Several weeks ago, as I sat through a drug education video, I watched an intoxicated mouse fall from a beam.

The children laughed.

I saw a cartoon animated drop of alcohol drive a car into a wall and knock himself cockeyed.

The children laughed.

I listened patiently as a faceless voice told the children not to drink and drive.  And, not to drink on an empty stomach.

But, when two girls opened a medicine cabinet and explained that their smart set parents considered alcohol a drug.  I lost my composure.

To the consternation of the presenters, I stopped the video, turned to the children and said, "Alcohol is not a drug!  It is a deadly poison!  It kills brain cells!"

I explained that people could prove this to themselves by just remembering that nurses always dip thermometers in alcohol to kill germs.   Germ cells and brain cells are identical in structure.  I told them that two scientists, using radioactive isotopes to illuminate brain cells, showed that a human brain free of alcohol, lit up brightly with tiny lights.  But, the same brain 10 years later was eerily darkened by alcohol.

Coincidentally, recently, I had the pleasure of watching Super Cross at the Dome.  The feats those young athletes performed were awesome.

Nevertheless, at the end of the race, the three winning cyclists squirted each other with champagne.  When they finished their merriment, they picked up their water bottles and continued drinking.  I turned to a friend, who also was a motor cross racer and asked if he noticed that none of them drank the champagne.

He replied that few of the top cyclists touch alcohol.

In my life time, I've only known four alcoholics.  All were talented men whose lives were destroyed by the poison.

I do not blame these men for their tragedy.  No, I blame our incompetent politicians who won't stand up to the powerful special interests groups.

Although alcohol is a multi-billion dollar industry, it's also a multi-billion dollar affliction to our country.  Our great grandparents instinctively knew that alcohol and tobacco were evil.  That's why they made Prohibition an amendment to the constitution.

But, what can we do?

First, taxpayers must realize that 80 percent of their politicians are incompetent.  This is the main reason special interest groups impact our government.

Secondly, taxpayers must realize that they are employers.  And, like any employer, they must demand competent employees.

Therefore, if modern corporations demand that candidates prove their competency by aptitude tests, personality profiles, interest inventories, intelligence tests, minutely detailed background work ups, and a diploma with honors from a certified school of advanced studies (no learning on the job at employer's expense); then taxpayers must demand the same.