Will free speech soon be a thing of the past?
Rhonda Smyth - Rhonda's Remarks
It seems like every day, the government is putting more and more restrictions, regulations and controls in place.
There has been rumblings on television and on the Internet about how soon there will be no more true freedom of speech in this country and that will effect a free press.
Those of us whose job it is to report the news, have to have the freedom to do just that…report the news…all of it.
The media is supposed to be a watchdog for communities by reporting what the government is doing. The government doesn’t have to right under the constitution to keep most of what they are doing secret…nor can they conduct meetings behind closed doors.
I am not talking about our local governments. I have never had the feeling that the fiscal court or the city councils were hiding anything. I always feel like I get straightforward answers to any questions I ask.
I am not really feeling that confident towards the federal government. Some of what is going on there, well I just don’t know what to think.
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I got an e-mail recently with a Students Against Destructive Decisions press release that stated that a number of teens have admitted to not only smoking marijuana, but also to driving under the influence of it.
It stated that many teens didn’t see this as a problem and even say that it isn’t a distraction to their driving. They also don’t believe that drinking alcohol is a distraction either.
Hello.
Where are we as adults failing that teens would think this way?
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy notes that marijuana use affects alertness, concentration, perception, coordination and reaction time, all of which are needed for the safe operation of a motor vehicle.
The press release revealed that 60 percent of children (yes, I said children) 12 and older who abuse or are dependent on an illegal drug are dependent on marijuana. Yep that’s what it said…dependent on marijuana.
Now I know what most of you are thinking, “you can’t become dependent on marijuana..it’s just weed.” I think you can. But anyway…
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a number of studies have shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
Well, huh.
I have taken a lot of criticism over the years for my views on smoking pot and how dangerous it is and that I believe that it kills more brain cells than alcohol and that it is addictive.
But I will never believe it is harmless, I will always believe that, at the very least, it is a gateway drug.
So teenagers are more likely to ride in a car with a teen driver who has been smoking pot than they are to ride with a teen driver who has been drinking alcohol, according to the SADD press release.
I sincerely hope that teenagers will think twice before driving under the influence of anything, or riding with somebody who is under the influence of anything.
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That brings me to another distracted driving topic that I know causes accidents…texting.
When are you all going to stop it? It’s against the law and the most dangerous thing you can do while driving.
You cannot possibly keep your eyes on the road and your mind on driving while you are texting.
Just talking on a cell phone while you are driving is distracting enough.
Please save your texting and talking for when you are NOT driving. You are putting not only yourself but everybody else on the roads at the same time in danger.