Pubdate: Wed, 14 Oct 2009 Source: Merritt Herald (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Merritt Herald Contact: http://www.merrittherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1446 Author: Russell Barth ANOTHER SIDE TO THE WAR ON DRUGS Dear Editor: The war on certain drugs was never meant to be won, it was meant to be continuous. The war was designed to subsidize organized crime, reduce the civil rights and liberties of the general population, accustom them to an ongoing and ever-growing police and military presence in their daily lives, drain taxpayers' dollars, and to keep lawyers rich, cops busy, and jails full. In that regard, it has been a huge success. Police don't want this outrageously counterproductive war to ever end, because it gives them all the leverage they need to harass the young, the poor, people of color, and people with non-regulation hairstyles. It makes their job relevant, never-ending, and ever-expanding. ?? Prohibition is a growth industry - as big a cash cow for police and lawyers and jailers as it is for gangsters. They are two sides of the same coin. The media-addled public is being duped again. Russell Barth Merritt - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D