Pubdate: Sun, 15 Jul 2007
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Copyright: 2007 The Dallas Morning News
Contact:  http://www.dallasnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/117
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n812/a01.html
Author: Robert Sharpe

HUMAN NATURE WON'T CHANGE

Drugs did not spawn Mexico's organized crime networks. Just as 
alcohol prohibition gave rise to Al Capone, drug prohibition created 
the violent drug-trafficking organizations blamed for murders in Mexico.

With alcohol prohibition repealed in the U.S., liquor bootleggers no 
longer kill each other in drive-by shootings. Mexico's recent upsurge 
in violence began after an anti-drug crackdown created a power vacuum 
among competing cartels. From a political perspective, Mexican 
President Felipe Calderon stands to benefit from the violence.

The drug war is perpetuated by the mainstream media's complicity in 
refusing to put so-called "drug-related" crime in context. U.S. 
politicians have proven particularly adept at confusing the drug 
war's collateral damage with drugs themselves.

Drug prohibition funds organized crime at home and terrorism abroad, 
which is then used to justify increase drug war spending.

It's time to end this madness. Like it or not, drugs are here to 
stay. Changing human nature is not an option. We've been trying that 
for decades.

Reforming harmful drug laws, however, is an option, and one that 
Congress should pursue.

Robert Sharpe, policy analyst, Common Sense for Drug Policy, Washington
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom