HOW TO WIN THE DRUG WAR

Regarding your editorial, "Basic freedoms: The next victim in the war
on drugs" (May 31, page 6B):

Your drug war seems like a savage, futile campaign being waged that is
stripping us of our fundamental rights and attempting to change human
nature. But, having given it some thought, there is perhaps a way to
achieve victory.

First of all, given the statistics on the damage being wrought by
substances in society today, would not the wisest course be to first
focus on alcohol, not with the half-hearted futility of the former
fiasco, but this time with the kind of lightning blitzkrieg that
Germany demonstrated works and works fast.

It takes but a layman's scant perusal to see that the "Demon Rum" is
still the prevailing culprit in the majority of criminal and health
problems. Thus, before annihilating the swarms of lesser menaces,
would not a reenactment of the former Prohibition laws be prudent,
this time with real "master race" determination?

As for "drugs," they present a more elusive and difficult-to-define
enemy. But there is one country that has led the way before in
displaying to the world how to control its people effectively in this
and other pastimes. There was not a trace of any drug problem in
Russia under Stalin or Krushchev. Borders were kept sealed airtight
and individuals regarded as "threats to national security" were
dispensed with promptly and thoroughly. Replacing supply-and-demand as
our operating principle with a new "united" Communism should be
considered as possibly a valid adjustment towards becoming drug-free
for many years to come.

Finally, to assure us all unconditional victory in our valiant drug
war, should not the kind of outdated, wishful thinking in our
Constitution seen in silly promises like the one that guarantees the
right to "the pursuit of happiness" be deleted? It's time to get real.

Doug Cater,
Kailua, Hawaii, via TRNonline