Removing drunks from behind the wheel is a noble cause.

That's not what MADD is about.

They are interested in publicity. Period. At all costs.

Regardless of guilt or innocence.

Several years ago, a friend of mine had just completed law school, and had lined up a career at the Dallas County D.A.'s office.

Late one night, this guy was stopped and arrested. Being of the mindset that someone should not have to prove their innocence (in this country, we prove "guilt") he refused a breathalizer.

However, during a taped interview (DWI suspects are usually videotaped for evidence), he was clearly not intoxicated. He clearly appeared sober, complying with police officers' instructions to move about and such.

When the prosecutor saw the tape, the case was dropped.

This incited MADD to go to the newspaper, never looking at the tape themselves, and accuse the Dallas County D.A. of "letting him off the hook" because he was a candidate for assistant D.A.

Obviously this ruined the career he'd worked through law school to get.

From that day, I've never donated a penny to MADD--and I've encouraged others to drop donations as well. They're not concerned with guilt-or-innocence, only with promoting their passion.

There: my 2-cents worth.