One would think that with all the miles that Rick Steves has traveled, he would choose to be an ambassador for something more worthwhile than Europe’s permissiveness with pot smoking.

What is his point, really? Viewing decriminalization from a cost savings perspective is narrow-minded and smacks of the worst sort of naivety. American society is just coming to terms with many of the health problems that we have ignored for years. Now he wants to throw a little legal pot smoking and all its associated health risks into the mix?

For all his imagined good intentions Steves exhibits one of the trademarks of one who has partaken too long himself of the “herb”: an altered perception of reality. I believe the story about how the Ford dealership is trying to make things work in this tough economy is more inspiring, and much more worthy as a front page story. My advice to Mr. Steves is, if you want to toke, go back to France or The Netherlands.

John Navroth, Kirkland