Pubdate: Tue, 06 Mar 2001
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 2001 Chicago Tribune Company
Contact:  435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-4066
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Author: Dave Michon

END DRUG WAR

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- This is in response to "Drug war nets smaller 
fish in city, At Daley's behest, U.S. shifts strategy in fight with 
pushers" (Page 1, Feb. 25). This article exposed Mayor Richard M. 
Daley's personal political motives for demanding a federal effort to 
boost drug-arrest numbers. It is a window into what the drug war is 
really all about: pushing personal careers and prejudice at the 
expense of sound public policy.

We have just seen how a politically connected drug dealer convicted 
of transporting 800 pounds of cocaine (for processing into crack) 
bought a pardon from the Clinton administration while the small fry 
in the case continue to languish in prison. Now we see the same 
principle at work in order to pad arrest numbers in Chicago. The drug 
war is a base evil that continually reveals itself to be a cancer in 
our democracy. End it.
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MAP posted-by: Kirk Bauer