Libertarian candidate blasts county moratorium on pain clinics
by George Bennett | December 8th, 2009Our Jennifer Sorentrue reports that Palm Beach County commissioners this morning approved a one-year moratorium on approving new pain-management clinics amid concerns that drugs are being dispensed with insufficient controls.
A recent Palm Beach Post investigation found that more than 30 such clinics have opened in the county since 2007. Among the people running pain businesses are convicted drug dealers, serial criminals and former addicts, according to a review of county, state and federal records.
Libertarian commission candidate Karl Dickey blasted this morning’s 6-0 vote, saying commissioners are “punishing the many for the actions of a few. Whereas we understand some pain-management clinics have abused the system, it is outrageous for the county government to ban the ability of legitimate clinics from opening.”
Dickey is the only announced challenger to Republican Commissioner Steven Abrams.
Read Dickey’s entire statement after the jump…..
Statement from Libertarian Party of Palm Beach County, whose chairman, Karl Dickey, is running for county commission in 2010:
Libertarians Concerned Over Recent County Ban
Palm Beach County should not restrict legitimate businesses
Boca Raton, FL – The Palm Beach County Commission voted today to restrict pain-management clinics from opening in unincorporated Palm Beach County which will make it more difficult for pain-stricken patients’ ability to get the relief they need. It is clear this one year ban, like so many other government programs, will eventually become permanent.
Libertarian Party of Palm Beach County chairman, Karl Dickey, said this morning, “The County Commissioners are punishing the many for the actions of a few. Whereas we understand some pain-management clinics have abused the system, it is outrageous for the county government to ban the ability of legitimate clinics from opening. If the demand is there, then the county government should not be standing in the way fore so long as the clinics have not violated any laws.”
The Libertarian Party of Palm Beach County feels this will adversely affect patients seeking relief from chronic pain and will again force some pain-stricken residents to the unsafe, underground black market.
The Libertarian Party of Palm Beach County believes Palm Beach County should foster a free and competitive market, not banning and arbitrarily restricting business. Each person has a the right to offer goods and services to others on the free market so long as they are not committing fraud or coercion in offering those goods and services. The only proper role of the Palm Beach County Commission on economic matters is to protect the property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide the legal framework in which voluntarily trade is protected. All efforts by our county government to redistribute wealth, control or manage trade, are improper in a free society.
Palm Beach County could flourish and become a prosperous haven during these tough economic times if it would enact Libertarian principles.
Tags: Karl Dickey, Libertarian Party, pain clinics, Steven Abrams
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December 8th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
[...] Libertarian candidate blasts county moratorium on pain clinics. Leave a [...]
December 8th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Couldn’t agree more with Karl.
Also, I’m thrilled he’s running in my district. Can’t wait to place my vote for him.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Although prescription drug abuse/addiction may be the 4th leading killer in our society a ban on pain clinics is not the answer. What is needed is enforcement of strict criteria to confirm the patient’s need and an entity to assure the integrity of the clinic. Perhaps an addiction professional on staff who can identify and seek assistance for the drug seeekers or an accrediting agency that shows up more than once a year and is patient centered. Shut down the bad guys but don’t punish the good guys.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:03 am
[...] The Palm Beach Post reports: [...]
December 27th, 2009 at 11:42 pm
Visit http://painreliefnetwork.org to better understand the tragic consequences of the drug war on people suffering chronic pain. As Dickey points out, we are allowing the innocent to be punished (a punishment akin to torture) for the deeds of the few. This ban must be repealed. The commissioners need to visit a few people in chronic pain before they commit the people of Palm Beach County to behave so inhumanely.