Pubdate: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 Source: Culpeper Star-Exponent (VA) Copyright: 2010 Culpeper Star-Exponent Contact: http://www.starexponent.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1946 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v10/n007/a06.html Author: Kirk Muse VICTORY IN THE 'DRUG WAR' WILL NEVER HAPPEN I'm writing about Worth Richardson's outstanding column from Wednesday, "The war on drugs is not working; a new approach is needed." The so-called war on drugs is a huge industry and huge bureaucracy. Victory in the drug war is not possible, nor is it the goal. Victory in the drug war would mean that the drug war industry and bureaucracy are out of business. There are basically two types of people who support the so-called war on drugs: The first are those who make their livelihood from it. This includes politicians and bureaucrats who are probably on the payroll of the drug cartels. (Al Capone had hundreds of politicians and prohibition officials on his payroll.) The second are suckers. These include: . taxpayers who have bought into the lies and propaganda of the drug-war industry and bureaucracy. . those who are willing to deny liberty and freedom to others but think that their own liberty and freedom will never be in jeopardy. . those who believe that criminalizing a substance will make it go away and those who think that drug prohibition somehow protects children. . those who think that giving criminals control of dangerous drugs somehow protects children and our society. . those who think that they live in a free country even though the United States is the most incarcerated nation in the history of civilization. Kirk Muse Mesa, Ariz. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake