Pubdate: Fri, 07 Mar 2008
Source: Gazette, The (Colorado Springs, CO)
Copyright: 2008 The Gazette
Contact:  http://www.gazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/165
Author: J. Casey Elgin

FAILED POLICY

Drug War Promotes Criminal Activity

With 2.3 million Americans in prison, we should realize how 
ridiculous America appears to the rest of the world, as we invade 
nations to help them create a "better" society ("2.5M jailed in the 
land of the free," The Gazette, Feb. 29). America has become a police 
state with a prison system Stalin would have envied. The reason is 
simple: Drug prohibition is a failed policy which, by way of the law 
of unintended consequences, promotes and supports a large violent 
criminal element in our society.

Prohibition of drugs simply does not work in a society in which 10 
percent to 30 percent of the population enjoys using drugs. 
Unfortunately, our spineless politicians, who can plainly see the 
expensive folly of prohibition and yet refuse to change course, would 
rather build prisons than admit failure.

It is said that we get the government we deserve. Unfortunately, we 
are too weak and lazy as a people to demand a government which 
returns to constitutional rule, which respects individual liberty, 
and which does not take away our inalienable right to live free of 
harsh and expensive governmental control.

J. Casey Elgin

Colorado Springs
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