WAR ON DRUGS

Costs Taxpayers Too Much

The Herald is right in its Sept. 28 editorial, "No new taxes mean too few
deputies in county." One only needs to realize that half of all the inmates
in prison are there because of the war on drugs. If we intend to adhere to
this policy, we need a lot more cops. In fact, if we only arrested and
prosecuted pot smokers, we have over 50 million people in the U.S. that,
per the existing laws, we need to send to prison.

Not only do we need more cops, but more prosecutors, judges, jailers and
prisons as well. Not just a few, but tens of thousands more. Of course, if
we end the war on drugs, most of the crime the judicial system has to deal
with would simply go away. Think about it. No more burglaries or armed
robberies to finance heroin habits. No more drug dealers to pursue and
arrest. Even gangs would have a hard time supporting themselves if they
lost their illegal revenues from drug sales. We would only need about half
as many police, judges, prosecutors, jailers, lawyers and prisons. The
county doesn't need just a little tax increase, it needs 100 percent of
everyone's paycheck to support this insane policy. So, we have a choice -
either sign over your entire paycheck to the law enforcement establishment
or get smart and write to your elected representatives demanding an end to
the war on drugs.

DENNIS L. JOHNSON

Smokey Point