WE AREN'T WINNING, SO LET'S END WAR ON DRUGS

I was disappointed with your Aug. 26 editorial about the 58 American
Airlines employees charged with drug smuggling. Your conclusion: "Tighten
security at airports, seaports and all other venues."

Isn't this exactly what we have been doing each year for 40 years? Haven't
we been spending more billions of dollars each year doing exactly that?
Haven't we corrupted enough foreign governments over this stupidity?
Haven't we enlarged the drug interdiction army to the point where it is now
an industry unto itself? Haven't we filled enough jails? And with what
result? More drug problems than ever.

Isn't it obvious to you that if people want something badly enough and are
willing to pay for it, there will be enough "businessmen" who will respond
to the economic incentive and supply it? With other products, we call these
people "entrepeneurs."

And what to do? Simple. We did it once before and it worked. Remember Al
Capone? Remember "Prohibition"? We legalized alcohol. Do we have drunkards?
Sure. Do people drive drunk? Absolutely. But do we currently have a war on
alcohol? And alcohol is as deadly and intoxicating as any drug and just as
addicting. But we live with it.

If someone wants to get falling down drunk, that's his or her business. If
they endanger others by driving, that's different. The same rule ought to
apply with drug users. And if the concern is health risks, don't pay their
medical bills. If you're serious about health costs, outlaw beef. That
wouldn't work either, but look how good you'll feel because you did something.

Joseph Alter