Opus 2025-509: Just Say “No”

I have frequently heard people mocking Nancy Reagan for her “Just Say No” campaign against drugs.  Most of those who are mocking her were probably making some money or had some vested interest in allowing the plague to continue.  “No” is a very effective answer in many situations.

I was talking to someone recently about the war on drugs and all the money the cartels are making.  I may have missed the article, but I’m not hearing about the drug cartels breaking into homes, tying people down and injected addictive drugs into their veins.  I don’t think there are very many cases where people are forced to take drugs.

The exception would be child trafficking and prostitution and perversions of that nature.  There is obviously coercion involved, but I don’t think that’s what’s causing the epidemic.  Usually, it’s just a refusal to say no.

Refusing to say no goes far beyond the war on drugs.  It is at the root of much of our social chaos.  Debt is a destructive force in our country and around the world.  Since we live in a victim culture it is easy to blame the organizations extending credit.  It makes us feel virtuous.  It excuses irresponsible behavior.  It ignores the reality that much of the debt that is accumulated is from wanting something now instead of later.  We have rejected delayed gratification.  After all, we deserve it, right?  I remember when I was in my phase of Panara I would get the same thing every day:  A piece of baguette and coffee.  I was so regular that they would have it waiting by the time I got to the counter.  I think it cost around $3.00 at the time.  As I sat drinking coffee and doing Bible study I would look up and see guys walking by with these luscious creations that made my mouth water.  I could have afforded it but I stuck to my budget.  I am not sure they could afford it but they had a credit card.

Over the years I have had a wide of variety in my cars.  I have driven Volkswagen.  I have had several Cadillacs.  The one thing they had in common was that they were old when I bought them.  It wasn’t just the price of the car.  It also lowers the cost of insurance and license.  We put the money to thing like the principle on our mortgage.

Our kids dressed well.  That was because we had friends who passed their expensive hand-me-downs to us and we were not too proud to wear them.  I did not get hand-me-downs.  I got my clothes at the Goodwill on Rodeo drive.

Every time you say no to the allure of fashion and social acceptance you increase the long term quality of life.  It is a principle that the younger generation needs to learn.  I would guess there are a lot of older ones that need the same lesson.

homo unius libri