Pubdate: Sat, 27 Jul 2002
Source: Delta Democrat Times (MS)
Copyright: 2002 Delta Democrat Times
Contact:  http://www.ddtonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2123
Author: James E. Gierach

TAKE THE PROFIT OUT OF ILLEGAL DRUGS

To the editor:

I had to laugh when I read this line taken from an editorial (Delta 
Democrat Times - July 3) "Perhaps the arrest on Monday - by members of the 
Greenville Police Department, Washington County Sheriff's Department and 
the state Bureau of Narcotics - of a reported Greenville firefighter on 
drug trafficking charges is the long-awaited beginning of an aggressive 
antiphon to what we see as a runaway illegal drug train with no motorman at 
the controls."

Who did you think was selling and consuming these drugs?

Only policemen, your neighbor's kids, your coworkers, your relatives, your 
public officials, teachers and preachers?

Drug prohibition lures some of all of these. And as 30 years have 
conclusively proven, penalties and "aggressive antiphon" are no help.

Hello. Anyone there?

Someone please pick up the phone.

The Delta Democrat Times' editorial demonstrates that the newspaper's 
editorial board have no more notion of what is epidemic about drug-war 
troubles than it has conception of the solutions to them.

Drug war puts more drugs everywhere, makes drugs the most valuable 
commodity on the face of the Earth, is the hope of the poor around the 
world (like DeLorean of auto fame who tried to save his company from 
bankruptcy through drug-dealing).

Drug war tempts the greedy, corrupts the kids, cops and firefighters. So 
what are you going to do about it? Antiphon?

Why not.

Or, if you're serious about clipping the wings of drug purveyors, then tell 
them, "We're gonna bust you. Not with cops and prison cells, but by taking 
the profit out of the drug business."

Kill 'em with kindness and drug tolerance! Fight drug dealers in a fair 
fight for the heart, soul and conscience of our kids. Stop "spotting" the 
dealers the unfair advantage of prohibition profits and a 
government-protected monopoly.

James E. Gierach

Oak Lawn, Ill.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens