'Re: U.S. Bolivia cite progress against coca farmers," Dallas Morning News,
Page lA, July24.

Simple math, using your chart, disputes the claim that U.S. and Bolivian
officials have made progress against coca farmers -- $779 million spent
over a five-year period and they have more acres under cultivation (that's
known about). "What kind of. progress is this?

What kind of example of freedom and democracy are we showing using
intimation and the power of money to get what our government wants? Not
only have our drug laws taken away from many of our freedoms, we continue
to pressure other countries into doing the same. to Bolivia, the United
States has infringed upon its religious beliefs. "We have forced its
government to make a plant illegal, a plant that has been sacred to its
ancestors. Our "war on drugs" has turned their communities into war zones,
like many of our communities are.

Have any of these measures reduced the demand for drug? No!

As long as our country has a demand, there will be a supply from somewhere.
That s simple economics. Prohibition didn t work for alcohol and it s not
working for drugs. That's proven in our history. It's time for the United
States to consider an alternative to the War on Drugs.

Anna C. Tullos,
Richardson