Pubdate: Tue, 01 May 2001
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)
Copyright: 2001 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.jsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265
Author: Jim Maas

GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE UP FAILING FIGHT

In the April 26 editorial "Drugs: Tackle demand side," the Journal Sentinel 
said: "It is a war that is being fought with the wrong weapons and on the 
wrong battlefield.

No, it is the wrong war. Why should our government be fighting a "war" 
against people who want to use the drugs that the government arbitrarily 
has declared off-limits? Misuse of legal drugs, especially alcohol and 
tobacco, cause many more problems than the illegal ones do.

Furthermore, before drug prohibition, our society didn't have the problems 
with crime, corruption, prisons, innocent civilians gunned down - even in 
Wisconsin - and abuse of constitutional rights, all with a 
multibillion-dollar bill for the taxpayers.

Despite the fact that the concept behind prohibition is suspect at best and 
rotten at worst, we are forced to continue with no end in sight after 
decades of this mess. Just need to make a few more adjustments, we are told.

Like our war on poverty, and whatever other wars the government tells us we 
must fight, the outcome is always the same. Failures abound, and instead of 
cutting our losses and moving on, we commit even more resources and 
experience even more failure. Victory is just around the corner, with just 
a few more dead bodies.

Jim Maas
Stevens Point
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MAP posted-by: Beth