Praises to David Gudas for his letter titled “Enough,” printed June 4. He presents an interesting point to consider.

Sun Journal stories about Walter and Vincent, the faces of crack, congratulating a local business that sold pornography and tobacco to the community for years, a Christian ministry offering candy to children at all their events, all pointed out further expenses for taxpayers.

For example: Businesses that sell tobacco products should consider that the state of Maine’s Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids spent $14.5 million in 2004 and $14.2 million in 2005 in tobacco prevention. Annual health-care costs in Maine directly caused by smoking are $554 million. Businesses that sell pornography should consider the effects of pornography and read the stories of Ted Bundy or David Berkowitz.

And for those Jesus Party ministries providing candy to low-income children and raising the dental cost for Maine’s Medicaid program, perhaps they ought to reconsider their work. The Maine Children’s Alliance has many stories of children experiencing pain from tooth decay while the only dentist in the area accepting Medicaid payments has a two-month waiting list. Wouldn’t toothpaste and toothbrushes be a better outreach solution?

David Gudas is right. All of those stories, as touching as they may be, all led to higher taxpayer expense.

Paul Bernard, Turner