MISDIRECTED PRIORITIES

Thank you for exposing your readers to the reality that a significant
portion of law enforcement professionals oppose the policy of drug
prohibition and its attendant strategy we call the "war on drugs."
We, in the trenches, know what a horrendous waste of time it is to
chase Willie Nelson, Whitney Houston and their suppliers.

I just read your "Surrender is no victory" op-ed. The issue is not:
Are these prohibited drugs dangerous or deadly? That is a given. If
being dangerous were the criteria, alcohol and tobacco would be
illegal. I ask you to deliver to your readers your reasons why you
believe that prohibition is the most effective drug control strategy
to reduce crime, death, disease and drug use. Please tell them all
the advantages of the current policy as we go into our second
trillion in spending.

I believe that drug policy should be based on the principles of
liberty, property rights, personal responsibility, limited
government, effective government and states rights. Your principles are what?

According to U.S. Senate testimony, this year we will arrest only
12,000 persons for possession of child porn (out a possible 600,000
suspects). In 2008, we will arrest another 1.4 million for simple
possession of drugs. Does that make sense?

Howard J. Wooldridge,

Frederick, Md.