Pubdate: Thu, 25 Aug 2011 Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX) Copyright: 2011 San Antonio Express-News Contact: http://www.mysanantonio.com/about_us/feedback Website: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384 Author: Pat Legan Note: Pat Legan is a retired businessman and attorney. He has chaired the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, CPS, the United Way and other civic groups. TIME FOR REAL DEBATE ON DRUG LEGALIZATION Before we destroy the Mexican government and bring narco-terrorism to our own cities by our ruinous drug policies (which make their distribution the most lucrative occupation in the Western Hemisphere) we should have a real debate (not sound bites) on legalization. The cancer of the cartels and Zetas will not stop at the Rio Grande; indeed it is daily seeping further into this country. Consider the following: After a delicious San Antonio supper of enchiladas smothered in chili con carne and onions, I had a dream wherein I was allowed to read a story from the Jan. 24, 2018, Express-News: "President Amnesia's State of the Union speech yesterday emphasized the success of the administration during 2017 in the war on drugs. 'We are definitely winning this war,' the president said, citing the following: "'Assassinations of U.S. local public officials, police, sheriffs and journalists by members of the United Cartels and their enforcement arm, the Zetas, were down 7 percent in 2017, to 287. Car bombings in our U.S. cities dropped by 5 percent.' "The president noted: 'This is the first annual decrease since 2013 when the large drug cartels made peace with each other and formed the United Cartels, or UC, to divide up the drug distribution routes and present a united front to the Mexican and U.S. governments. "'Violent crime in Mexico has also decreased dramatically since the peace treaty between the UC and the Mexican government, although it must be said that it is regrettable that the UC now has a place in the new coalition government and has been guaranteed three Cabinet positions, one of which oversees the military and another the police forces. "'For our part," the president said, 'we are maintaining a 20 percent increase in the amount of drugs seized each year and a 25 percent annual increase in incarcerations of drug users. This enabled us to maintain our position as the world leader in incarcerations. We've also built 29 new federal prisons, creating thousands of new jobs. "'Now,' Amnesia added, 'I want to extend the deepest regrets of the nation to the families of the five members of Congress assassinated in 2017, occasioned by their sponsorship of a bill to legalize drugs. "'Inasmuch as the passage of such legislation would take the profit out of the drug trade and strip the UC and the Zetas (as well as their allies, al-Qaida and the Taliban who control the poppy fields of Afghanistan) of billions in income, I have directed the Secret Service to provide protection to each of you. "'And since I have learned that the Zetas are threatening the families of any member of Congress who supports such legislation, I am extending the protection to as many of your family members as practicable. "'Having said that, however, I don't favor legalization, which runs the risk of encouraging more citizens to use drugs. "'I'm aware,' the president said, 'of the argument by proponents that taking the profit out of dealing in drugs would remove pushers from our schools and cities; eliminate drug-related corruption and bribery of public officials; shut off the income of the drug cartels and our enemies in the Middle East; and free up billions spent on the drug war and the incarceration of millions of nonviolent drug users to provide mentoring of at-risk young people, treatment for addicts and countless public works. "'However,' Amnesia concluded, 'those arguments are speculative whereas success of the war on drugs is a proven fact.'" - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.