Vested interests keep the drug war going

I'm writing about Matthew Fogg's outstanding April 12 commentary, "War
on drugs is a war on our youth." The so-called war on drugs is a huge
industry and huge bureaucracy. Victory in the drug war is not
possible, nor is it the goal.

Victory would mean that the drug war industry and bureaucracy are out
of business.

There are basically two types of people who support the so-called war
on drugs: those who make their livelihood from it -- this includes
politicians and bureaucrats who are probably on the payroll of the
drug cartels -- and suckers, taxpayers who have bought into the lies
and propaganda of the drug war industry and bureaucracy.

Suckers who are willing to deny liberty and freedom to others, but
think their own liberty and freedom will never be in jeopardy.

Suckers who believe that criminalizing a substance will make it go
away.

Suckers who think that drug prohibition somehow protects
children.

Suckers who think that giving criminals control of dangerous drugs
somehow protects children and our society.

Suckers who think they live in a free country even though the United
States is the most incarcerated nation in the history of human
civilization.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.