Pubdate: Thu, 29 Sep 2005
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2005 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Joseph Haley

WAR ON DRUGS DOESN'T GO HARD ENOUGH AFTER DRUG LORDS

Two writers, espousing opposite sides, have discussed our "drug war"
recently. In his guest commentary, "We had better wake up and make
drastic changes in homeland security ahead of next al-Qaida attack
here," (AC-T, June 26), former Miami-Dade police captain Marshall
Franks, eschewing emotion for facts, proposes drug legalization (for
adults) similar to alcohol.

Among many positives -- the major one being removing profits from the
trade -- he includes halving the prison population, cutting support to
terrorists, lowering crime rates and taxing drugs so that money comes
in instead of going out.

Conversely, an earlier guest commentary, "Treating addictions and
rehabilitating prisoners makes a lot more sense than mass
incarceration," (AC-T, June 20), advocating the present system,
attempted to bolster his position by demonstrating that liberals, as
well as conservatives, back this system. His proof is that New York's
Democratic governor, Mario Cuomo, passed extremely harsh drug laws.
Unfortunately, he was dead wrong; it was Cuomo's Republican
predecessor, Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller, who advocated the
draconian laws that have incarcerated multitudes for lengthy periods
- -- often for mere possession and use. The "drug lords" at whom they
were aimed get off on pleas while lesser offenders have their lives
devastated.

Joseph Haley,

Hendersonville
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