SOCIAL MALAISE AT CORE OF SOCIETY'S DECLINE

Legalization of drugs is not a realistic solution to the drug problem.
Drug abuse is a symptom of social malaise brought about by the failure
of our government and other institutions to adequately address
society's problems.

At the national level, we have failed to resolve critical problems
that adversely affect the public. Concurrently, many of our political
leaders have compromised the public's trust by accepting favors from
lobbyists, promoting pork-barrel legislation or sponsoring "earmarks"
for favored constituents.

We see similar behaviors at the state and local levels, including
bribery of governmental officials and "quid pro quo" deals that
compromise the integrity of our institutions.

The public has begun to perceive these are not isolated incidents but
recurring behaviors typical of today's leaders.

It is axiomatic that unresolved societal problems, along with the
seemingly endless instances of public corruption, create a malaise
that causes many people to turn to drugs.

We will never solve our drug problem until leaders realize they are
part of the problem, not only because of their failure to address
society's ills, but also because many of them continue to engage in
questionable conduct that compromises their credibility in the eyes of
an increasingly disillusioned public.

Douglas Agee

Northeast El Paso