POSTMUS CASE SHOWS FLAWS OF DRUG WAR

If we were a cruel newspaper, the headline to this editorial would
read "Postmus contributes to county gang problem."

After all, Assessor Bill Postmus, when he was Barstow's
representative and chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, made
a big deal out of efforts to combat gangs in the county.

Now, apparently, it turns out Postmus is addicted to
methamphetamines. And as everybody knows, when you use drugs, you
contribute to the gang problem.

That's not really true, though. While drug demand indeed contributes
to gang violence in America, it's because our extremely harsh drug
laws have created a dangerous black market that gives gangs their
reason for existence.

In reality, Postmus has only contributed to the gang problem inasmuch
as every politician who has milked the drug war and fears of gangs to
get votes has. His alleged meth use is just a symptom of typical
political hypocrisy. Interestingly, we have yet to see anybody
suggest that Postmus should face criminal sanctions should the
allegations prove to be true, but perhaps because there are also
greater allegations of misconduct in the assessor's office. The meth
claims are being treated as a sign of a personal flaw.

That's how it should be for everybody, not just politicians. It's
important to note in the report we ran Aug. 8 that friends of Postmus
have been helping him seek rehab for his addictions. We point this
out because we argue that addiction is a personal issue, not a
government problem. If the use of a mind-altering substance results
in a public danger, then the government needs to respond to the
danger, not to the substance. Essentially, drugs should be treated
the way we treat alcohol. If a person brings harm to others due to
drug use, then it should be prosecuted. Otherwise, it's not the
government's business.

We would also point out that treating drugs as a personal problem
also prevents abuse of the system by those who want to milk their
addiction for gain.

According to our report, sources close to Postmus claim his recent
medical leave could be a way to try to get disability retirement
benefits worth more than $87,000 a year.

If we treated drugs as though it were a personal problem and not a
public plague, the way we have been, then it becomes a matter of
personal accountability.

Unfortunately, we have absolutely no confidence that authorities
would consider this reality. Postmus will be considered some sort of
sad exception or special case. The fact that there are thousands upon
thousands of similar exceptions and cases like him across the
country will be ignored.