News (Media Awareness Project) - US FL: PUB LTE: Failed Policy Must Be Addressed By Political |
| Title: | US FL: PUB LTE: Failed Policy Must Be Addressed By Political |
| Published On: | 2006-12-12 |
| Source: | Fort Pierce Tribune (FL) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-12 19:45:49 |
FAILED POLICY MUST BE ADDRESSED BY POLITICAL LEADERS
Milton Friedman foretold the economic ineffectiveness of the "War on
Drugs" during its infancy in 1972. The policy is now fully mature
with 35 years of development.
It is past time to evaluate this policy which is not keeping drugs
off of our streets and out of the hands of our children.
Drug prohibition attempts the impossible eradication of drugs and
drug use. The violence resulting from prohibition creates fear of
neighborhoods. I don't fear walking into a liquor store. However, I
do fear going where drug dealing is on the street.
What is the difference? We ended alcohol prohibition, took alcohol
distribution away from the gangsters and bootleggers, and allowed the
development of licensed, regulated alcohol distribution businesses.
St. Lucie County's children have been caught in the crossfire, and
recently, a young family with alleged connections to drug trafficking
was executed here. Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, more
egregious violence occurs; police officers have been decapitated, and
families videotaped being barbecued.
Prohibition has encouraged marijuana cultivation's movement into
residential neighborhoods. Florida's agriculture industry is denied
the ability to oversee the production of Florida's second largest
cash crop. Florida Domestic Marijuana Eradication 2005 Annual Report
estimates the value of just the eradicated plants is $74.8 million.
The Justice Administration Commission says the budget to pay public
defenders is depleted. The president-elect of the Florida Association
of Criminal Defense Lawyers says the criminal justice system is in
jeopardy. Crippling of the criminal justice system happened during
alcohol prohibition, as well. Using the criminal justice system as
the tool for drug management is part of the problem.
Senator Bill Nelson has said that drug policy is a local issue. We
must ask our political leaders to investigate a fiscally conservative
market management policy of control and regulation.
Ethel Rowland, Fort Pierce
Milton Friedman foretold the economic ineffectiveness of the "War on
Drugs" during its infancy in 1972. The policy is now fully mature
with 35 years of development.
It is past time to evaluate this policy which is not keeping drugs
off of our streets and out of the hands of our children.
Drug prohibition attempts the impossible eradication of drugs and
drug use. The violence resulting from prohibition creates fear of
neighborhoods. I don't fear walking into a liquor store. However, I
do fear going where drug dealing is on the street.
What is the difference? We ended alcohol prohibition, took alcohol
distribution away from the gangsters and bootleggers, and allowed the
development of licensed, regulated alcohol distribution businesses.
St. Lucie County's children have been caught in the crossfire, and
recently, a young family with alleged connections to drug trafficking
was executed here. Meanwhile, in other parts of the world, more
egregious violence occurs; police officers have been decapitated, and
families videotaped being barbecued.
Prohibition has encouraged marijuana cultivation's movement into
residential neighborhoods. Florida's agriculture industry is denied
the ability to oversee the production of Florida's second largest
cash crop. Florida Domestic Marijuana Eradication 2005 Annual Report
estimates the value of just the eradicated plants is $74.8 million.
The Justice Administration Commission says the budget to pay public
defenders is depleted. The president-elect of the Florida Association
of Criminal Defense Lawyers says the criminal justice system is in
jeopardy. Crippling of the criminal justice system happened during
alcohol prohibition, as well. Using the criminal justice system as
the tool for drug management is part of the problem.
Senator Bill Nelson has said that drug policy is a local issue. We
must ask our political leaders to investigate a fiscally conservative
market management policy of control and regulation.
Ethel Rowland, Fort Pierce
Member Comments |
No member comments available...
