Pubdate: Tue, 01 Feb 2000 Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) Copyright: 2000, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact: 414-224-8280 Website: http://www.jsonline.com/ Forum: http://www.jsonline.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimate.cgi Author: Dave Michon IT'S TIME FOR NEW WAR ON DRUGS Regarding Gov. Tommy Thompson's "state of the state" address, I am quite shocked that the governor has shifted his public posture on law enforcement and the drug issue. I am inclined to scoff, but I shall not. If this governor were ever to truly decide to address such things as drugs in Wisconsin, past experience shows that there would be action and it would be dramatic. If he were to actually attack the problem from the vantage of common sense, instead of the old failed drug war ideology, Wisconsin could lead the nation on this score, as it has on welfare. Perhaps the governor might even consult the True Conservative Oracle and see that our basic liberties are at risk if we continue to lock people up for victimless crimes. This is the next big social issue, and let's hope this governor will be out front again. There is now cause for optimism among those of us who feel the drug war is much more of a failure than the welfare state was and much more dangerous to us all. Dave Michon Spooner - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea