VOTE FOR CARSTENSEN, KARPE TO CHANGE DRUG POLICIES

I read Rev. David Couper's two-part editorial about the drug war and
policing with great interest. His years of serivce as a police officer (and
chief) and as a religious leader give him a unique insight into the true
nature of the war on drugs.

I agree that the only way to restore the proper role of police as peace
officers is to deal head-on with the issues surrounding the legalization of
drugs. As long as drugs are kept illegal there will be huge profits to be
made, people with drug problems will not get the help they need, and the
majority of drug users who are regular citizens with jobs and families will
remain outlaws.

I am happy that I will have the oppurtunity to vote for two candidates in
the September 12 primary that have the courage to look for non-violent
solutions to the drug war.

Carol Carstensen is running for State Senate in the 26th district. She
states that she will introduce legislation to leaglize marijauna for
medicine and to decriminalize possesion of it in small amounts for personal
use. Both of these policy changes would be steps in the right direction.

David Karpe is running for Dane County District Attourney. He takes these
issues a bit farther, stating that he will not jail pot smokers and that he
will create a program to protect those citizens that use marijauna for
medical reasons. These changes are much needed in what many view as an out
of control DA's office in Dane County.

I encourage everyone to join me in voting for these two candidates and in
voting for a change in direction in our nation's failed war on drugs.

Jon Hain Madison, WI