VICTORY IN THE 'DRUG WAR' WILL NEVER HAPPEN

I'm writing about Worth Richardson's outstanding column from
Wednesday, "The war on drugs is not working; a new approach is
needed." The so-called war on drugs is a huge industry and huge
bureaucracy. Victory in the drug war is not possible, nor is it the
goal. Victory in the drug war would mean that the drug war industry
and bureaucracy are out of business.

There are basically two types of people who support the so-called war
on drugs: The first are those who make their livelihood from it. This
includes politicians and bureaucrats who are probably on the payroll
of the drug cartels. (Al Capone had hundreds of politicians and
prohibition officials on his payroll.) The second are suckers. These
include:

. taxpayers who have bought into the lies and propaganda of the
drug-war industry and bureaucracy.

. those who are willing to deny liberty and freedom to others but
think that their own liberty and freedom will never be in jeopardy.

. those who believe that criminalizing a substance will make it go
away and those who think that drug prohibition somehow protects children.

. those who think that giving criminals control of dangerous drugs
somehow protects children and our society.

. those who think that they live in a free country even though the
United States is the most incarcerated nation in the history of
civilization.

Kirk Muse

Mesa, Ariz.