval to go to tender, delaying construction beyond favourable spring conditions, • adding to the overall cost. "The money exists in the Treasury of Ontario to more than cover that amount," said Chair of Regional Finance Committee Brian Nicholson. "They [the Province] could end this crisis tomorrow if they fimd what is not raised by the public." Nicholson said, "if we commit to what they need, it would be an unacceptable increase in the Regional tax level." While Regional Council did not support the request for a $100 million contribution, contribution, they did offer to lead a delegation to Queen's Park asking for a 70% commitment to the capital costs of the proposed proposed redevelopment. In addition, the Region of Durham approved a motion to request the Province to table legislation amending the Development Charges Act, to allow the raising of capital for hospital purposes through additional levees on new development. The hospital board say they will continue to lobby the Region. SUBSCRIBE $25.00 NEWCASTLE FUNERAL HOME Family owned and operated by Carl Good, Funeral Director, and Joyce Kufta 386. Mill St. S., Newcastle 987-3964 www.newcastleftmeralhome.com "Caring for our Community "