Pubdate: Sat, 08 Jan 2000 Source: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (MN) Copyright: 2000 St. Paul Pioneer Press Contact: 345 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55101 Website: http://www.pioneerplanet.com/ Forum: http://www.pioneerplanet.com/watercooler/ Author: Myron Von Hollingsworth MONEY INTERESTS KEEP FUTILE WAR ON DRUGS ALIVE Govs. Gary Johnson and Jesse Ventura are among the few who are talking sense while the rest of the politicians and their constituents whose industries and jobs depend on a continuation of -- but never a victory in -- the drug war keep on spouting their lies and propaganda in order to preserve, but again -- never to win -- the war on drugs. Maybe the (drug) warmongering politicians are required to adhere to the party line of prohibition because law enforcement, customs, the prison-industrial complex, the drug-testing industry, the INS, CIA, FBI, DEA, the politicians themselves et al. can't live without the budget justification, not to mention the invisible profits, bribery, corruption and forfeiture benefits that prohibition affords them. The drug war also promotes, justifies and perpetuates racist enforcement policies and is diminishing many freedoms and liberties that are supposed to be guaranteed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Myron Von Hollingsworth Fort Worth, Texas - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake