Pubdate: Fri, 04 Aug 2000 Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC) Copyright: The Vancouver Sun 2000 Contact: 200 Granville Street, Ste.#1, Vancouver BC V6C 3N3 Fax: (604) 605-2323 Website: http://www.vancouversun.com/ Author: Dan Scupin Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1094/a11.html Cited: Allen Richardson: http://www.freeallenrichardson.com/ DEALING WITH DRUG DEALERS You Canadians are very naive if you believe the American justice system, as it relates to drugs, is anything but barbaric. The treatment of Mr. Richardson is just an example of its cruelty and callousness. Of course, if he were a murderer or a rapist, he would never receive such brutal treatment. American politicians need to prove how tough they are on drug dealers and this guy, who is by all accounts a model citizen, is expendable and needs to be taught a lesson. You think China and Russia are the leaders in human rights violations, but study the U.S. treatment of non-violent drug offenders. The U.S. has as many political drug prisoners working in the prison/industrial complex as the Chinese have prison labourers. Of course, self-serving American politicians sweep it all under the rug and publicly damn the Chinese for their "human rights" violations. As an American citizen, I am ashamed of my government and our so-called justice system. Dan Scupin Destin, Fla. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake