Pubdate: Sun, 03 Aug 2003 Source: Daily Independent, The (KY) Copyright: 2003 The Daily Independent, Inc. Contact: http://www.dailyindependent.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1573 Author: Kirk Muse Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03.n1072.a11.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) DRUG WAR CREATES GOVERNMENT JOBS I'm writing about Charles Byrnes' thoughtful letter: "Why waste money on the drug war?" (July 15). In a sense, Byrnes answered his own question. It's because the drug war is a wasteful, counterproductive, government jobs program. The United States is the most incarcerated nation on the planet and in history, thanks primarily to our counterproductive drug war. Our two million prisoners create hundreds of thousands of relatively high-paying government jobs. Those with government drug war-created jobs will do anything and everything in their power to make sure the drug war never ends. They know that the drug war stands between them looking for a job or working at a quickie mart. Both drug warriors and drug dealers want the drug war to continue. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin