It saddens me to see so many people in Duluth addicted to synthetic drugs. As a former employee of the Union Gospel Mission in Duluth, I experienced daily encounters with people high on something; it was the norm. During my daily routine I would listen to people talk about getting high. But other conversations were about how they were going to spend their Social Security income, their welfare money or their food stamps. Most of the responses were: on drugs, on alcohol, on gambling or even on tattoos.
As a taxpayer this deeply irritated me. But what equally irritated me was that once these people were high many would flock to the Union Gospel Mission to eat or to get food-shelf items. Didn't they receive
government-assistance money to buy food in the first place?
Now, I realize I have no choice in paying my taxes, according to Uncle Sam. But I do have a choice on whether I donate to the Union Gospel Mission, and I choose not to. With taxes on the rise along with the prices of material goods and everything else, I just cannot afford to support the bad habits of others.
As a former drug addict healed by the blood of Jesus, I feel we must all stand tall, in love -- and hold others accountable for their actions. Because if we don't, who will?
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Rick Moody
Duluth
