Pubdate: Wed, 07 May 2003 Source: Savannah Morning News (GA) Copyright: 2003 Savannah Morning News Contact: http://www.savannahnow.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/401 Author: Penny Salater Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) WAR ON DRUGS REALLY IS AGAINST FELLOW AMERICANS I guess I've seen more of my generation killed or murdered, addicted and imprisoned than the three generations before mine. Prior to the baby boomers, people actually lived long lives. However, now our prisons and graveyards are filled with America's children. Our justice system depends on whether you're a movie star or a street person. The prosecutor has total immunity to make deals with low-lifes as long as it's called plea bargaining. We have lost the war on drugs, the war of American against American. Prison has proven to be an ineffective option and taxpayers are weary of its hefty price tag. The cost to taxpayers for arresting, prosecuting and imprisoning people for simple possession is between $7.5 billion and $10 billion annually, according to the National Criminal Justice Commission. So why are we still treating drug users as criminals instead of seeing them as a public health crisis? Money, why else? Prisons bring jobs, growth and more federal funding. It doesn't matter if prisoners can't vote, they're only numbers. Prohibition creates huge profits as well. The war on drugs has created the kind of found cash that corrupts governments. And never mind how organized crime profits from the insane war on addicts. We have a health crisis in this country and we need prison and court reform. We need to turn our prisons into treatment centers. Addicts are people, too. They need our help, not our jails. Let's stop the war at home on our own citizens. PENNY SALATER, Ludowici - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager