Pubdate: Thu, 19 Mar 2009
Source: News-Journal (Mansfield, OH)
Copyright: 2009 News-Journal.
Contact: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2413
Author: Andy Brubaker

DON'T SUPPORT WAR ON DRUGS

America's war on drugs is a glowing example of the success that can be
achieved when a generation of people refuse to give up on a bad idea.

Millions of poor people and minorities have been locked up in our
prisons and jails. Addicts receive mandatory minimum sentences for
drug-related crimes that are symptoms of their offensive disease. Our
children are raised in an atmosphere of lies, fear and intolerance.
Lives are ruined, prisoners are taken and drugs are, well, rampant.

Alcohol and drug addiction is a disease, and declaring war on its
sufferers is akin to declaring war on cancer patients or people with
epilepsy. The United States routinely has the highest per capita
prison population of any country in the world -- higher than China,
Iran or North Korea. This is a direct result of the war on drugs. The
industry that is the U.S. criminal justice system is thriving, and its
emergence can be traced by the trail of shattered lies. "The Land of
the Free" is becoming an almost laughable misnomer and respect for law
enforcement is at an all time low.

Very soon the promise that is the greatest country on earth will be
unrecognizable and the world will be a poorer place because of it.
Withdraw your support for this ill-advised war. Write your
congressman. Vote. Stand up. Resurrect American freedom and justice
for all.

Andy Brubaker

Mansfield
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake