Author: LPChesco

Chester County intends to sue major drug companies who they blame for creating an “opioid crises,” according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Millions in taxpayer money will be wasted to pursue these frivolous lawsuits by grandstanding county commissioners that don’t understand the problem.  And all this with very little hope of winning.

Drug deaths are usually caused by illegal drugs such as heroin and fentanyl, not by prescription opioids. Studies by the Center for Disease Control show that illegal drug use — and deaths — soared when prescriptions for pain analgesics fell. Stanton Peele, a psychologist and addiction expert, says drug addiction is closely associated with depression and stress, not prescriptions.

The CDC says the word “overdose” is improperly cited as the cause of most drug deaths.  It is deadly cocktails of drugs, mixing heroin and fentanyl. These abuses killed actors John Belushi, Seymour Hoffman, many others.

A local physician who prefers anonymity says, “…The ‘intention’ of recent changes whether by law or rule has been to reduce unwarranted or unnecessary opioid prescriptions but the effect has been chilling to physician confidence and autonomy and to patient care. I strongly believe that anytime something comes between the doctor and his patient that patient care suffers, even if the intentions are noble”

If prescription opioids are not the main culprit for drug deaths, why is Chester County going after corporations? The answer: money and headlines. County commissioner Michelle Kichline said, “…funding is needed to sustain the programs, services, and additional resources needed, and pharmaceutical manufacturers must shoulder a portion of that burden.”

Medication- assisted treatment, including the proven effectiveness of marijuana in reducing opioid deaths (legal in Pennsylvania) would be more effective. Also, better access to life-saving Narcan, and less grandstanding by politicians will do more to reduce drug deaths than threatening companies who produce products for chronic pain sufferers.

Washington DC is awash in political fighting over a proposed wall on the southern border with Mexico. Republicans are fighting the Democrats and some Republicans are fighting other Republicans. But beyond that political theater, there is a wall both parties do like – the wall that they’ve built around the electoral process.

It is not a physical wall but it’s real nonetheless. It’s built out of dirty deals, political trades, partisan judges, legal threats and maneuvers, and the fact that they write and pass the laws that give them free access to taxpayer money to fund their political parties’ candidate selection process (called the Primary) while putting every obstacle they can create in the paths of independents and third parties that seek to challenge the status quo.

Do you like the way things are done in Harrisburg or Washington? No? Well, thank the Republican and the Democratic parties that pretend to be enemies but cooperate at deep levels to keep real alternatives from rising to the attention of voting public. This wall leaves many Americans without a voice. Here in Pennsylvania, 13 percent of the voting age population doesn’t even bother to register to vote. Of the 87 percent that do register, 30 percent don’t vote. Here in Chester County, almost 18 percent of those who are registered to vote are not Republicans or Democrats. This means that just less than a third of the voting age population has opted out of the two major parties. Their voices aren’t heard. Maybe they would find better alternatives without this wall that just protects the powers that be.

We can only borrow from Ronald Reagan to the political power elites: “Tear down this wall.”

Chester County and the borough of West Chester have no shortage of problems to work on.Affordable housing is scarce, growing traffic, and some of the fastest growing tax burdens in the state.

Yet the mayor and Borough Council have decided to prioritize the use of plastic bags. The council is acting on the urging of some local school children who want to turn a class project into a law that will restrict the rights of the local community.

 The fact that outlawing the commercial use of plastic bags is based on dubious scientific and economic theories is understandable, as the idea was generated by school children. But a mayor and council should certainly know better.

The children said they contacted a shop in California who had been forced to charge customers a dime every time they needed a big to carry purchases home in. Some people think this is a good idea, but they don’t realize such a law would in fact be an automatic tax increase imposed on local businesses and shoppers without benefit of debate or referendum of any kind. It’s likely that the imposition of such a tax is illegal as well as being immoral.

Consumers and business today are free to transport purchases home however they choose.They can bring a cart, reusable bag or carry a cardboard box home on the bus.They have the freedom to use no plastic bag if it makes them feel good to do so.

 Ifthis freedom to refuse plastic bags already exists, what motivates a mayor and council to sit through a sixth grade class presentation and pretend that enacting a law restricting our rights is a fine idea?

 Politicians believe that it looks good to pass ridiculous, unneeded laws and pretend that they have saved the community from themselves. It’s easier than tackling the real problems in the and borough. And if the voters sit passively by and allow their rights to become diminished and their pockets picked?

Well, in that case the politicians will have bagged another blow to local freedom