COMPARED TO WHAT:

A commentary in the Albany (NY) Times Union on June 4 begins, "Rarely has there been a prouder moment in the history of our state Legislature than when Democrats and Republicans came together earlier this year to reform the Rockefeller Drug Laws, which over more than three decades wreaked havoc on thousands of people whose addictions should have been treated by health care professionals -- not by the criminal justice system." Seems to set a mighty low threshold for pride - and of course even this break through of common sense, fairness and community self-interest is currently stymied by political wrangling.