Don't show me the money

An unsigned opinion piece in the Bay City Times out of Michigan has the right idea when it comes to the federal government's student drug testing grants:

And in Iosco County - hey! - the drug testing would be free.

Tawas St. Joseph Health Systems received $525,000 from the federal government for the program after officials in the Tawas, Oscoda, Whittemore-Prescott and Hale school districts backed the grant application.

Just as we teach our younger children not to take candy from strangers, Iosco County school leaders should think long and hard before they ally with a program that may have unintended consequences.

The federal government's money would be better spent in schools on new education programs about the dangers of drugs. And to enlist parents and the community in the campaign against drug and alcohol abuse.

Too many schools around the country are being baited by the millions of dollars the Drug Czar is dangling in front of them. The money would be better spent on other things (or just left in taxpayers' pocketbooks).