Kevin Mannix is such an idiot. Do people understand the extent to which this would increase the number of people in a prison system that is already woefully understaffed? And hasn't this guy, and other like minds, figured out yet that purely punitive measures don't work. They don't fix people, or stop or change behavior. This has been proven over and over. To just throw people in jail and not offer any kind of help is archaic and cruel, and what you would expect from a less "civilized" country. This also shows a complete lack of understanding of addiction. Any of you hardasses out there who want to agree with Mannix about this need to ask yourselves: do you want to actually work to help diminish the number of people who are addicted and committing crimes because of the addiction, or have we so lost our humanity that all we want to do is punish people for being poor, mentally ill, or who just plain fucked-up. Where did our hearts go. Where is our humanity. What happened to our capacity to forgive? It makes me sick.

Jan,

I think your comments sum up nicely the absurdity of Mannix's proposal. I would add that it demonstrate a terrible lack of leadership in our state if Mannix is the one of the most visible leader in one of the two major political parties representing the people of this state.

The Republican party of Oregon used to be a proud party with great leaders like McCall and Morse. Now, we have hacks like Hemstreet and Mannix. Anti-tax nuts, homophobes and tough on crime a-holes do not a political party make. Oh, and Gordon Smith.

why is it that the Mercury has not yet posted anything about the Mayoral debate at PCC Cascade campus last night?

is it because you think your audience does not represent the African-American community?

readers want to know if this publication is only for white people