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Alcohol kills thousands During that same period drunk drivers have killed approximately 70,000 people within the United States. Drunk drivers have killed an average of over 17,000 people per year since 2003. CNN news recently described the problem as "One of the most prolific violent crimes" in our nation. The population of Clarke County, Ala. was listed as 27,269 in 2005. During the time our military has been in Iraq, drunk drivers have killed the equivalent of the population of over two and one-half counties the size of our county. The population of Thomasville is 5,200 (according to the Chamber of Commerce). During the time our military has been in Iraq, drunk drivers have killed the equivalent of about 14 towns the size of Thomasville. The victims have been babies, children, youth and adults of all ages. Approximately every two and one-half months drunk drivers kill as many Americans on our own highways as have been killed during the entire war in Iraq. The deaths caused by drunk drivers are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg regarding the sorrow and tragedy caused by the abuse of alcohol. Add to this sad reality the murders, rapes, other crimes, crippled bodies, broken homes, lost jobs, loss of self-esteem, neglected and abused children, etc., which accompany alcohol abuse and the plain reality of it is overwhelming. The following questions are not intended as statements of judgment on anyone or any group. The intention is to inspire thought, dialogue and corrective action. Who is responsible for the tragic results of the abuse of alcohol? How can anyone not perceive the moral implications in such human tragedy? Can any not understand why some people are so passionately against legalizing the sale of alcohol? If it wasn't for the money involved in the sale of alcohol would we tolerate this kind of human devastation? Would we tolerate this amount of human tragedy from any other cause? Is the money involved worth the unbelievable horrible cost to humanity? Can anyone (even in America - especially in America) justify their stamp of approval on legalizing the sale of the addictive drug we call alcohol? Do we realize that alcohol abuse is probably still the number one drug problem in the United States? Does our community really want to open the door to what may come with legalizing the sale of alcohol?
Does our community realize that a yes vote on this issue is basically the last word the community would have about this? Robert Kirkland Thomasville
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