Editor's Note: This commentary is cross posted at MyVoiceNews.com.

Back in the 1980s, I remember MADD being just about everywhere, pushing their message that drunk driving is wrong, that it kills. I totally agreed with them.

But somehow, over the years, the mad in MADD seems to have lost its temper, literally: I just don't hear anything from MADD anymore.

Case in point, the story of Paige Grable. Paige was a senior at Providence High School, in Clarksville, Ind. One night, she decided to indulge in some underage drinking, as so many her age do. Alas, on the way home, Paige struck another car, carrying a classmate. As is so often the case, Paige survived and her classmate died.

She ended up getting sentenced to only 15 months in jail or the offense.

Then, just a week ago, there was talk of her being released early- because in only a few months of prison, she had earned her GED and her High School diploma. Apparently, these benchmarks qualify her for her for early release.

Skipping over the wrongness of letting killers out of jail because after they get caught they want to be good, my question is, "Where was MADD?" Why no statement from MADD, voicing their opinion? I sure didn't see anything in the news about MADD's view on the case.

Similarly, there was an even more troubling story concerning the recent election for the Jeffersonville City Court Judge. The previous Judge, Vickie Carmichael-D, was elected to the Clark Superior Court #1 in 2006. A replacement was appointed, local attorney and former prosecutor Scott Lewis-R. After the primaries, Mr. Lewis faced a single opponent, Ken Pierce-D, a slightly younger attorney. While not formerly a Prosecutor, Mr. Pierce did have a familiarity with the City Court- he'd been convicted there for Public Intoxication. The conviction was part of a plea deal in a drunken driving arrest.

After Mr. Lewis's campaign sent out a very tacky postcard, pointing out Pierce's prior conviction, folks began whining about how he (Pierce) "made a mistake"; "he's learned from his mistakes"; "he's man enough to admit he made a mistake" etc. etc.

Blagh.

I know there will always be idiots who don't care that former criminals run for office. Heck, at least half the elected officials in this country undoubtedly have committed some kind of crime. But where's MADD?

If I went to a MADD drunk driving educational presentation and pointed out that the drivers who killed the MADD founders' kids just "made a mistake" and we shouldn't hold it against them, I'd probably be lynched.

Aw well, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I think I'll go get me one of those cool beer can hats and hit the road with a six pack. After all, everybody makes mistakes.