Pubdate: Mon, 18 Aug 2003
Source: Arizona Republic (AZ)
Copyright: 2003 The Arizona Republic
Contact:  http://www.arizonarepublic.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/24
Author: Eric Lekander
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1225/a05.html

DRUG WAR PURE HYPOCRISY

Regarding Lou Dobb's column, "Drug war worth fighting despite opposition, cost"
(Opinions, Thursday):

Sounds like he's still stuck in the '60s trying to bust hippies.

He says drug users cost the country $160 billion annually in lost productivity.
This pales in comparison to the lost productivity due to alcohol, poor
fitness/diet, family issues, depression, chatting, smoking, Internet surfing,
day-dreaming, extended breaks, and pure boredom.

With the magnified potential savings, we could hire SS storm trooper efficiency
experts at every office to monitor your productivity. Oh, I forgot. We already
have a system for poor employees. It's called getting fired.

Bottom line, alcohol is far more harmful than marijuana and causes our society
far more damage. Smoking a joint is the moral equivalent of drinking a martini,
except one can get you jailed. This is hypocrisy, and hypocrisy is dishonest.
Drug war support is tepid because fair-minded people are repelled by the
cruelty and hypocrisy of it all.

Ironically, drug war fanatics and big-time drug dealers are on the same side.
Decriminalizing drugs would kill their cash cow.

Eric Lekander

Cave Creek
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