Pubdate: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 Source: Los Angeles Times (CA) Copyright: 2000 Los Angeles Times Contact: Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053 Fax: (213) 237-7679 Website: http://www.latimes.com/ Forum: http://www.latimes.com/discuss/ Author: Christian F. Hokenson DRUG WAR IS CENTRAL In regard to its endorsement of Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein (editorial, Oct. 25) for reelection, The Times misses the point dramatically when it states that the war on drugs is not a central issue to most Californians and, therefore, Rep. Tom Campbell is "off point." Our government's efforts to enact repressive drug laws have caused law enforcement officials to become paramilitary wings of the federal government and have caused the death and incarceration of innocents. It's time to get a policy that rehabilitates addicts while avoiding costly incarceration and leads our country away from a policy of direct interaction in dirty South American civil wars we have no business financing. A vote for Feinstein (a drug war supporter) is a vote to continue the enormously damaging war on drugs. Campbell is the candidate of reform and moderation, an individual who mirrors Californians' often progressive views on social issues. Christian F. Hokenson, Burbank - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom