Pubdate: Fri, 25 Feb 2011
Source: Springfield News-Leader (MO)
Copyright: 2011 Tom McFarland
Contact: http://getpublished.news-leader.com/Forms/LettersToEditor.php
Website: http://www.news-leader.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1129
Author: Tom McFarland

'WAR ON DRUGS' THREAT TO AMERICANS

Talk of serious budget cuts are continuing to make people nervous.
Which makes sticking to our current drug policies totally insane. Our
"War on Drugs" is one of the most expensive, least effective programs
we have. It makes about as much sense as cutting funds to education,
and programs that help the elderly and disabled to help pay for tax
cuts for the rich. It is not drugs, but the "War on Drugs" that is the
biggest threat to our American way of life.

New regulations continue to be passed that further restrict our rights
and freedoms in the name of the "War on Drugs." ... What is much worse
is the problems that are along our southern border and on down into
Mexico as a direct result of are "War on Drugs."

We need to humble ourselves enough to ask is there a better way of
dealing with our drug problems. Are there others countries that have
drug policies that do not cause such a dramatic increase in violent
crime and black markets that put billions of dollars into the hands of
dangerous and ruthless people? There is a better way. It did not take
our grandparents near as long to realize that prohibition causes more
problems than it solves.

Tom McFarland

Glen Allen 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake