TO KILL THE DRUG CARTELS, LEGALIZE DRUGS

Marilyn Rhodes Aug. 11 letter dealing with violence in Mexico
suggested giving them more help in dealing with the drug war. There
are some facts we should consider:

1. The Mexican drug cartels operate in more than 2,500 cities in the
U.S.

2. The U.S. joint forces command has warned that the Mexican
government could experience "A rapid and sudden collapse" due to the
drug cartel violence. There have been 28,000 people killed by the
cartels since 2006.

3. The drug cartel is better armed than the government and are levying
taxes in the Mexican states adjacent to Texas.

4. Our own freedoms are eroding because of the drug war here in our
country.

We MUST demonetize the illegal drug trade. Money is the only motive
for risking one's life. Money is why drugs are being pushed in our
schools on our children in 4th and 5th grades. We worry about our
children and our safety but refuse to do the one thing that would kill
the drug cartels -- legalize the use of the drugs. Use education to
scare young people as to the results of drug abuse. Do not pay the
medical cost of drug abuse. Anything less will be a losing battle and
we will become a county with no freedoms.

Maurice Mulholland

Rochester