Pubdate: Tue, 24 Nov 1998
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Contact:  http://www.chron.com/
Copyright: 1998 Houston Chronicle
Author: Lynn Brollier, Houston

SPOILS FROM THE DRUG WAR

Thanks to Thom Marshall for his Nov. 18 column, "Common sense and drug
woes." I'll be the first to admit I voted for politicians who turned up the
heat on the war against drugs, only to realize that we now have policies far
more destructive to our society than the drugs themselves. We have created
an unregulated, uncontrollable market for drugs while becoming a nation
addicted to the spoils of the drug war in the form of packed and expanding
prisons, police raids, searches and seizures and the destruction of lives,
families and jobs. Revenues have been wasted that could be put to better use
through education and programs for youth. Our Constitution is under direct
fire from these policies, yet we blindly follow those who would have us
believe this is the only way to win this war. I hope in time we can send a
message to elected officials that this policy is a failure and that it's
time for a more sane approach. We should stop this waste of monies and
lives.

Our freedoms are in jeopardy.

Lynn Brollier, Houston

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Checked-by: Don Beck