Ending War On Drugs Would Be Real Change

Change: It seems to be the mantra of not only the Democrats, but Sen.
John McCain as well. He has picked up the chant, too, pointing out his
maverick reputation.

But the central question remains: What will real change amount to?
Health care for all our citizens, winning the war on terror, a better
break for the middle class, no more dependence on foreign energy?

Even if all these things happen, will it amount to any kind of real
change? Will you still be worried if you have to use a cash machine
late at night? Will there still be gang violence if we all have health
care? Will you still worry that your kids are in a dangerous place
trying to score some weed? Will people still be afraid to sit on their
front porch without getting hit by a stray bullet?

Try this: Bring up the subject of marijuana in a crowd like a
restaurant or store and use the word drugs or marijuana in a somewhat
loud voice. Watch the people near you automatically lower their voices
or move away from you - out of what? Bad hygiene? Bad breath? No, they
lower their voices out of fear. Not fear of drug dealers or users -
they move away and lower their voices out of fear of the law! Someone
might say, "I heard so-and-so talking about drugs," etc.

I don't know about you, but as a lifelong defender of this great
nation, this is certainly not the America I fought for.

The huge black market in drugs is the financial machine that pays for
the gangs and guns and violence that plague us all, from large city to
little burg. If these politicians really want change, they will get
serious about ending this long nightmare.

There will be no real change in America until the "police state-like
cloud" of the war on drugs, which hangs over the country like smog
over L.A., is dissipated by the fresh wind and bright light of
personal freedom.