THE POLITICS OF THE WAR ON DRUGS

I'm a 26-year-old former Marine Corps sergeant who is leaving the
Republican Party. While I've seen some honorable things from the Republican
Congress when they weren't cowering in fear of our "commander in heat,"
they've failed overall. Things like trying to repeal the marriage penalty
tax positively motivate me, but the Republican Congress' failure to live up
to the Contract With America and not cutting the federal budget any of the
last six years detracts from their credibility.

The Republican Party's zealous efforts in enforcing Prohibition 2000, or
the Failed War on Drugs as you know it, are also forcing me to leave the
party. Prohibition didn't work with alcohol and anybody with half a brain
can see the violence and crime prohibition is causing today.

I would be very grateful if somebody could explain what is hoped to be
accomplished by the GOP war on drugs. The U.S. has 5 percent of the world's
population and 25 percent of the world's inmates, and half of those inmates
are nonviolent drug offenders. Drugs are readily available in jail, so what
is the Republican Party's policy accomplishing other than turning us into
the United Police States of America?

I've voted the party line since I turned 18 and can no longer do so. I'm
now a pro-life Libertarian, goodbye.