LETTER: Political ad confusing, troubling
Recently I saw a political advertisement by a person who wants to be elected district attorney of Greene County. The statements in the ad are confusing and troubling.
First, the person said the county needs at least one Republican in the courthouse. The reason for this is not explained, but I suspect there are some among the many people who now work there. The political affiliation of a district attorney should not matter in fulfilling the responsibilities of the office. Second, the person is a believer in Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine and wouldn’t prosecute citizens for protecting their families. This is confusing because it’s already established in the law that citizens can’t be prosecuted if the circumstances adhere to the doctrine. Third, I’m troubled by the statements involving the “drug problem.” The person says our current court system “caters to drug addicts who do not actually want to be rehabilitated,” and we don’t need more methadone and suboxone facilities because they “attract addicts from outside the county” and “only make our problem worse.” Would “cater” mean showing some compassion? Few substance abusers are able to get healthy on their own and must rely upon medication assisted treatment and therapy. Those unwanted facilities are places that help addicts rehabilitate and live more productive lives, and why should it matter where one lives if the goal is to get better? Isn’t this a benefit to our community? Also, this person promises to send repeat drug offenders to prison, not rehabilitation. I thought it was the role of judges to pass sentence, not district attorneys.
Finally, we are told this person is an avid hunter and fisher and practices the right to bear arms. How this relates to being a district attorney is a mystery. What’s missing in this ad is anything about being a district attorney or how this person might strengthen or expand the domestic violence and victim services programs or work with local police departments.
One wonders if this person really knows what the job is all about.
Bob Willison
Rices Landing