You would think with Iraq still a mess, with the possibility of both Iran and North Korea having nuclear weapons, and the U.S. dollar continuing to fall, that both President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain would have better things to do than worry about steroid use in Major League Baseball.

But for some reason, the President and the Arizona Senator are trying to put the squeeze on the Major League Baseball Players Association to accept a stronger steroid-testing program than what is presently in effect.

Politicians like Bush and McCain keep forgetting that steroid possession without a doctor’s prescription is illegal, and that has been the law of the land since 1988. If Bush or McCain really wanted to crack down on steroid use, they should start with those on the high school level and at gyms across the country. They should arrest athletes if they are caught with steroids, human growth hormones and other performance-enhancing drugs.

But there may be a business angle to all of this. In 2004, baseball had huge attendance and did big business with its corporate partners. Baseball wants to continue its so-called resurgence and may be afraid that the steroid scandal could affect the bottom line according to MLB's COO Bob Dupuy.

"We continue to assess the ramification that these issues will have on our business. It's another reason why we need to restore the confidence of not only our fans, but our partners."

Baseball's steroid scandal NYT: Ortiz, Manny reportedly on 2003 drug list Blog: What they're saying about Ortiz, Manny Blog: Fans won't turn on Ortiz, but writers will Blog: Ortiz did whatever it took — even drugs Blog: BoSox titles not tainted  |  Vote: Agree?   Slideshow: Players caught in steroid scandal

Are Commissioner Bud Selig and Dupuy really concerned about the fans' trust or are they worried that their business partners like FOX, Disney or all of those companies that have names on ballparks might be skittish being associated with a scandal-ridden sport? Do the owners really care about the players or are they seeking to bury the scandal to save their businesses from an economic slump?

It’s easy to be cynical about Selig's intent. After all, there have been people like Jose Canseco and the late Ken Caminiti who have said there was steroid usage among the players in the 1990s, but Selig and the owners turned a blind eye to the stories until recently. Until players started testifying at the San Francisco Grand Jury inquiry. Players like Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield.

Cal Ripken's consecutive game streak and the McGwire/Sosa home run barrage that resulted in the breaking of Roger Maris' home run record are credited with helping baseball's resurgence after the 1994-95 strike. At least in the ballpark. TV ratings continue to drop and baseball acknowledges that it has to win back young fans, along with African-Americans who don't have the affinity for the sport that people over 40 years of age do.

How can the President and Congress mandate steroid testing for a private industry, an industry whose workers do not endanger the general public welfare in their workplace, the baseball diamond? Also, when did the President and Congress gain the authority to rewrite the Major League Baseball Collective Bargaining Agreement? And if Congress mandates steroid testing for Major League Baseball, will the President and Congress impose conditions on other industries and their collective bargaining agreements?

There may be more to this than just steroids in baseball.

The President and the Congress should be far more concerned with the leak of Grand Jury testimony than whether or not some player is taking “the juice” and hitting balls over a fence.

But for some reason, there is more concern about getting Major League Baseball players tested for steroids than the fact the Grand Jury testimony appeared in a newspaper.

The President spent two minutes during his State of the Union speech talking about steroid usage in Major League Baseball. For some reason, the President, McCain and others think players are role models. The truth is that players are not and never should be role models for youngsters. The players are looking for every competitive advantage available, and are no different from track and field performers, football players and other athletes who have the desire to excel. Players like Giambi took steroids and it was their choice to take the performance enhancers.

If the President and McCain really want to clean up steroid usage in sports, start in local gyms and with teenagers who feel the need to use the drugs to not only be better in sports but also to have a better physical appearance. Start educating people with emphasis on how possessing steroids can put you in jail, and also lead to the development of all sorts of physical ailments that could lead to death.

That would be a far better solution than forcing steroid testing on Major League Baseball players, which would be only a band-aid solution. Steroid possession is illegal without a doctor’s prescription. If someone has steroids in a baseball clubhouse, arrest them and send them to jail. That would send a message to everyone that baseball and society is serious about cleaning up the industry.

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Pujols a unanimous pick for MVP CTB: Pujols is MVP of the decade, too CTB: Mauer had truly historic season CTB: Twins hope to re-sign Mauer by Christmas   Feds seek rehearing of baseball drug list ruling CTB: Angels back in the Halladay chase CTB: Yankees planning on Joba, Hughes starting CTB: Cashman says Yanks will talk to his players first   CTB: If M’s done with Lopez, suitors should be plentiful CTB: White Sox GM shouldn’t call out Jenks in public Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: