Congestion Legislation

There’s a story posted on WTOK’s website about the Mississippi House of Representatives passing a law that requires a doctor’s prescription in order to purchase medications that contain the decongestant pseudoephedrine. The reason this bill was introduced (and is needed) is because pseudoephedrine is an ingredient used to make meth. I don’t think I have to go into much detail about how dangerous and poisonous this drug is and how it can devastate the users and families of users of this drug. I also shouldn’t have to tell you how dangerous a meth lab is but I do wonder if that’s the case, seeing as all anyone commenting on the story is worried about is how this is an inconvenience to them and since the government is trying to take over our lives.

Ladies and gentlemen: Ignorance is not bliss.

Just in case you don’t know, I’m a volunteer firefighter and an EMT. Anytime I get paged to go to a house fire (whether I’m going to fight the fire with the fire department or going to stand-by with EMS), I always keep in the back of my mind, “is this a meth lab” and “will there be an explosion and someone (maybe me?) get injured (or worse) by it.” Sure, anything can happen at a fire for any number of reasons but a meth lab only increases the odds of something bad happening to an emergency responder or bystander. The fumes produced by a meth lab are highly toxic and highly explosive. Do you know what’s in meth? I won’t bore you with all the details but if you want to read up on what chemicals are used in the home brewing of meth and all of the fumes that are present, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine#Illicit_production. Do you really want that around your family and friends? Even worse, do you want to put this poison into your body voluntarily? The obvious (and sane) response is “no.” However, what amazes me is how many people are opposed to the law that makes it harder to poison us.

Here’s some food for though: If your next door neighbor or even an upstairs neighbor in an apartment complex has a meth lab, you, your family and friends are breathing in the fumes at any time you or them are at your house or apartment. Just because there isn’t visible smoke doesn’t mean there aren’t fumes. These fumes are also highly explosive. One spark at the right time is all it would take in order to level a good chunk of your neighborhood. If your house is blown to bits and you and your family are inside, there’s a good chance I will be recovering you instead of rescuing you. Think about that if you ever get the urge to complain about “big brother” making you go to the doctor to get Claritin D.

What’s wrong with these people? I can’t believe that all they can see is how much control the government is exercising over us and how it’ll be inconvenient to get a prescription. Are they really that selfish? They should be ashamed of themselves. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices in order to benefit the greater good. I don’t mind having to go through my doctor to get Sudafed if it means that some meth head and meth pusher will have it that much harder to make their poison. The fact that so many people are complaining about this law just astounds me. It’s inconceivable to me that people would want these drugs to continue to be easily accessible, thereby making meth that much easier to make

I would rather be able to not have to worry about walking into a meth lab when called to a house fire and I would rather not have to worry about my fellow firefighters, EMS personnel and other responders having the same fears. We need to support legislation that will make the manufacture of meth tougher. We also don’t need to put down the government when, for once, they’re actually doing their job.

They’re protecting us. All of us.

Jonathan

Random Thoughts and Ramblings on State Budgets

The Mississippi State Legislature will return to Jackson tomorrow to begin the business of running this great state of ours. Traditionally one of the first things they’ve done is pass themselves a “cost of living” raise in their pay (consider this: Being on the Legislature is a part time job; these people all have regular jobs at home). However, they may want to consider whether or not this is wise considering all of the financial gloom-and-doom that Governor Hailey Barbour has been preaching for the last several months. Every month the state’s revenue is lower than expected and every month the governor gets out his budget axe and makes cuts across the board at five percent (the max allowed by law). Things are getting to the point that one has to ask, “what’s left to cut?” I mean, if he cuts education much more we’re going to have to go back to using chalk boards and collected the dust that falls to the floor to be recycled into new chalk sticks for the said chalk boards. Ok, maybe not quite that far but there are things that the State of Mississippi can do in order to save money. Consider the following:

1. There should be an immediate hiring freeze on all non-essential positions within the state payroll (this should not apply to the Department of Public Safety, Department of Corrections, Department of Revenue and education – these departments are too vital to impose a Legislature-mandated freeze and it should be up to them to decide what is and what isn’t essential). Also, raises should be postponed indefinitely except for the departments mentioned above – again, it should be up to those departments to determine personnel matters.

2. All of those holding elected state offices should be forced to take a pay cut. I know I don’t like my paycheck to be messed with but elected officials need to lead by example when asking all of these other departments to be cut to the bone and even lay people off. Governor Barbour’s salary is $101,800. I think he could stand to have a couple of thousand shaved from his salary. That’s more than most of the state’s workers make in three or four years.

3. Go to four day work weeks for most state departments and allow the public schools to have four days weeks. Yes, this would mean employees and students would have to attend their respective jobs and classes for longer periods but this would save money in transportation for these employees and students and energy savings would be seen since electricity and other utilities wouldn’t be used for an extra day per week.

4. Cull the state’s motor pool. There is no reason for the state to have as many vehicles as they do. There is no reason why certain departments should even have vehicles in the first place. Doing mileage and gas reimbursements should save the state money since they would not have vehicles of their own to insure, maintain and replace.

These are just a few steps the state could take to save money. Feel free to post your own ideas. Also, write your state Representatives and Senators and ask them to consider areas where money can be cut besides gutting Medicaid and education.

Jonathan