TRAFFIC FATALITIES

The drug war continues to rack up its absurd body count. An innocent child
is killed in a gang-related firebombing, a hardworking cop is murdered by
drug-pushing gang members, and politicians swear tougher action. In truth,
their actions couldn't possibly be tougher than sacrificing impoverished
communities and innocent lives in order to harvest a handful more of
conservative votes.

Innocent people are dying, gang violence is continually well-financed, and
the addicted are cast as hardened criminals in this preposterous ideology
of good and evil. Every drug-related crime or death is almost certainly
related to this failed drug policy. And the politicians and policymakers
are the ones pulling the trigger.

Paul Wheeler, Willow Springs